Caffe Ladro baristas served their last cup of joe to Fremonsters March 31 after 26 years of operating at 452 N 36th St.
The Fremont Caffe Ladro location is closing due to the pending demolition of the block, which is being re-developed into a 7-story apartment building by Holland Acquisition Co. LLC.
The final day at Ladro was fairly typical, young and old were quietly reading, working and conversing. A barista working the last shift said regulars were devastated by the loss and that a closing party with champagne was planned for later in the day.
Ladro, which is “coffee thief” in Italian – a nod to opening its first location next to a Starbucks – was founded in 1994 by Jack Kelly on Queen Anne. The company operates 15 locations and is independently owned. Most Fremont staff are moving to other locations and there’s no plan to reopen in Fremont, according to Vanishing Seattle.
The Fremont Roast blend lives on through Ladro’s other locations and online.
Fremont has no shortage of local coffee spots, from longtime neighbors Fremont Coffee Company, Lighthouse Roasters, and Milstead, to newcomers Fremont Social and Sundays Coffee.
For those interested in the Holland re-development, project representatives will be presenting about the project at the May 26 Fremont Neighborhood Council meeting.
