What’s next for landmark downtown Lexington coffee shop after employee strike?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Third Street Stuff will close on June 1 after founder Pat Gerhard’s retirement.
- New owners plan to meet with employees and bargain with the union on a contract.
- When the June 1 closure was announced, a union urged Saturday strikes and staff protested.
With the retirement of founder Pat Gerhard after 37 years, her landmark coffee and art shop Third Street Stuff & Coffee will close next week, but hopes to reopen after renovation and reconciliation with workers.
In a statement to the Herald-Leader, the shop said the new owners hope to meet with employees to address concerns and bargain with their union on a contract.
The new owners were not identified but appear to be Gerhard’s son, Dave, and his wife, Lindsey, according to employees.
“Prior to Pat’s retirement, Third Street was facing a number of operational challenges, including staffing shortages, staff scheduling constraints that have led to shortened shop hours and facility renovation needs,” the shop said in an email. “In light of these factors, new ownership made the difficult decision to close the business to assess how to reopen in a sustainable and operationally sound way.”
When the June 1 closure was announced last week, the employee union called for a strike on Saturdays to protest what they see as an attempt to break the union. Employees protested outside the shop on May 23 and have planned another protest on May 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In the statement to the Herald-Leader, Third Street said that they have invited the union to meet on May 26 “as Third Street believes it is important to provide clarity and answers for staff as soon as possible and to work toward a timely resolution.”
The shop also said the new owners “would continue to recognize the union” and will bargain in good faith over the effects of the sale and toward a contract.
“Third Street is doing its best to keep the doors open for the staff, community and customers leading up to this transition,” according to the statement.
Impact on artistic, gay community
Third Street Stuff began out of Gerhard’s apartment in 1989, when she made items for wholesale and craft fairs.
The colorful, whimsical shop opened on South Limestone in 1991 before moving to its current location at 257 N. Limestone in 1996. In 2004, it expanded to become Third Street Stuff and Coffee. Along the way, it became a haven for the city’s LGBTQ+ community and, in particular, queer youth.
