Trend-setting James Street cafe announces permanent closure

King Arthur Cafe in Fortitude Valley has closed permanently. The cafe’s owner Gina Kim announced the closure in a short post on social media early last week.

The post didn’t share a reason for the closure, but the cafe had reached the end of its lease at its WWII-era Nissen hut digs.

Workers were on site on Monday, with the premises mostly gutted.

“King Arthur Cafe will be closing as of today,” the post on Instagram read. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has visited us and supported us along the way.

“Thank you for being part of our story.”

Kim responded to requests for comment late on Monday, saying she was taking a break overseas after the closure of the business.

“I have chosen [to close the] business as the landlord doesn’t want to extend the contract,” she said.

Kim went on to say she was looking forward to reopening the cafe, but hadn’t found an appropriate location.

“I really appreciate all our customers and neighbours,” she said. “I got [so much love] from them. It was a really amazing friendship.”

King Arthur Cafe opened on Arthur Street in 2015, and was an early linchpin in the nascent James Street precinct food scene.

Originally under the ownership of Mairi Mackinnon, Jarrod Huey and Josh Russell, it immediately turned heads with its focus on elevated breakfasts matched to exceptional coffee.

It was a leader among local cafes in its focus on local produce, with much of what hit the plate being sourced from within 180 kilometres of the city.

It quickly became one of the best-regarded cafes in Brisbane, thanks to the food but also the unique heritage digs, which featured a winsome, light-filled mezzanine that looked down on the action on the ground floor.