After news surfaced earlier this week that Colorado’s last Steaming Bean Coffee Co., at 915 Main Ave., was closing its doors, happy employees announced Friday that the shop will soon reopen in the downstairs space of the Irish Embassy Pub.
The move will take Steaming Bean with all its employees just across the street to 900 Main Ave., where the business will resume open-mic music nights on Fridays.
Steaming Bean business owner Erica Fendley said she will relinquish her title when the shop relocates and will become Steaming Bean manager. Irish Embassy Pub co-owner Mike Graham offered to move Steaming Bean into the space.
“This all happened over the last 24 hours,” Fendley said Friday. “I’m amazed by the magical community we live in.”
Fendley said Steaming Bean employees, who were lamenting the shop’s closure along with patrons, will keep their jobs.
“I’ve worked here a year,” said barista Jenn Waldor. “And I worked at the one in Telluride. I’m so excited I won’t have to see two Steaming Beans close.”
Steaming Bean is vacating its current location because of a poor working relationship between Fendley and the property owner. The business closed after a party Friday.
“Irish Embassy was thinking about bringing breakfast back, and we wanted to have a coffee presence, so this could be a perfect marriage,” Graham said. There is no lease involved with the new arrangement.
Steaming Bean is expected to open in its new space by March 17.
Steaming Bean Coffee Co. formerly had coffee shops in Gunnison and Telluride. Owner Nick Hill continues to roast beans in Telluride.
jpace@durangoherald.com
