On July 1, Split Leaf Coffee announced that they will be closing their Bountiful Main Street shop because their landlord sold the building. Their last day will be July 25. The announcement was met with an outpouring of sadness, but also of love and appreciation for what the coffee shop has done for the community.

“Split Leaf has always been more than coffee,” says the closing announcement on Instagram. “It was built to be a place where people could feel welcome, seen, and safe.” Split Leaf has indeed met this goal – the coffee shop has been beloved by locals for years.

The space they built is welcoming, with a variety of places to sit, art by local artists on the wall and cheerful plants climbing all around. First-time discoverers come in from Bountiful Main Street and find the hidden treasure of Split Leaf tucked in the back of Scoutt vintage.

“This place means so much to the community,” one regular replied to the announcement. “A much-needed third space that didn’t exist before. Opening something like that took bravery, and I hope you realize how proud and grateful we all are.”

Walking into Split Leaf Coffee on any given day, you’re welcomed by the friendly baristas. Looking around the space, you see friends and family gathered together and laughing over their drinks and people with headphones working on laptops with their coffee near at hand. The coffee shop is a favorite writing spot for local authors. People who work for other businesses on Bountiful Main Street enjoy popping by on their breaks to grab a quick drink.

Beyond their rotating feature of local artists on their walls and shelves, Split Leaf Coffee has also been the host of many markets throughout the years. Local artists and crafters – painters, ceramic artists, jewelers and more – have set up tables in the small space to share their creations with the community. It really isn’t just about the coffee at Split Leaf. It’s about the people.

Another regular said Split Leaf is “the one true coffee shop in Bountiful,” noting the regional lack of small local coffee shops. This is another reason Split Leaf has been so beloved: it filled that dearth with its welcoming presence and comforting drinks. People who wish to buy their coffee from local businesses instead of from chains like Starbucks, Beans & Brews and Dutch Bros have found a friend in Split Leaf.

“It’s given me hope that we’re not as alone in the community as it feels sometimes,” another regular said.

That hope extends to the next chapter for Split Leaf as they move on. “This location may be closing, but we aren’t done yet,” they said in their announcement. The local business has built something worth continuing, and the sale of their building is not the end.

“Somewhere along the way, we realized that coffee was only part of it,” they said in their announcement. “What we really needed was each other.” The focus on community and human connection is what has made Split Leaf the beacon it is, and as they make plans for their next steps and a possible new location, that beacon will remain lit.

Stop by the coffee shop in the weeks leading up to July 25 and drink in the warmth of both the coffee and the peaceful space.

“Stay tuned,” says Split Leaf Coffee. “Our story isn’t over yet.”