Popular Keyport Coffee Shop Closing Due To COVID Restrictions

KEYPORT, NJ — Add it to the list: A popular Keyport coffee shop and cafe announced this week it is closing.

Sunday was the last day of business for Espresso Joe's/Sunshine Cafe on Front Street in Keyport.

"It is with great sadness and disappointment that we must close," owner Felicia McIntosh posted on Facebook. "This was not an easy decision to make, but with these unprecedented (times, we can) no longer continue to bring you the best service possible."

Espresso Joe's was many things to different people: It was known as a place to grab a quick cappuccino or espresso before the morning commute, as a lunch spot and vegan/gluten-free bakery, and as a place to sit and use the WiFi. It also hosted live music from local Bayshore musicians.

But what it could not survive was a take-out only world.

"We tried to make that transition, which was really, really tough," McIntosh told the Asbury Park Press. "When restrictions started to loosen up a little bit, I was able to offer curbside and little things, but we didn't rebound the way I hoped.

"It was just one heartache after another," she told the APP, "and I have to stop the bleeding."

Add Espresso Joe's to the list of Monmouth County small businesses that will not be reopening: Hoffman's Ice Cream permanently closed their Little Silver location. CJ McLoone's tavern in Tinton Falls will be closed for the entire summer, with hopes to reopen in the fall.

"We could only put four tables outside. So it wasn't worth it," owner Tim McLoone told Patch.

Daza Subs & Deli in Keyport is shutting down. Ocean Cafe in Red Bank, a popular lunch spot, is shuttering.

Alfonso's Pastry Shoppe, a family-run bakery on Broad Street in Red Bank, will not be reopening. Tilton Fitness permanently closed all seven of its gyms in New Jersey, including its Hazlet location. The corporate Gold's Gym, which has a location at Pier Village in Long Branch, filed for bankruptcy in May, and the CEO said the forced COVID lockdown was to blame.

No Middletown business has yet to permanently close due to coronavirus, or due to the state-mandated business shutdowns.

"Many Middletown businesses are struggling, that's for sure," said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry.

In fact, here's a list of all the Middletown businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to keep them afloat. There are a lot of recognizable names on that list, from Guttenplan's frozen dough, T&M Associates (which does municipal engineering and road work), the church of Saint Leo the Great in Lincroft, Mater Dei Prep high school, Food Circus, Pet Supplies Plus on Hwy. 35 and many more.

Related: These Middletown-Area Businesses Will Simply Not Be Reopening (June 26)

These Middletown-Area Businesses Received Coronavirus PPP Loans (July 9)

Do you know a Middletown-area business that's closing or struggling due to the COVID lockdown and business restrictions? Would they like to talk to Patch about it? Email carly.baldwin@patch.com

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