Employee Walk-Out Closes Down Gorilla Coffee

Photograph from Sprudge

Sprudge noticed, via a Tweet ("Everyone at Gorilla just quit. Baristas, roasters, everyone. Friday nite and no employees for tomorrow."), that Park Slope coffee bar Gorilla Coffee was closed. A Sprudge commenter said, "100% true.Everyone gave written resignation and walked out after the tyrants refused to comply with basic respect. How long this will last and whether or not an agreement will be reached is still yet to be answered. But the baristas (former rather) of Gorilla Coffee deserve much props for their guts. Norma Rays of coffee."

Now the Diner's Journal chimes in with word from one of the owners: "Friday night, some simmering conflicts boiled over when the staff demanded that one of the business partners be removed from the daily operations of the coffee bar, according to Darlene Scherer, one of the owners. She said the ultimatum was refused. This morning none of the managers or baristas appeared for work. There’s no word if the walk out will end." Fucked in Park Slope says there's no note on the door.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Food on April 10, 2010 3:00 PM

Comments [rss]

SubwayStripper

I for one am devastated as i'm a Gorilla addict...

at the same time, I've always been bothered by most of the employees there, all of whom seemed like displaced billy-burg hipsters with all the attitude.

'course, none of us know the details. Like, I don't KNOW that these are a bunch of privileged trustafarians who didn't expected this job to be actual work where they might get yelled at and could perhaps use a dose of recession unemployment to show them that they're not as special as they thought...

but until further evidence I'm going with that. Meanwhile, I'm typing this from my other fave cafe on Atlantic, the Flying Saucer Cafe which sells Gorilla Coffee.

Ev

Hi All,

Thought this was an interesting development - but an East Village coffee shop is now listing on Craigslist that they're looking to hire all of the employees that walked out: http://eastvillagefeed.com/post/516546820/east-village-coffee-shop-looking-to-hire-former

BankRobbery

I used to work at their roastery in Sunset Park and I can attest that the owner Carol McLaughlin is absolutely a tyrant and seriously, verbally abusive to, well, everyone.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

bravo, that some people are willing to fight for their rights. bravo.

mrprufrock

I was sure it was Obama's fault! First the government take over of health care! Now he's closing coffee shops!

the3rdbridge

Frankly, I'm surprised that the owners had to close even for a day, seems to me that there's plenty on unskilled labor looking for work (That's right you fucking Gorilla baristas, you are unskilled labor). I hope they've found scabs by now because I'm walking my dog in an hour and I can't wait to get my coffee from someone that won't act like they are doing me a favor by making coffee I'm paying for.

lornagrl

You know what, I have been volunteering as a barista at a coffee shop for months now (they donate the proceeds to charity) and I can tell you that it is NOT unskilled labor. It's not easy making mochas and lattes.

squatch

anything you can learn to do in 15 minutes is not a "skill"

Manitoba

lornagrl - I sincerely hope that is a joke.

Lasaluki

FWIW, the employees at the Starbucks in Georgetown, KY are extremely rude, so much for southern hospitality.

Taffey Dollar

I can't believe Gothamist has linked to that horrible racist blog fucked in park slope. Erikkka Reitman, regularly posts a hateful little ditty where she immitates rapper Biggie Smalls...just like in the old timey minstral days...Its unbelievable that in 2010, NYC this horrible bitch gets up and put on her black face everyday, mocking a cultural hero of my community. What's even more disgusting is that the READERS actually think its funny....YUCK...After all its ameriKKKa right?...they can have whatever hateful, offensive material on their blog they want...(check out the comments section in your link....)

ITs obvious eriKKKA reitman is an uncreative, untalented, unoriginal hack at best...but mocking the black community as a source of material is really pathetic.....THAT BLOG STINKS.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

yes, they removed my comment about fugly fur hag EriKKKa REITCHMAN. She is an old fugly racist fur hag.

Gnomie

Cultural hero? Oh jeez, really shooting for the stars there, eh?

psquire

Why is this presented as some sort of heroic struggle? Job sucks? Quit. Replace the staff, big fricking deal. It's not rocket science.

Guest

hah, i remember when 5th ave was not park slope.

...i do miss park slope.

thefacts

Yes, it was South Brooklyn. Now, these newbies call Bensonhurst and Bath Beach "South Brooklyn".

And if we all of a sudden have "East" Flatbush, how come we have no "West" Flatbush?

Effing realtors!

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

something happened recently on 5th and 25th, sunset park in my mind, and the newspaper referred to it as Greenwood heights. hehe.

everything below 6th is gowanus is my mind. Shea stadium, Idlewild, Tri-boro, welfare island, winthrop park. I still use the ole names, cause one day no one will.

Kelly

There seems to be an epidemic of disgruntled workers who have to deal with the public and I completely blame the greedy owners of chains and establishments like this. They use oppressive means and intimidation to get workers to comply instead of positive reinforcement. Bravo for the workers leaving en masse!

sluggo

Many years ago I worked the register at a health food store in Soho, and we pulled the same thing, and walked out. The owner replaced us in 2 days.

Gorilla coffee is delicious.

grandzu

So staff can make demands on what an owner can and can't do? I assume they are all out of a job now. Good luck surviving in this city making demands. Hope they know you don't get underemployment when you quit.