No more cup of Joe: Joe Studio of Old Greenwich closes
- Guy
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
Joe Studio Cafe, a local fixture at 185 Sound Beach Avenue, officially closed its doors at the end of December 2025. Having opened in late 2019, the cafe successfully navigated the pandemic lockdowns that began soon after its launch. For six years it served as a sanctuary for craft coffee purists and locals seeking a quiet corner.
The closure came as a surprise to many, as the business had been seeking town approval to expand with outdoor seating as recently as May 2025.
Who is Joe? Despite the name, there was no person named "Joe." Joe Studio was a true independent family business operated by local residents Simon Krystantas and his mother, Jolanta Schimenti, who have called Greenwich home for over 20 years. Simon, a dedicated specialist in the craft, personally roasted the beans in-house using a high-end American-made roaster that he affectionately nicknamed "Joe." Despite the store closing, Simon will continue to sell roasted beans to wholesale accounts and directly online through Etsy.
Why did it close?: According to reports from the Greenwich Free Press, the primary driver was financial strain. While the rising cost of global coffee beans in 2025 and record high Connecticut energy prices undoubtedly played a role, the competitive landscape on Sound Beach Avenue has become increasingly crowded.
Joe Studio stood directly across the street from the fast and familiar Dunkin', but the real pressure came from the artisan boom. Just steps away are three more formidable options: Sweet Pea's Baking (artisinal bakery and roaster), Birch Bakehouse (a newly opened small batch specialist) and Green & Tonic (the most recently opened local wellness chain). The pressure didn't stop at the village border; nearby Riverside offers even more competition with CFCF, the J House, and Starbucks.
Between the Lines: The closure of Joe Studio suggests that the post-pandemic proliferation of coffee shops and wellness studios in Old Greenwich may finally have hit a saturation point. It's unfortunate that these conditions squeezed out a unique family-run gem.