Cincinnati coffee shop to permanently close after controversial past
A coffee shop in Cincinnati, Flow Coffee, is permanently shutting down. In a press statement, owner Rhys Watkins attributed the closure to instances of vandalism and an ongoing legal battle. He expressed concerns for the safety and financial stability of his family, leading to the decision to close the Newport location, which is Flow Coffee’s last standing outlet.
Previously, two other branches were launched in the Greater Cincinnati region but were eventually closed. Watkins pointed out that misleading information about his business operations was disseminated by a local media platform.
He believes this misinformation severely harmed his business reputation and is taking legal action against the media outlet’s parent company. Watkins also claims that this negative portrayal instigated multiple criminal acts against him, including tire sabotage. More details can be seen in the announcement below that was made on the shop’s Instagram page where it also says ‘Flow is now closed’.
Furthermore, Watkins reported a menacing graffiti message on the Newport establishment, a place where both he and his family reside and work. Earlier in February, a post surfaced on Reddit from a user claiming to be a former Flow Coffee employee. She accused Watkins of consistently underpaying and ill-treating his staff. At this point in time, it is not known what will replace Flow Coffee.
