Downtown Evansville Coffee Shop Announces Permanent Closure
In May of 2024, Nate Templeton owner of Joe Brewski in Downtown Evansville opened up about the hardships of owning a business. Now, we have a sad update on the brick-and-mortar shop that is located across from the Victory Theatre.
The Realities of Owning a Small Business
Joe Brewski's owner Nate Templeton shared a very difficult post on social media this week, pulling the curtain back, and talking about the challenges of being a small business owner. Nate has also been working another full-time job and trying to find quality time with his family. That is like trying to fit 40 hours in a day. So, after about a year of making changes to the business to fit the needs of potential customers, Joe Brewski will be closing forever on April 26, 2025.
Read More: Downtown Evansville Coffee Shop Needs Support to Keep Brewing
The End of Joe Brewski?
In Nate's note on social media, he stays positive about the future and some creative ideas may come about. We will have to stay tuned to find out what will happen. I am glad to hear that it's not all negative.
We’ve been growing uphill. Many of our peers have been experiencing loss over the last years (5-30% loss). Last year we grew in shop business by 43% This year we’re already up an additional 47% over last year. We’re not fully out of the financial woods, but I feel like I can see the edge of the tree line. It is not lost on me how special that is. It feels like we’re growing uphill. Where there is growth there is life. With your feedback and my team, I truly believe we have built something special. Something.. other. So if Joe is growing, why close? Ah yes, the question I’ve wrestled with for months. In my personality, the only thing more difficult than getting me to start something is getting me to quit. I’ve been dreaming and working on this for 10+ years now. I’ve got a very “captain goes down with the ship” lean. To be vague yet straightforward, most of it comes down to Nate. For the last year, I’ve been in the shop less and less. I’ve been working between 35-55 hours a week at other job or jobs to support my family while Joe is in his adolescent phase. I’ve been faced with the choice: for Joe to grow where I’d like it to, I would need to return to Joe as a full-time, attentive owner working those owner hours. Meanwhile, my kids are growing up quickly. My oldest, I can count on one hand the number of summer breaks she has left. In this season, the greatest thing I can do is build memories and some sense of calm and normalcy with my family. If I have to choose between building one and risking the loss of the other.. if I look back in three years and I’ve built with my kids and lost Joe, I imagine far less regret than the other way around.
Related: Southern Indiana Coffee Shop Gains Community Support to Stay Open
Location and Closing Info:
Note from Nate:
Chains That Are Closing or Have Closed Locations in 2025
Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll
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