Sunday, February 9, 2025

Café Kubal

Eastwood location taken at short notice from the car

 Café Kubal in Syracuse are a local coffee chain now in their fourth decade. However, several locations have closed since then. Competition from both national chains and other indies alike, as well as the economy have been a challenge to Kubals business like anyones. The SU Hill store once had a deal with 3fifteen next door where you fill a bag with donations and you get a ticket for a free coffee, but they had fallen out, and Kubal moved a few blocks away to Golisano Childrens Hospital at SUNY Upstate, making it limited to visitors and patients. The current downtown location is in the old Dey Brothers building and is now the de facto flagship, while the Creekside Commons one is just across Armory Square. The near northside location is now just the roastery, which the Eastwood one once was, and will rebrand later this year. The North Syracuse location on US 11 and W Taft Road at Sweetheart Corners was a onetime Tim Hortons. New locations are planned for the future as this is just as common with the big chains. The former leMoyne firehouse is scheduled to be opened this spring. May be too late for the other uni hill as their bridges may otherwise be burned as far as a regular location, and there are already a handful of other options on or close to campus now. No need for me to come up with new spots myself, since that's too easy, and of course, it's not my job anyway (I usually do this because that's my trademark, even though I can't really encourage someone elses). Here are where Café Kubal once were brewing:


Syracuse (downtown) - Marriott Syracuse Downtown (née Hotel Syracuse), S Warren St; now vacant

Syracuse (east side/SU Hill) - Marshall Square Mall, Marshall St & University Ave; former uni bookshop and bar; now Salt City Coffee (local competitor)

Syracuse (Eastwood) - NY 290, Eastwood Plaza; closed for rebrand; former Thrifty Shopper; roastery formerly located in part of Sacred Melody (half that closed in early '00s that is also vacant, but has building site permit for liquor store/former Hooches Furniture/Carls?/True Value Hardware) (pictured)

Syracuse (near northside) - N Townsend St & Hawley Ave; on-again, off again flagship; roastery only right now (between NY 290 & 5 and I-690)

Manlius - NY 92 & 257; former Bank of America; drive-up ATM remains

Auburn - Genesee St; only non-Syracuse area location to date; only open two months' time


Fantasy future location, but not sure where to put it.

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