Coffee Shop, the Brazilian-American restaurant across from Union Square, is closing after 28 years. The NY Post reports that the restaurant's last day will be October 11th and that the co-owner Charles Milite announced the closure to staff earlier today.
He told the Post, "The times have changed in our industry. The rents are very high and now the minimum wage is going up and we have a huge number of employees."
Coffee Shop had reliable—if not spectacular—food, in addition to a good line-up of drinks—all that, coupled with its convenient location and al fresco dining, made it a popular restaurant for decades. Over the years it has been known as a hangout for models and celebrities, and when the Coffee Shop reopened after being closed by the Health Department in 2007, diners included Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci.
Milite's other nearby restaurant, Flats Fix, will remain open.
The Coffee Shop is located at 29 Union Square W, if you want to drop by before it's gone.
