After 17 years of service, East Austin’s Thunderbird Coffee announced it will close later this year in an Oct. 6 Instagram post.  

“It’s been a really hard decision to come to, but in essence, we’ve never really bounced back from the pandemic,” Ryan McElroy, the founder and owner of Thunderbird Coffee, said in the post. “We’re closing the doors, but we want to make sure we’re doing it as gracefully as possible.”

According to the post, Thunderbird will close by Dec. 17 to give staff members time to find replacement jobs. In the meantime, the shop reduced its operating hours, closing at 2 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.

Neuroscience senior Sabrina Lu has only gone to Thunderbird twice, but said she was sad to hear about the shop’s closing.

“It’s not anyone’s fault,” Lu said. “I really get the emotional burnout of the past couple of years and people not going out as much, but it definitely does impact [shops like these]. I think about my own hometown and things that used to be there but aren’t there anymore that hold my memories.”

McCombs lecturer Becca Robertson, who’s been going to Thunderbird since she was an undergraduate student, said the shop served as more than a study place.

“Even now …  if I needed to just pop somewhere to work for a few hours before I pick (my kids up from daycare) I would go,” Robertson said. “(Thunderbird’s) stayed with me through various phases of life.”

Lu said the cafe’s location makes it feel unique since it services both the University community and Austinites.

“I think coffee shops are an accessible place for students to be there because you’re just coming to study, but it’s [in] Austin,” Lu said. “Not like UT bubble Austin, but this is Austin Austin, and so it’s nice to have those spaces.”

In the time left, Robertson said she hopes those interested in visiting Thunderbird will go before it shuts down.

“If anybody needs a place to go and just wants to be a part of an Austin staple that won’t be around forever and we know it’s going to shut down, I think [Thunderbird’s] a good place to go,” Robertson said. “It’s still got great coffee and it’s still got a good vibe, and it’s a good place to do some work or hang out with friends.”