Farewell to Cycle & Coffee: A beloved gathering spot closes its doors

Yesterday I was jogging on the Burke-Gilman Trail and stopped by Cycle & Coffee for what I thought would be a quick stop. It had been years since I’d been inside – I usually opted for their convenient drive-through – and I was struck by how genuinely welcoming the space felt. I left planning to feature them in an upcoming article for Fremont Neighbor.

Last night I learned that yesterday was their final day of business. 

In a heartfelt message to customers, the team at Cycle & Coffee (also known as PIM to longtime patrons) shared the difficult news that they could no longer sustain operations amid Seattle’s skyrocketing costs of doing business, particularly in food service. “Unfortunately and unexpectedly, today was our last day open as a business,” they wrote, expressing hope that a new owner might continue the community they’ve built.

Part of a larger crisis

The closure of Cycle & Coffee comes at a particularly difficult moment for Seattle’s small business community. Just yesterday, The Seattle Times reported that brick-and-mortar businesses in the Seattle area say they’re under more financial stress today than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent survey found that more than 67% of respondents reported being under more financial stress now than in 2020 and 2021, with only 12% earning enough to cover their expenses. Laura Clise, founder of Intentionalist, which conducted the survey, described the situation bluntly: “Small businesses are in a state of invisible crisis.”

The challenges are multifaceted. While pandemic-era support programs provided much needed lifelines in 2020, those subsidies have since expired, leaving businesses to navigate high inflation and sluggish consumer spending on their own. “So many businesses never recovered,” Clise said. “Many are just hanging on.”

For those of us who discovered Cycle & Coffee during the pandemic, when options for safe human connection were precious and few, this place was a lifeline. Their baristas were beyond friendly… they were wonderful, offering quick service, genuine smiles, and a sense of normalcy during uncertain times.

What made Cycle & Coffee special

Walk into Cycle & Coffee and you’d immediately notice the walls covered in photos of customers’ dogs. This was a dog-loving establishment, celebrating the four-legged members of our community with visible joy.

The dual nature of the business – half coffee shop, half bike shop – was genuine and purposeful. Located in prime position next to the Burke-Gilman Trail, Cycle & Coffee became a natural hub for Seattle’s cycling community. They specialized in vintage bike restoration, custom builds for commuting and touring, and bikepacking customizations.

A bright spot in an industrial neighborhood

Originally opened as PIM in 2019, Cycle & Coffee transformed a building that had been a coffee shop for years by adding the drive-through that became a neighborhood fixture. The location, in an industrial stretch of Fremont, became exactly the kind of community gathering spot the area needed. It literally brightened up the neighborhood!

The colorful coffee mural on the east side of the building became a landmark. The outdoor seating on the west side created a space to linger. In an area dominated by warehouses and light industrial businesses, Cycle & Coffee created warmth and community.

The end of an era

“We want to thank all of our loyal friends and customers who have been there for us for all of these years and made this job worth coming to,” the owners wrote in their farewell message. “We will see all of you around town! And to our baristas and bike mechanics: thank you for the memories, friendship, and laughter.”

I reached out to the owners for additional comment and am still waiting to hear back, understandably, given the circumstances.

To the team at Cycle & Coffee: thank you for the great coffee, and most of all, for creating a space where we felt welcome. We’ll see you around town.