Portland Fair Trade Coffee Shop May Be Closing for Good

If you frequent Monument Square in Portland, you've probably stopped in to Others! Fair Trade Coffee Shop for a cup of their self-proclaimed "best chai in Portland" or a cup of coffee as an afternoon pick-me-up.

When passing by the fair trade coffee shop this week, I noticed a "For Rent" sign posted in their window.

The shop hasn't responded to inquiries asking whether this means the shop is closing for good or simply relocating, but stay tuned to find out what's happening to Others! and what may be moving into the space next.

Open since 2005, Others! has become known for its gritty burlap-clad atmosphere, delicious baked goods including gluten-free and dairy-free options, and responsibly sourced coffee beans.

Others! was very involved both in the community from which they extracted their coffee beans and the local Maine community, which they touch on in their website bio:

We’re the contrarian Westerners who seek out those growers who, with some assistance and expertise, can learn to grow really great coffee and obtain higher yields. That’s how you really change lives! Once the coffee is imported into the US, these carefully selected beans are hand-roasted, in small batches in the Maine Tradition, where a caring, personal touch really does make a difference!

 

Others! operates as a social entrepreneurial business. You can take comfort in knowing that what we earn through our mission is shared in the communities where we and our customers live and work, as well as with organizations that do good in far reaching parts of the globe.

Their most recent posts on social were published September 25th, and the company has been radio silent since then.

Are we losing our beloved fair trade coffee shop, or just driving somewhere else to buy their goods? Only time will tell. Check  back for details, and in the mean time be sure to follow Others! on social for immediate updates about their whereabouts.