Black N Brew is looking at a likely end to its 17-year run at 1523 E Passyunk Ave, with owners Colleen and Jennifer DeCesare announcing that the building’s landlord, the Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation (PARC), has refused to renew the coffee shop’s lease.
The termination was sent via email on Dec. 27, the couple told Billy Penn. They’re expected to vacate the space by the end of February.
“[It’s] really put us in a hard position,” said Colleen DeCesare, who owns and operates Black N Brew with her wife Jennifer. They’re hoping to find a nearby spot to relocate the neighborhood staple to.
“We see our customers two-to-three times a day sometimes,” she said. “We’ve seen families grow here.”
The DeCesares said they’ve since reached out with multiple phone calls and emails to PARC, a nonprofit that invests income from its properties into public services and spaces along a section of the avenue that runs from Broad to 9th streets, and Federal Street to Snyder Ave.
“They never responded or gave us a reason,” Colleen said, eventually only hearing back from the organization through the attorney the couple hired, who relayed that PARC’s decision was final.
The café owners are now speaking up in the hopes of securing more time to plan for a reasonable relocation, and the ability to pay their staff of four throughout.
“June would be great, if they can give us another 30 days, that would be great,” said Jennifer DeCesare. “I’ll take whatever at this point.”
While maintaining that there had been no indication from PARC that their lease was about to be terminated, the DeCesares said they received an email from the organization on December 6 regarding an outstanding amount that needed to be fulfilled before new lease negotiations could begin.
It’s rent from a period dating back to COVID, Jennifer explained; around the time she realized she’d been the victim of identity fraud, and subsequently shut down her bank accounts to deal with the situation. As a result, checks had temporarily gone out to PARC from Collen’s personal account and might have been missed by the organization, the partners theorized. They insist the amount has been paid in full.
The DeCesares replied to PARC’s email with their explanation and a request for time to provide proof of payment — which they said they’ve since done. “The next thing you know we got the letter that they’re not renewing the lease,” Colleen said.
Responding to Billy Penn via email, PARC’s executive director Alex Balloon provided the following statement on behalf of the non-profit:
“Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation (PARC) has been navigating a complex situation with our tenant, Black N Brew, since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Throughout this period, we have extended multiple support measures including rent forgiveness and flexible payment options. Despite these efforts, and Black N Brew’s reopening and lease renewal, significant financial challenges persist, including unresolved rent and utility payments. Our recent decision to not enter new lease negotiations stems from a thorough and ongoing review process, balancing our commitment to community development with the need for financial responsibility. PARC remains committed to the community and the sustainability of the Passyunk Avenue corridor and will let that commitment drive all that we do. We wish Black n Brew luck in their future endeavors.”
He added that since notifying them of the lease’s termination, Black N Brew’s owners “have been in contact with our organization and they have received responses” through PARC’s legal counsel.
Currently, Black N Brew’s owners are looking for a new spot for the café and neighborhood go-to they’ve established over the years.
“We’re not just selling breakfast and coffee and lunch,” said Colleen. “We love the community, and we realize that we have an obligation and an opportunity to be involved.”
Besides working with Women against Abuse and organizing food, clothes, and toy drives, the two often use the café as a space for charity dinners and exhibitions by local artists.
Neighborhood residents have since responded to news of the removal with a petition on Change.org as well as a GoFundMe to assist with relocation costs.
“We’re not going to end our business [just] because they’re ending our lease” Colleen said. “We’ve created something really special and we believe that the community, even if we’re not on Passyunk Avenue, will support us and come to Black N Brew for what we offer.”
Black N Brew celebrated its 17th anniversary on Saturday. For more information, visit their Instagram.
1523 E Passyunk Ave | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday | blackbrew.net
