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A longtime matcha spot has quietly closed its Upper West Side café after seven years on Amsterdam Avenue.
Chalait, which opened at 461 Amsterdam Avenue (at the corner of 82nd Street) in 2018, has shuttered without any public announcement. The matcha-focused teahouse had taken over the former 2Beans space and quickly became known for its specialty drinks, Japanese matcha, and all-day menu of breakfast and light lunch dishes.]
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The company’s website remains active, and it appears Chalait will continue selling its products online.When the café first arrived uptown, it was the brand’s first location above 34th Street, joining its downtown shops in Chelsea, NoMad, and Hudson Square.
“As I understand it, they sadly chose to exit the retail coffee shop business,” wrote one person on Reddit. This seems accurate, as none of the locations listed above are still operating.
Chalait markets itself as a “purveyor of fine Japanese matcha green tea,” combining cha (tea in Japanese) and lait (milk in French) in its name. Its menu centered on matcha lattes, matcha hot chocolate, and other tea-based beverages, along with seasonal bowls, tartines, and sandwiches.
“I guess the rent was Too Matcha,” wrote another Reddit user.
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