In another sign of the impending apocalypse, and of the big changes overtaking King Street, we received word this weekend that Clara’s Coffee will close for good this Saturday, June 30, when owner “Papa” Ron plans to shut the doors at 344 King St. for the last time. The neighborhood coffee shop has been a Lower King institution for 14 years — a hangout for countless college kids, favorite locals-only lunch spot, top people-watching spot, and the site of probably untold thousands of fervent, caffeine-fueled, badly supported philosophy debates. An employee tell us that Ron has simply had enough (of the retail business, one assumes, not the philosophy debates), and that the space will become home to yet another King Street antique shop.
- John Stoehr
Arts Editor
There's more to art than you think. It's not just theater, paintings, books and dance. It's the enterprise of human creativity and it takes vastly different shapes and forms. Here you'll find my thoughts about the arts in Charleston and beyond. Neither of us knows what to expect.
One Comment
That’s a shame. We need more independent coffee houses in this city. Starbucks is the evil empire and we can’t become a one Java town! Plus Starbucks charges for wifi access! Thank god for Kudu on Vanderhourst. Any entrepreneurs out there? The market is very ripe for another independent coffee house, especially further down King. Trust me there are enough Starbucks haters on the penninsula to keep you in business.