By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GREENWICH VILLAGE — Popular student hangout and coffee fixture Esperanto Café will close following feuds between the café owner and the landlord, according to the superintendent.
Esperanto Café on MacDougal Street was shuttered last week, with its glass windows covered over in paper — upsetting New York University students and locals who came to the rustic shop that had been open in the neighborhood for nearly 10 years.
Sabri Farouki, an Upper West Sider, regularly trekked downtown for the coffee and laidback vibe at Esperanto Café. He returned to the café on Friday to discover it was closed.
“I don’t know where I am going to go now,” he said. “It sucks. I’d rather not have to go to Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts.”
Esperanto Café’s superintendent said the shop did not close without reason.
Enrique Torres, who looks after the property for the landlord, said there was a long history of problems. Some of the problems resulted in court disputes, which ultimately led to the termination of the lease.
“They didn’t pay rent, everything is broken,” he said. “We need to clean everything and do construction. It’s disgusting and dirty.”
Torres is repairing the windows and the walls and putting in new flooring.
Mike Walten who lives down the block would come to the café. He said he's sad to see it go, but he wasn’t surprised.
“There was a cool, communal vibe,” he said. “But the floor was caving in and, if that was supposed to be part of the charm, it was poorly executed.”
Esperanto Café’s owner did not respond to e-mails for comment. The phone for the shop was disconnected.
