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Indie Vancouver coffee shop closing original location after 12 years

"It’s straight-up hard making a small independent business work in this climate."
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Kafka's Coffee will close its original Vancouver cafe location on Main Street this April.

Another bit of sad news along Vancouver's Main St with word one of the city's leading independent coffee shop businesses is opting to bring its tenancy to an end at its original location.

Kafka's Coffee shared on social media on April 6 that it will soon be closing the doors for good at 2525 Main St.

The last day of business at the cafe on Main near Broadway will be April 27, 2022.

Citing "an unsustainable rent increase and the relentless disruptive construction" right outside cafe doors, Kafka's Coffee said the decision to close was made "with a heavy heart," adding: "It’s straight-up hard making a small independent business work in this climate."

The heart of Kafka's is Aaron Kafka. The passionate coffee enthusiast launched the café over a decade ago, slowly expanding to have three locations and a recently-introduced coffee roasting arm of the business. 

The Main St Kafka's is also home to the Lil' Bird sandwich window. 

Last month, Kafka's confirmed it would be operating a new café location in partnership with the City of Vancouver's Park Board at the new park at Smithe and Richards in Yaletown. 

"Our first café was born out of a passion for quality coffee and a deep love for the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, and you welcomed us with open arms. We have been woven into the fabric of this vibrant community for 12 years; it is hard to believe we will soon no longer be serving the 2500 block of Main," says Kafka on Instagram. 

Kafka adds that the staff are able to stay on with the business.

Here's Kafka's closing announcement: