Monday, January 30, 2023

Essex Squeeze has closed its 5th Street outpost

Photo by Steven

Essex Squeeze has been dark in recent weeks... and now comes word that the juice-coffee shop has permanently closed here at 300 E. Fifth St. just east of Second Avenue.

Sources tell EVG contributor Stacie Joy that the closure was "due to a rent increase and lack of business."

The cafe, run by LES natives and childhood friends Cedric Hernandez and Charles DeLaCruz, opened its first outpost in Essex Market in 2020. There's also a location in Dekalb Market Hall in Brooklyn.

The EV location opened in March 2022.

This space was previously Idlewild Coffee Co., which closed after just two months in business during the summer of 2020. The owner blamed the presence of the 9th Precinct's police barricades at the time for greatly reducing his foot traffic.

Idlewild took over from another coffee shop — Southern Cross Coffee, which shut down in September 2019 after two and half years in service.
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2023 at 12:55 PM

    seems like a bad spot for any business relying on foot traffic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2023 at 5:22 PM

    The rent is way too high for a block like that.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Carol from East 5th StreetJanuary 30, 2023 at 11:48 PM

    Yup. Greedy landlord. (Faith Popcorn - "futurist", author and marketing consultant). Inherited the building from her family. Doesn't give a damn about the neighborhood.

    ReplyDelete
  4. anonymousJanuary 31, 2023 at 3:23 PM

    Essex Squeeze!!! The owners grew up in the lower east side!!! They support so many programs including youth. They are also expanding soon to Queens, New York!!!! I met them through juice. Just really great vibes. Yes, this particular block has some issues. Hopefully, it will bring more juice. I wish them (Essex Squeeze and future businesses) well!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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