Gresham’s “Best Coffee Shop” is being forced to relocate following a change in landlords and proposed spike in rent.
After two and a half years of delighting coffee lovers of all stripes at a prominent corner in downtown Gresham, Legacy Coffee Company must find a new home. It has been a difficult, headache-inducing process for owners Brad and Michelle Graves.
“Everything we have been facing is out there; we want to be as transparent as we can about this process,” Brad said. “It has been frustrating, but the sentiment has always been when one door closes another opens.”
June 30 is the last day that Legacy can operate at its current location, 75 N.W. First St. The goal is to begin moving out by June 25, so the likely last day will be Sunday, June 23.
“We have to move everything out,” Brad said.
It was a change in landlords that spurred all of this. The new owner, who takes over on May 1, has different plans for the corner — anchored by Legacy and two vacant neighbors, the former A Renaissance Health natural medicine center, and a space that was long held by GoldArt Jewelry and then Moss Works.
Brad was told his rent was going to increase by 40-60%, an impossible hike for the coffee shop. He was also given the option to shift into the bones of GoldArt next door, but the location is smaller and rent would be the same as what they pay currently.
“The intent is clear that this space will be used for something else in the future,” Brad said.
So the plan is to find a new home in Gresham.
Brad is eyeing a spot he is excited about, though he is keeping the location close to the chest until things can be finalized. They need to raise 10% of their fundraising goal, about $7,000, before diving into those negotiations.
What he can share: the location will still be in the Gresham area, and the size is nearly double the current Legacy footprint.
“We are growing, so moving to a smaller space isn’t something we can do,” Brad said.
Legacy has always been about more than coffee, though if you are a caffeine wonk you would be hard pressed to find better offerings in your mug, sourced from roasters locally and around the world.
The Graves, and the baristas, create a welcoming space where all sorts of people can gather.
With that new location, Legacy has some immediate plans. They want more comfy seating and more community tables. The capacity of the future space would better accommodate large groups of customers, and there will be more outlets people can use — the current Legacy only has three working outlets. They will also make a larger designated kids’ area that is off the beaten path.
“We envision a space that is more hospitable to the types of people coming in,” Brad said. “Everyone has different ways they want to enjoy Legacy.”
None of this was supposed to happen on this timeline. Brad had been mulling an expansion, but the hope was that would be several years in the future. Thus the outpouring of support Legacy has received since informing regulars and neighbors about the move has been much-appreciated.
“Every day we hear some kind of sympathies, or stories of why people love to come here,” Brad said. “This place was our dream, so to see it not only realized but received and appreciated has been overwhelming.”
The fundraising component is key for Legacy surviving. There are multiple plans, with merchandise and tickets to a future soft opening in that new home coming soon. Right now there is a GoFundMe fundraiser: tinyurl.com/597a3y8v. Folks can also make donations at the counter of the coffee shop.
The money not only helps with the move, but also the build out of the new space, pay for staff during the coming downtime, first three months of rent, and new furniture and equipment.
“That way when we move into the space we are ready to go and focused,” Brad said.
If everything goes to plan, the new Legacy location could be open on July 1.
Legacy has gotten lots of support. Hundreds of dollars poured into the GoFundMe before it had been promoted, and local roasters have been offering beans at a discount to add to the savings.
“It has been amazing, a lot of people have already offered to volunteer for painting or moving furniture,” Brad said.
When the Graves first opened Legacy, the vibe was much different. It was in the wake of the pandemic, and the efforts felt isolating. They spent many long days tearing down walls, removing 20-year-old carpet, painting the walls, building the espresso bar — basically transforming the space into what it is now.
“There were only a handful of us, friends who helped with that transition,” Brad said. “It felt like we were alone.”
Now it is a whole community of coffee lovers coming together.
“I feel confident we are going to be able to get all this done quickly,” Brad said. “We have this community of people on our side to ensure this legacy continues.”
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