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New Coffee Shop Opens Where Old Coffee Shop Closed Same Location, Same Product, New Results?

New Coffee Shop Opens in Old Coffee Shop Building

By Sarah Salzman

SARAH SALZMAN: SALT CITY COFFEE IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THE THIRD LOCATION OPENED JUST A WEEK SHY OF COVID-19’S ANNIVERSARY IN A BUILDING THAT ALSO USED TO BE A COFFEE SHOP.

CUSTOMERS LIKE ALEX MENDOZA JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS.



ALEX MENDOZA: “I get to choose what businesses survive in this free market, or at least get to do my attempt in doing so, and I would rather have a local business than a conglomerate that’s available everywhere.
”

SALZMAN: “This location used to be Cafe Kubal. But March 2020, when the pandemic hit, they shut their doors and they permanently closed July 2020. Now, Salt City Coffee is trying to show – when one door closes, another one opens.”

SALZMAN: IN APRIL 2020 THE U-S BUREAU OF LABOR REPORTED THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN AMERICA HIT NEARLY 15-PERCENT.
 AND IT WAS STILL IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS WHEN CAFE KUBAL PERMANENTLY CLOSED ITS MARSHALL SQUARE MALL LOCATION.
 THE U-S BUREAU OF LABOR’S FEBRUARY REPORT SHOWS UNEMPLOYMENT NOW SITS AT SIX-POINT-TWO-PERCENT.

WITH COVID CASES DECREASING — THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE VACCINATED INCREASING AND RESTRICTIONS BEING LIFTED — GENERAL MANAGER EMMA STRATIGOS IS HAPPY SALT CITY COFFEE IS PLAYING A SMALL PART IN THE INDUSTRY’S RECOVERY.

EMMA STRATIGOS: “The service industry has been hit so hard, of course, and so to even be able to offer, you know, three new positions feels huge for us.”

SALZMAN: SHE THINKS NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE A WELCOME SIGN FOR THE ECONOMY.

STRATIGOS: “You know, we have Syracuse locals applying, we have students applying now that of course we’re in their view. And I think it’s a really good mix. It brings us a lot of hope that everyone else will not be far behind.

SALZMAN: LAST WEEK — THE C-D-C ANNOUNCED NEW GUIDELINES FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE THAT COULD ENCOURAGE SOME TO GET BACK OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.


Sarah Salzman, N-C-C News

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Salt City Coffee opened its third location just a few blocks away from Syracuse University in the Marshall Square Mall. The grand opening was about a week shy of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic in March 2020. The building was formerly a coffee shop, Cafe Kubal, that shut down in July 2020 due to the pandemic.

Despite being a couple hundred feet from a Dunkin’ and Starbucks, Alex Mendoza, a recent customer, was excited to support the small business.

“I get to choose what businesses survive in this free market, or at least get to do my attempt in doing so, and I would rather have a local business than a conglomerate that’s available everywhere,” Mendoza said.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in April 2020, unemployment in America hit nearly 15%. It was around 10% when Cafe Kubal decided to close its Marshall Square Mall location. The U.S. Bureau of Labor’s February report shows that unemployment now sits at 6.2%.

With COVID-19 cases decreasing, the number of people vaccinated increasing and restrictions being lifted, Emma Stratigos, general manager at Salt City Coffee, is happy the new location is playing a small role in the industry’s recovery.

“The service industry has been hit so hard, of course, and so to even be able to offer, you know, three new positions feels huge for us,” Stratigos said.

She thinks new job opportunities could be a welcome sign for the economy.

“You know, we have Syracuse locals applying, we have students applying now that of course, we’re in their view,” Stratigos said. “And I think it’s a really good mix. It brings us a lot of hope that everyone else will not be far behind.”

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