Royal Oak Coffee Shop Closes After 11 Years Amid Rising Costs and Pandemic Impact

The Office Coffee Shop in Royal Oak shut down Thursday. It served downtown customers for over a decade. Co-owner Michael Keith blamed climbing expenses and fewer visitors.

"After the pandemic, we just really haven't been able to get that same level of foot traffic to come back through the doors," Keith told CBS Detroit.

Earlier this week, the shop announced its permanent closure on Facebook and other social media accounts. Thursday was the last day. Doors stayed open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Keith said the owners hated making this choice. "It's by no means what we want to do. We've really tried to stick around for the community," Keith said.

For 11 years, the shop brought people together. Keith described three main goals that drove the business forward.

"We really focus on coffee, coworking and community. We just really had a goal of trying to make people smile every day," Keith said.

Customers felt crushed about losing their meeting place. Sara Izaguirre came in often. She talked about what the shop meant to her.

"I felt special here. I felt like this was my little home. It's just really sad this place is going. It's a comfort here. It really is," Izaguirre said.

Dawne Webber, another customer, loved how staff treated regulars. "They know my name. They look out for me. It's almost like family friends," Webber said.

Keith told CBS News Detroit that people tried saving the business after the announcement went public, but those attempts arrived too late to change anything.

"We've had a number of people looking at ways they can try to help us out, and it just isn't going to make the cut," said Keith.

The co-owner thanked his team and customers for keeping things going as long as they did. "The support has been over the top. Thank you, everybody. Thank you so much for the opportunity for us to be a part of your life. It has been better than I ever could have imagined," Keith said.