HAND-WRITTEN SIGNS IN WINDOWS SAY SIPOLOGY IS GONE FROM EAST VILLAGE
By Jimmy Dolan
A couple of simple handwritten signs attached with Scotch tape to the windows of Sipology Coffeehouse and Gallerie on the corner of Broadway and Linden Ave. made the announcement Wednesday night: “Closed Forever!” said one. Said the other: “Out of Bus. That’s all folks!”
Attempts to contact Sipology’s owners have so far been unsuccessful and Sipology employees have declined to comment.
However, a phone call to Sipology’s other store at Broadway and Temple revealed that it is still open. SipologyRED on Orange Avenue–a casual fine dining experiment that opened last summer–has been closed for about a month.
The sudden, haphazard announcement that Sipology’s original location in the East Village Arts District would be closed permanently was preceded earlier this week with notices of a temporary closure by order of the Long Beach Health Department. Posted to the left of the main entrance, the Health Department notice included a list of “corrective actions” which needed to be addressed before the doors could reopen.
Deluxe Soul, a t-shirt shop that has been operated out of a small room within the now-closed Sipology location, is also vacating the premises, although its merchandise will still be available across the street at Brandon Apparel Group.
“The coffee shop is gone,” said one of the t-shirt sellers when asked about the surprising situation Wednesday. “Shit happens.”
16 Comments
Bummer!
1st Sipology experience: 9/10
2nd Sipology experience: 5/10
3rd Sipology experience: 1/10
By the third visit, they were out of chicken, cheese, toilet paper, and soap.
Or as back-in-time Brian might express it, “Remmub!”
I’m pretty sure those are scores, not dates, Dave. This is so weird! they seemed like they were thriving a month ago!
Some people think that the new Berlin coffee house next to Fingerprints gave Sipology a run for their money, but the truth of the matter is that it’s not competition from Berlin per say–it’s just that the local market is saturated with coffee shops.
Sipology was definitely one of the more spacious and comfy ones, but they had a very large building. The lease for that must have been expensive. Consider that the average patron spends maybe on average $5.50; most people don’t buy lunch or food, but rather one drink that they nurse for hours on end. Because of this, I’m certain that Sipology simply wasn’t taking in enough money.
Cafes in general are not a profitable venture, specifically for this fact. And that’s before you even throw in the one truth Long Beach doesn’t want to admit: The East Arts Village is simply a horrible place for businesses. They see young white city dwellers and think “money”. Wrong! these hipsters have no money, just a lot of pretension and ideals they don’t even stick to. Depending on pretentious neo-hippy artists to revitalize an area and keep your business running is a bad business plan. Seriously, how many businesses have closed within two years of opening in the East Arts Village?
Godspeed, Sipology. You’ll be missed!
This is sad, but the few times I was in, there were extremely low customer densities. That was a large space.
I’ve never understood how large coffee houses stay open. Sales per square foot can’t be that good at any of them, though Portfolio seems to be the exception – it always seems to have a crowd. Do they make most of their money on periodic crowds for concerts and open mikes?
I live in the East Village and frequent all the coffee shops in the neighborhood to ‘support my neighbors’. The problem with Sipology is that they were selling an inconsistent, lackluster coffee that was overpriced in a typically unclean environment. Sipology had the quintessential coffee shop feel housed on a prime corner of a gorgeous downtown landmark. It looks to me like the owner lost sight of the original vision, cut corners with product, overspent with expansions, and then was left dead broke. The employees were not paid in the last months, and the service took a nose dive because of this. The neighborhood has the potential if the right type of business owner comes in-as is the case with Berlin, Beachwood BBQ, and Congregation Ale House- all successful new establishments in downtown that are always packed and have very positive reviews. The Sipology space has that potential with the right entrepreneur.
And in regards to the East Village being a ‘horrible place for business’, I just could not disagree with that more- I think while some business have failed, The East Village is also home to some of the most exciting establishments in Long Beach. The stretch of retail on 1st street between Elm and Linden is the best (and pretty much only) quality retail in all of downtown, District Wine on Linden is the highest rated establishment on Yelp, Fingerprints relocated to the East Village from 2nd St (which most would argue is the most successful stretch of retail in all of Long Beach), and Portfolio Coffee expanded into the neighborhood with Berlin.
Baktaah reveals self to be one of the “hipsters [who] have no money, just a lot of pretension and ideals they don’t even stick to.” LOL
@Baktaah makes great points. I don’t know whether employees not getting paid is factual, but he’s right on with “inconsistent, lackluster coffee … typically unclean environment … quintessential coffee shop feel.” My several experiences there were exactly as he described, thinking the coffee and food left a lot to be desired.
Several of my friends were part of the opening crew and said even back then that getting paychecks on time was an issue. Then they started opening more locations and it just didn’t make any sense. I don’t think it’s location was the problem as much as poor financial management and nonexistent business sense.
P.S. Another Sarah B.!? What’s up!
2 Sarah Bennett’s? I’m confused. There are other entrepreneurs interested. someone mentioned Moondance. I’m sure having a drum circle the night before might have had something to do with the next day. “Sound” has always been an issue to residents on that corner.
Good Luck to Sumako who brought some fine art into the establishment as well as DeluxeSoul.com with the tees. These two entities will ALWAYS have presence during Second Saturday (artwalkLB.com). ArtistsAsArt.com was gone long ago – they were in the expanded space next door. Liza Mitchell (VaydenRoi, AAA) cleaned the place out to make room for the project.
To those now unemployed, all I can do is offer you to sell off one of my websites to sell FOR 50/50 on sedo.com No Experience Necessary. (Pick one at facebook.com/TPSradio under NOTES but keep in mind I’m going to hold onto EastVillageArtsDistrict.org until I fell the right “wave” of enery is down there to start promoting the area again.
Hmmm, I smell cookies. Stay tuned for 3rd and Elm’s group debut in Sept with the opening of ShortninBreadBakery.com I’m thinking istead of Linden, they should move the artwalk right in front of the LB Depot for Creative Reuse on Elm!
We’ll cover change on csulb’s kbeach.org radio. Just you watch, er, listen!
Such a shame. I live in that building and it was nice to have a comfy place right downstairs. I agree though that they had massive inconsistencies with their drink quality, not to mention the food was a bit spotty.
This is the second or third coffee shop that has been in this space. I think a major problem with this area is the horrible and inconvenient parking for customers. If the city wants to turn around this area, I feel they should make parking much easier. Hell, knockdown one of the junky apartment buildings and make some customer parking!
Ah well. I’m curious to see who will move in.
I live a few blocks up from this location and saw the sign last week. Honestly, I felt sad that a business was gone, but hopeful that something better would show up in that space.
I used to go here every Saturday morning with the hubby, and agree that is just kept getting worse. I was so done when the guy making my latte used his teeth to open the gallon of milk.
BARF
We never came back after that, so I’m not surprised about the health code issues.
I am happy to report that Sumako has found a new home at Zephyr Vegetarian Cafe. In addition to featuring amazing artists, 2nd Saturday Experimental Music performances will continue, now from 9-10 pm.
I too have heard that the owners of Sipology over-extended themselves financially, and couldn’t meet their obligations. I don’t know if this is true, though. It is sad that it is gone, but there is no shortage of great food and coffee in the area.
I worked there and the actual reason we closed is because Isaac disappeared and didn’t pay us for over a month