Williamsburg’s viral hotspot, Buddies Coffee Roasters, is closing its doors on Saturday, May 17th, so plan your morning pick-me-up accordingly.
The Grand Street spot, famous for its coquito lattes and welcoming atmosphere, received some time in the spotlight earlier this year when its owner, Rachel Nieves, took to social media to share her story. As we know, being small business owner — particularly in NYC — is not without its challenges. In her now-viral TikTok post with over 7 million views, Rachel fought back tears while she revealed that unattainable rent increases would likely force her shop to shutter.
“I started my business with my boyfriend, just the two of us, with just a couple thousand dollars,” Nieves reveals in her clip, “And it really has changed my life and it was the scariest thing I’ve ever done.”
Her vulnerability and perseverance — as well as the shop’s delectable drinks and treats — resulted in an amazing outpouring of support, from New Yorkers, local media outlets, and even celebs. (Hi, Joe Jonas!) She claimed the shop was busier than its ever been in its four-year history post TikTok fame, and locals were loving everything about the delightful coffee shop.
Buddies Coffee is closing
Unfortunately, Rachel took to TikTok with another reveal — the last day to stop by Buddies will be May 17th. Her sweets and highly-praised coquito lattes will be the star of the show, but per TikTok, Rachel plans on having fun with her clientele when they come in for one last hoorah. You can expect music, photos, and those same chill vibes the business is known for.
In some good news, while she might not be located at 150 Grand Street anymore, her shop will be relocating to a new spot.
“I’m so excited to see what we can create in our new space,” Rachel says in a new video. “And while I don’t have an exact date or know exactly when we’re going to open up, I’m so excited to transform this space into exactly what I envision in my head.”
Secret NYC has reached out to Rachel regarding her new space, but did not hear back at the time of publication. Stay tuned for updates on Buddies 2.0.
📍 150 Grand Street, Brooklyn