The East Lansing clock tower photographed on Aug. 23, 2019.
The Espresso Royale Coffee chain announced in a statement Thursday they would be permanently closing the doors to their East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Champaign, Illinois locations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the statement, Espresso Royale closed their cafes March 20, hoping the closure would be temporary. As the closure continued, they said, it became impossible for the company to remain viable.
Along with their cafes, Espresso Royale has ceased roaster, bakery, catering, grocery and online sales operations.
The statement thanked their workers, service providers and customers for their support over the years.
“Some would say that a company that goes out of business has failed; we don’t think so,” the company said in their statement. “Since 1987, Espresso Royale has served excellent coffee to millions of customers, has provided good work for thousands of people, and has purchased millions of dollars of goods and services from businesses around the country. We think that’s a success.”
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