Monday, July 21, 2025

Buddies Coffee, forced out of Williamsburg with a rent hike, still on track to open East Village location

Photos by Stacie Joy

Buddies Coffee is still in the works for 226 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

We spotted co-owner Taylor Nawrocki in the space the other day...
He hopes to have the shop open soon. 

Nawrocki, a pro skater, and his partner Rachel Nieves launched Buddies in Williamsburg in December 2020. 

The shop became a hit for its signature drinks, including the coquito latte, a family recipe that swaps out rum for espresso.

An emotional TikTok post from Nieves went viral in February when she tearfully shared that their landlord was asking for an unsustainable rent increase, not to mention another coffee shop was opening next door. 

Despite an outpouring of support, Buddies closed on May 17. 

The EV Buddies had been in the works for several months before the news of the rent hike. We reported on the pending arrival on Dec. 23.
at

3 comments:

  1. MTA614July 21, 2025 at 7:14 AM

    Reading the comments on The Cut piece make this business seem sus AF. Broad strokes reads as "gentrifying owner with corporate backing upset that they're not the only game in town, decides to throw social media hissy fit to garner sympathy". Considering all the pearl-clutching over changing Williamsburg, I'd prefer they stay TFO out of the East Village. We don't need more of that attitude here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jose GarciaJuly 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM

      Well I don't know about all of that but it does seem we are already lousy with so many coffee joints as it is. But I might try the coquito latte.

      Delete
  2. DTWJuly 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM

    Amazing -- super fun shop and crew. Can't wait! (Oh, and ignore the haters, they are everywhere, eyeroll)

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.