City Lights Coffee Instagram

City Lights Coffee will close its downtown shop Aug. 6, ending a 15-year run on Market Street. Citing increasing rent costs, ownership hopes to secure a new space for the shop serving Counter Culture coffee, an assortment of baked goods and more, according to an Instagram post

“We are working tirelessly to secure a new space, so send us all your positive energy,” they wrote, adding that they are closing the shop due to a combination of the pandemic and rising rent costs. “Our lease is up, and we cannot afford the astronomical rent [our landlord] has proposed,” the post read.

City Lights was operating in a takeout- and outdoor-only capacity until April 25, when it reopened the inside of the shop with limited seating. According to the post, City Lights is looking for “angel investor” and “non-traditional loan suggestions” to help it secure another space.


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