Image provided by WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
Nestled amidst the busyness of Broadway Street resided a small oasis for Saratoga coffee lovers. In 2006, a coffee shop by the name of Saratoga Coffee Traders opened on 447 Broadway Street in Saratoga Springs, New York. On September 30th 2023, owner Scott Swedish announced with great sadness that the branch would be closing after seventeen years of operation and later relocating to nearby Schenectady. While Swedish wanted to keep the shop open until December to allow his employees to explore other employment opportunities, the lease had expired sooner than expected. He relayed to the local news outlet, NEWS10, that the circumstances were unfortunately beyond anyone’s control.
Swedish also made a note that the new branch is not intended to replace the old one. He hopes to eventually reopen in Saratoga Springs in the Beekman Street art district, where the shop would be able to maintain an intimate setting without as much close competition from other coffee shops, such as Uncommon Grounds and Kru Coffee.
Saratoga Coffee Traders has been able to distinguish themselves from other cafes in the area by their selection of specialty lattes. Expert baristas brew flavors such as Cadbury Egg, S’mores, Snickers Bar, Banana Bread, Spumoni, and French Toast. The list of latte flavors changes monthly with staff members contributing new ideas to each round. Traders is also known for their quality breakfast sandwiches, which can be served on a variety of bread options. Swedish insists that Coffee Traders maintain a local freshness that creates a community element to their business. All of their coffee is organic and fair trade—even the eggs for their breakfast sandwiches are laid by Swedish’s own eighty-five hens.
The new location in Schenectady, however, could also allow Coffee Traders to establish themselves in a new setting without the looming influence of past grievances with other coffee businesses. Back in 2020, Swedish publicly took to social media to express his distaste for Death Wish Coffee Company, a local brand founded, ironically, in the basement of Saratoga Coffee Traders. Death Wish is owned by Mike Brown, who had once been involved in the ownership of Saratoga Coffee Traders. Given the interconnectedness of the businesses, Saratoga Coffee Traders had long sold both Death Wish coffee beans and brewed coffee. However, this partnership came to a halt when Death Wish supposedly cut off Swedish from selling their products after he had already paid for a new shipment. They claimed that it was because of previous late payments on Swedish’s part, sparking a heated dispute between the two businesses and leading to a falling out between the local coffee providers.
Saratoga Springs residents and Skidmore students are deeply disappointed about the closing of Saratoga Coffee Traders, as it has been a coffee staple for a variety of people (and their pets) for many years. This closing was not just a sudden change for customers, but also for employees. While some are able to follow Coffee Traders to Schenectady, they admit that it will not be a permanent source of employment.
Though there certainly isn’t a shortage of coffee availability in the Saratoga area, Saratoga Coffee Traders was beloved by both the local community and Skidmore student body. For senior Max McGuire, Coffee Traders wasn’t just a go-to spot as a student, it was also part of their early impression of Saratoga Springs—after a campus tour guide described the infamous coffee debate among students, McGuire’s family ducked into the cafe to escape the rain. “Since then, I have loyally been on the side of Sartaoga Coffee Traders,” they said. Describing the shop’s appeal, McGuire noted, “Saratoga Coffee Traders just had a more quiet, home-like feel to it.”
The closing of Saratoga Coffee Traders will also have consequences for other coffee businesses—both on Broadway and in other parts of Saratoga. Some coffee businesses in the area, particularly Uncommon Grounds, already operate at a capacity that just barely supports its high influx of customers. On any given morning, a lengthy line of people wrapping around the outside of Uncommon Grounds is a regular occurrence. The closing of Coffee Traders will put an extra stress on these businesses, requiring them to fulfill the same needs of the community with fewer resources. Will the coffee shops of Broadway be able to handle the newfound pressure that will follow the closing of Saratoga’s beloved Coffee Traders? We have yet to find out.
Note: a previous version of this article mentioned that a Starbucks would open in the space left vacant by Coffee Traders. In fact, the storefront will be assumed by The Local Branch Company, a small local leather goods brand.