'S---bucks Effect' To Blame For Cafe Closing, Owner Says

EAST VILLAGE, NY — A nearby Starbucks has made it too difficult for another East Village coffee shop to stay open, its owner says.

Three Seat Espresso will close after nearly three years near Tompkins Square Park because of a nearby Starbucks, the cafe's owner said on Instagram.

"The S---bucks effect has hit hard and they have only become busier and embraced by the community," the owner Aaron Cook said on Instagram, first reported by EVGrieve.

Three Seat Espresso opened on Avenue A near Ninth Street about three years ago as a coffee and barber shop. Cook later shuttered the barber shop after fights between barbers where cops got involved, plus, the bustling cafe needed more space, he said.

About two years ago, Starbucks opened on the same block, and trouble came: the "s---bucks effect."

"I have people say to me every day 'I just don't get it, why would people go there?" wrote Cook, who also co-founded the increasingly popular Bluestone Lane. "There is nothing I can do about it, having tried so many things already."

"The mega-billion-dollar-s----in-a-cup-boheimouth has worn my business down and now out."

The shop will close before the end of the year.

Halloween will be its third, and last, anniversary.

"We have tried to serve the community as best we can, however, ultimately we can no longer do so," the cafe said in an Instagram post.

A rep for Three Seat Espresso did not immediately respond to an email, but Patch will update this as more information on the cafe's closing becomes available.

View this post on Instagram

CLOSING! Three Seat Espresso will be closing for good. Not immediately but before years' end. Halloween marks our 3rd and last birthday. . We have tried to serve the community as best we can, however, ultimately we can no longer do so. . Thanks to everyone who has supported and continued to support us - staff, investors, customers, friends, family, vendors and partners. . Please stop in when you can, as the staff and I would love a chance to say our goodbyes before throwing you back into the coffee abyss! . Cheers, Aaron Founder & CEO
A post shared by Three Seat Espresso (@threeseatespresso) on Oct 17, 2019 at 7:58am PDT

View this post on Instagram

THREE SEAT ESPRESSO IS CLOSING SOON. You never really open a business with the expectation of having to close it. This is a first for me. Three Seat Espresso will be closing in the next couple of months. . Three Seat wasn’t perfect. Nothing ever is. A lot of shit went down in those four walls. Starting as a cafe and barber concept, along with the barber aspect came physical fights between barbers in front of cafe customers, theft, police involvement, plus more. Barbers and barber shops are a culture unto themselves. I could write a book on this! . At the same time, the cafe was pretty busy and it made sense to expand into the barber shop area, removing the barber service. . It didn’t work. Over the last year, the cafe has only become quieter and quieter, significantly reducing sales - our Achilles heel. The Shitbucks effect has hit hard and they have only become busier and embraced by the community. They opened approx 50 feet from me. I have people say to me every day ‘I just don’t get it, why would people go there? Fact it is, it doesn’t matter. People do and increasingly so. There is nothing I can do about it, having tried so many things already. The mega-billion-dollar-shit-in-a-cup-boheimouth has worn my business down and now out. This is a case of where having the best coffee, the best aesthetic, the best service, the best music etc doesn’t matter. . But, what an experience it has been! Working with staff and investors who have become dear friends, customer who have become mates and wonderful cafe and hospitality partners. When thriving, Three Seat was a wonderful part of the East Village community. And most importantly for me, it is how I met my incredible girlfriend, Jera for which I am most thankful and grateful. And a huge thank you to my parents for propping me up. . Anyhow, the last chance to visit Three Seat is rapidly approaching. The little cafe that could have been... . Cheers . . . #threeseat #threeseatespresso #latte #shitbucks #shitbuckscoffee #customers #community #barista #quality #shoplocal #supportlocal #cafelife #coffee #espresso #coffeeoftheday #baristababes #coffeegram #coffeeholic #instacoffee #coffeeshop #coffeelover #instatag
A post shared by Aaron Cook (@aaroncookcoffee) on Oct 18, 2019 at 8:11am PDT