Closings

LES Whynot Coffee Moving to Smaller Space Nearby, Making Way For Sushi Restaurant

Good real estate.
Good real estate. Photo: Instagram/whynotcoffeeorchard

The Lower East Side location of Whynot Coffee is one of the handsomest coffee shops in the city — and it’s perennially packed — so it came as a surprise when news leaked of its closing.

But according to owner Emil Stefkov, he’s simply moving Whynot to a smaller store nearby, where he’ll ditch the art-gallery concept (and hopes for a liquor license), and focus solely on coffee. (Meanwhile, the equally charming West Village location of Whynot has become a full-fledged French bistro.)

In the shop’s place on Orchard Street, Stefkov confirms that he’ll open a traditional sushi restaurant, called Sushi Wa, inside the 2,000-square-foot, 70-seat space. Stay tuned for more information about the switcheroo.

LES Whynot Coffee Moving to Smaller Space Nearby, Making Way For Sushi