King Arthur Cafe has closed permanently
Ten years ago it was a leader in offering locally sourced products. Now, the excavations from the Second World War period have been emptied.
King Arthur Cafe in Fortitude Valley has closed permanently. The owner of the cafe, Gina Kim, announced the closure of the cafe in a short post on social media at the beginning of last week.
Kim did not share the reason for the closure, but the cafe had come to the end of its lease on the World War II-era Nissen hut.
Workers were on site on Monday and most of the facilities were destroyed.
“King Arthur Cafe will be closing effective today,” the post on Instagram read. “Thank you very much to everyone who visited us and supported us on this path.”
“Thank you for being a part of our story.”
Kim had not responded to requests for comment by the end of the day Monday.
King Arthur Cafe opened on Arthur Street in 2015 and was one of the early cornerstones of the nascent James Street food scene.
Originally owned by Mairi Mackinnon, Jarrod Huey and Josh Russell, the company immediately gained attention for its focus on luxury breakfasts paired with exceptional coffee.
It was a leader among local cafes in focusing on local produce, and most of the food hitting the table was found within 180 kilometers of the city.
It has quickly become one of Brisbane’s most respected cafes, thanks to its food as well as its unique heritage digs, which include a lovely, light-filled mezzanine overlooking the action on the ground floor.
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Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at the Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-in-chief at Broadsheet Brisbane and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, among others.
