ATLANTA — A beloved community space and Atlanta coffee shop will close out the year by shutting its doors for good.
Hodgepodge Coffeehouse on Moreland Avenue in southeast Atlanta announced Friday that it is being priced out of the neighborhood.
"While the past twelve years at the corner of Ormewood and Moreland have become truly indescribable, this corner has also become incredibly desirable, and we simply cannot afford the significant rent hike accompanied with renewing our lease," owner Krystle Rodriguez said in a note to the community.
Rodriguez, the founding owner and operator of the coffee house, opened the space as "an environment where people can go to simply exist, create or connect," according to her website bio.
The coffeehouse would host open mic nights, variety shows, game nights, and community markets.
In the statement to the community Rodriguez explained that price increases customers saw over the last two years went directly into the space as the business navigated the increasing price of goods and pay increases for the team as it became more expensive to live in the city.
"We have tried our damnedest to keep true to our mission while keeping the doors open and the lights on, but the reality is that success in this current landscape makes exploitation almost a necessity," Rodriguez said. "I know our customers are trying just as hard to survive right now."
This is why Rodriguez is choosing to close the coffeehouse.
"Like the cars that crashed through our storefront, these past twelve years have flown by. Thank you for all of the love and support over the years," the statement read.
Rodriguez said that customers can expect hugs from behind the counter on the last day of operations, which will be Dec. 31. The announcement was made early to give the community time to enjoy the space before the final goodbye.
To read Rodriguez' full statement, click here.