After many years of serving Columbia students and local patrons, the café will close its doors on Morningside Heights.

Max Caffé, the Morningside Heights fixture at the corner of 122nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, is reportedly closing at the end of August. 

The future for the location is currently unknown, but according to an employee, there are preliminary plans to add café service at Max SoHa, an Italian restaurant under the same ownership located on the same block.

While ownership has not yet released an official statement, an employee at the restaurant told Bwog that a recent increase in rent to $16,000 per month might have contributed to the decision.

The news has saddened longtime patrons, leaving the café’s regulars shocked now that the beloved student hang-out spot is closing. Customers continue to flock to the establishment, which has remained steadily busy in the lead up to its approaching closure.

This is an ongoing story; Bwog has reached out to Max Caffé for comment and will update with information as it becomes available.

Meanwhile, readers with memories at Max Caffé can reach out to Bwog by commenting below, emailing tips@bwog.com, or DMing us @bwog on any social media platform.

Reporting contributed by Science Editor Kyle Murray and Staff Writer Elijah Knodell

Max Caffé via Bwog Staffer