Commencement Bay Coffee To Close
Just in case you haven’t yet heard, Commencement Bay Coffee in the 2300 block of Jefferson Street is closing as of December 23rd. According to the Business Examiner, a new coffee shop will open with the new year, but the extraordinary meeting space will no longer be available.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Commencement Bay Coffee has been face to face with demise. In 2008, fines related to roasting exhaust threatened to put them out of business. Read Derek’s coverage here. This time around, it seems the ongoing construction work near the cafe has taken a critical toll on the flow of clientele. We are sad to see this unique and highly-regarded cafe close its doors. We hope that the future proprieters will make an equal contribution to the vibrancy of that neighborhood – but they will certainly have big shoes to fill.
Link to the Business Examiner
Filed under: General
7 comments
J Jake December 10, 2010
The ongoing road construction that started this Summer that seems to never end. I drive that way to work and it just seems like there is no progress until today where they have the middle lane dug down where it looks like they might be paving soon.
Baristas tell me that construction was supposed to be done at the end of October.
Y You're Welcome December 10, 2010
Maybe the new owners will hire people actually interested in good customer service. That place is right on my way to work, it sure would be nice if I actually wanted to go there.
C Christine December 10, 2010
I went there a couple of times while I lived in the area, stopped going because of the disinterested staff. I moved away 6 years ago and thought that it would’ve changed, but according to YW, it sounds like it hadn’t. Too bad.
Beautiful space, ripe with possibility.
N NCD December 12, 2010
I am sad to hear this because I did go there semi-frequently and it was a good place to plunk down with my laptop and have a beverage and/or a sandwich. I do have to agree with others that the last couple of years the staff has been so NOT friendly or engaged. The road construction situation was really bad, and I had trouble a couple of weeks ago figuring out how to get in there (and thought it was closed). However, service has not been friendly the past year or more, and that’s what helps to make a coffee shop a “gathering spot” – - a place you want to go to again and again, and have a punch card in their little plastic recipe box on the counter……
C Christine December 12, 2010
I don’t think the construction had anything to do with the staff attitude. The time period I had visited was shortly after they had opened, 6 years ago or so. The staff attitude was underwhelming then and it sounds like it never changed.
Y You're Welcome December 12, 2010
I don’t need to make excuses for poor behavior. Do your job and do it well, because if you don’t… someone will replace you.
T tom waits December 13, 2010
China is too far for a cup of coffee and a sandwich.