Photo by Brian Addison.
Its patio was one of the most active in Downtown Long Beach: packed with prime offerings of Downtown’s denizens, from vets battling over Obama’s policies to dog lovers chatting about collars vs. harnesses, to introverts tucked into a corner reading, It’s a Grind at 247 Pine Ave. was a welcomed alternative to the far larger and more corporate coffee giant directly across the street.
That energy, however, has been displaced for the time being, as owners Wil and Lazara Diaz posted the following letter on the door of their business November 11:
Dearest It’s a Grind Family of Customers,
With heaviest hearts, we come to bear very sad news. Our time together has come to an end. After many attempts, we cannot come to agreeable terms with the landlord.
We have truly enjoyed serving you and will miss each of you ever so terribly. Thank you for your loyalty and continued patronage throughout the years.
Much love to you and yours always, Wil and Lazara
This follows the closing of a sister shop on Atlantic Ave. in Bixby Knolls, which became DRNK coffee+tea.
The Post reached out to Lazara and was asked to politely provide her and her husband a few days to process.
Downtown resident Jed Billings took to Facebook to lament over the closing, stating, “So sad to see It’s a Grind on Pine close its doors. Yet another downtown business lost. There may or may not already be someone in place, but it would be nice if the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Downtown Residential Council, Downtown Long Beach Association, or someone had a mediator that could step in and help tenants and landlords come to an agreement when negotiating leases, disputes, et cetera.”
The It’s A Grind chain of coffee shops originated in Long Beach, with its first store opening in 1995 at 5933 East Spring St. In June 2009, Praise International North America Inc., headquartered in Irvine, bought It’s A Grind’s retail and franchise operations from its founders. According to the company’s website, It’s A Grind operates over 35 locations in 7 states, including 25 in Southern California and the first international location in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Future international development is currently planned for Dubai (UAE), Doha (Qatar), and Brunei.
For us, the much-needed breakfast bagel—a practically daily craving—and sniffing the bags of odd-flavored coffees will be sorely missed.
The landlord did not return requests for comment.
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