11. Gimme Coffee (Opened in NYC in 2003)
Gimme Coffee, an Ithaca-based coffee chain with two New York City locations, announced the closure of both locations on April 7 after experiencing economic hardships facing many small businesses. With locations in Williamsburg, which opened in 2003, and Nolita, which opened in 2008, Gimme Coffee was a staple in New York’s up-and-coming hipster and indie communities, famous for its espressos and unique blends. Gimme Coffee is still shipping coffee beans, clothes, and even coloring pages from their Ithaca headquarters.
The coffee chain notes that many of its former baristas have started their successful coffee careers at Gimme Coffee, while others have went on to fruitful art and music careers. Gimme Coffee is still supporting its NYC staff through sales of its Rally blend, and both shops currently have virtual tip jars on Venmo. Although the future is uncertain, Gimme Coffee hopes to reopen at least one store in NYC soon, but for now, both locations will remain shut and regulars will have to find a new go-to place for espressos.
“We wish we had the opportunity to say goodbye in person and are left with a collective hole in our hearts for not having had the ability to have done so,” they wrote on Instagram.