Patrons were saddened after a homegrown coffee house announced the temporary closure of its store in Makati City.
Yardstick Coffee, one of the pioneers in the third-wave coffee movement in Metro Manila, announced on Instagram that its last day of operations is on Sunday.
“Join us this Sunday for Yardstick – Legaspi Village’s swan song. No agenda, no program. It’s just like good, the old times—coffee and conversations (and maybe with your doggos too),” it said.
“We’ll open up the space for you to have a coffee and celebrate the closure of this chapter with our team,” it added.
The announcement also coincided with its ninth year in its current location in Estaban Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Yardstick, however, did not specify its next move. It only indicated that it will be saying goodbye to its “current iteration.”
In the statement, it recalled that the business started with a “coffee-only” concept when it opened way back in 2013.
Its team soon added food and other beverages, and also offered workshops over the years.
“It used to be our coffee-only café, then we introduced workshops. For years, we made the neighborhood smell like coffee as we roasted daily. Food slowly crept its way into our offerings. When COVID-19 hit, it became our fortress and also our fulfillment center,” the post reads.
Yardstick ended its message by inviting its patrons to Sunday’s “one last hurrah” of its main branch.
“Nine years ago, we called Esteban Street our home but it was you who made us feel at home. As we reimagine our space, we want to make sure that we make you feel at home. See you on Sunday for one last hurrah,” it said.
Earlier this year, Yardstick opened its second branch at the Mall of Asia Square building in Pasay City.
It also has smaller outposts in Cartel Coffee Deli in Salcedo Village in Makati City and The Daily Cut in The Podium mall in Pasig City.
In the comments section, Instagram pages of other coffee brands reacted to this news.
“Good luck and we’ll see you out there,” Toby Estate Philippines commented.
Bad Café, a small local coffee store, reacted with pleading emojis.
Bungalow Café, another local café and bakery, reacted with heart emojis.
Some patrons also shared their fond memories in the Esteban cafe.
“Godspeed Yardstick. I was able to enjoy your good coffee for a time before moving to where I am,” one Instagram user said.
Others expressed their sentiments with different sad emojis.
Yardstick Coffee has previously landed in several publications as a must-visit specialty coffee shop in Manila and even in the Philippines.
These include Tatler Asia, and niche coffee-based sites Sprudge and Perfect Daily Grind.