Bradley, we have reached the end of an era.
On Sept. 30, Bradley Leaves n Beans closed its doors for good. For some newcomers to campus, this may not seem like that big of a deal, but to many returning students, this is devastating.
News of the closing spread on Facebook with very little warning to patrons who may have never gotten a chance to drink their go-to drinks one last time.
Since January 1 of 2013, LNB has been a cornerstone (literally) of many students’ daily lives. Although it is a sister store to the better-known Peoria Heights shop, Bradley’s branch had quite the following in its early days.
Some of LNB’s busiest nights were the study day nights, as well as the weekly open mic nights.
“I’ve heard better musicians in here than I have in some shows and festivals I’ve been to,” manager Kate Simmons said.
Simmons said the sense of community felt within the store was palpable, as many patrons turned into regulars that the employees knew by first name (or even by their drink preference).
“It turned into—you guys weren’t customers,” she said. “You were more friends and people we saw everyday.”
Of all the factors that contributed to the eventual end, Simmons said it seemed as though the two biggest problems were the lack of parking and the lack of regular foot traffic.
Many of the new parking spaces on Main Street were constructed outside of businesses that already had parking lots of their own, closer to the quicker-served styles of Starbucks.
Since much of the business brought in throughout the year was from Bradley students, the summers turned into a dry spell. Even coming back from summer breaks, the foot traffic was not as bountiful as it could have been.
“Our biggest bet in theory was the kids above us,” Simmons said. “We were thinking ‘you live above here, why wouldn’t you just come down here and eat?’”
Even with discounts for students at Main Street Commons, Simmons said the numbers were just not picking up. From that point on, it was all downhill.
Now for me, this was not just another business that went under. I might be an avid coffee drinker, and I can definitely appreciate any place that has free Wi-Fi and blasts good music, but the closing of this particular coffee shop feels like I’m losing a family member rather than a spot to do homework.
That’s what being a local business is all about—forging actual relationships with your patrons. Walking into LNB felt like coming home for many people. Although the shop only had a few years under its belt, the walls have been painted with memories, both literally and figuratively.
What we can all take away from this disheartening occurrence is how much of an impact we actually make on the communities in which we live. College students contribute so much to the local businesses. It’s not often that you can walk into a shop and see multiple people you know, while being able to have a regular drink/food.
So cheers to you, LNB. I can say wholeheartedly some of my best college memories took place within your walls, and for that I thank you.
