Downtown coffee shop closes after nearly 7 years. What’s next for the space
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Nate’s Coffee closed its downtown Lexington shop for winter reinvention.
- Owner announced roastery sales online and wholesale placement across Lexington.
- Post said reopening is possible after interior work and business reinvention plans.
A popular downtown Lexington coffee shop has closed, at least for now.
Nate’s Coffee at 125 Cheapside announced on Jan. 1 that the shop “will be closed for the winter months as we work towards something new.” The shop opened in May 2019 with a full espresso bar and drip coffee, pour overs, French press and more.
Owner Nathan Polly did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the Facebook post announcing the change, the shop could reopen in the future.
“We have big plans that will require some reinvention and some work inside our space,” the post said.
Nate’s Coffee still will supply retail roastery orders at natescoffee.com and coffee will be for sale at locations throughout Lexington including at Grounded All Day Cafe, Good Foods Co-op and Wilson’s Grocery and Meat, according to the post.
One former employee said she has been trying to reach Polly because none of the five workers who lost their jobs have received their final paychecks.
Annabel Randle, who worked as a barista at Nate’s Coffee since May 2023, said she has filed a complaint with the Kentucky Department of Labor because she and the other employees were supposed to receive paychecks on Jan. 2 but did not.
Randle said she and the other workers were told by Polly that he was in talks with someone to acquire the space and put in a new concept, possibly with more food, “and current staff would be at the top of the list to hire,” she said. But a sign on the door indicates Polly intends to reopen it himself.
The sign said Nate’s Coffee “will be closed for the early months of 2026.”
Randle said she will miss the community of customers and the wall of art that was created by patrons.
This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
