Just letting the people know!
But then I got wind of a disturbance in the force, as it were. See, Floyd’s landlord thought the location would be ideal for a coffee shop as well — only he wanted to control it. So the couple behind Floyd’s scrambled for new space. Found it at 1412 SE Morrison (just a block and a half west of the original location, right next door to Crush) and prepared to move in.
That wasn’t enough for the landlord, apparently, who seemed to think he’d also be able to lock the Floyd’s people out at 12:01 am May 1st (their lease extends through the 1st) & just take over the premises, equipment and all! (He apparently showed up at midnight 5/1 with a crew of workers & a big ol’ truck, no less!)
I was following the breaking news updates over the weekend, courtesy of the Floyd’s Twitter account:
– Having a bit of a sleepover at the Original Floyd’s- it’s our last day til our move 1/2 block to the Vice Room space (11:10 pm 4/30).– So- the landlord just tried to evict us- Mr. Johnny Law says different. (12:22 am 5/1)
And I dropped by this morning to give them my support – passing a huge spray-painted ‘FREE COFFEE’ sign at the old location while I was at it.
There’s still painting tape up on the walls, and unfinished edges here and there. Chris promises that they’ll have more tables in soon as well. But there are plenty of sunny yellow signs up to let you know you’re at the right spot. The coffee’s just as good; the help just as pleasant.
And that good coffee shop vibe survived, hooray!
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Floyd’s Coffee is a terrific place to work on my laptop and have some good coffee. I hope that the locals will band together to help them in any way they need.
I spent many a morning at Floyd’s when I lived in the Buckman neighborhood. I will get over there to show my support for a coffee shop that ranks as one of the best in Portland.
I’ve never been to Floyd’s, but it is now at the top of my list to support whenever I’m anywhere near their new location. Thanks for the article Betsy!
Wow, if there was ever a reason to support a local coffee shop! That landlord should be cited!
Just a note.. their landlord is King Harvest – the folks who make hummus and other stuff..so I for one will keep supporting Floyds (awesome coffee shop), I will also no longer buy any King Harvest products.. seriously underhanded tactics. The baristas told me that the Landlord tried to kick Floyds out 6 months into their 4.5 year lease after they renovated that location.
I assume this means no more drive-thru? Drat! And double drat – I recently fell in love with the King Harvest Balsamic Hummus. But no more. That’s rotten behavior on their part for sure!
FYI, I have email into King Harvest right now to get their reaction (tried calling as well, but got VM.)
Dear FLoyds,
thank you for making the best coffee in portland and finding a spot so close. I could not imagine what I would do if you had moved out of our neighborhood. You keep me and many other people happy.
thank you!!!
What a story. Put me in the mood to walk around the corner and grab a cup at Floyds Old Town.
We support Floyd’s!!!
I’m not a coffee fan, but I like Floyd’s. How scummy do you have to be to evict and scoop up a business built by someone else? King Harvest, you will reap no more from me. Ever. Scorn, not withstanding. Long live Floyd’s!
Ok that just sucks for Floyd’s. I will try and make them my morning coffee stop.
Great story Betsy
> We support Floyd’s!!!
+1
I think people need to also know that there was a dispute about the non-payment of utilities to the landlord. That’s why Floyd’s got “kicked out”.
Yes, JoJo – I heard about that ‘dispute about non-payment of utilities.’
Seems as if the landlord wasn’t able to produce reasonable proof that his tenants really had incurred hundreds of dollars in utilities per month on a shared system, didn’t want to have the a separate meter set up, nor was he willing to share the documentation showing the total utility costs themselves.
I wouldn’t have coughed up exorbitant charges without proof either, would you?
You need to go to the Portland Mercury blog for more info on the whole story. Unfortunately, I tried to post a link to it but wasn’t able or allowed to. BTW, that photo of the cup dancing to advertise the new Floyd’s location was actually seen right in front of the King Harvest location – not cool in my opinion. Bitter coffee indeed.
King Harvest had every right to open a coffee shop in the building it owns and has owned for twenty-five years, particularly after accommodating Floyd’s (despite nonpayment of utilities, despite greedy attitudes, despite giving up its identity and both sides of the sign and building). FYI: While Floyd’s was operating up front, KH was in back, doing what it does, what it always has done. They’ve simply added coffee to their line of products. Isn’t there room for both ops on the same street? Is there another major thoroughfare in PDX w/o more than one coffee shop? The drama is as bitter as Floyd’s. And for the record: Drama is NOT a reason to support a coffee shop…
Nope, drama isn’t a good reason to support a coffee shop.
But I know Jack and Kris, and I know the support they give the local community on an ongoing basis.
I know their staff, I know (and love) their product, made with Stumptown coffee. And while I’ve admittedly only heard their side of the story, it jibes with what I’ve witnessed myself.
So I’ll gladly head down the street to Floyd’s rather than give KH’s new coffee shop my business – even with signs like ‘half-price lattes’ in the window today at the KH shop.
Meanwhile, business at Floyd’s was *booming* today…!
Begun the Coffee Wars have?
I absolutely love Floyd’s Coffee Shop on Couch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kTjICAU7c
It’s homey, very accommodating for my business work on my laptop and friendly. Plus, at around 7:00am, the crowds really starting coming in!
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