I think this is bad news, plain and simple. When a place like Tres Leches Cafe closes a South Phoenix location after six years, it doesn’t just trim a business map — it leaves a hole in a neighborhood routine. And from what owner ET Rivera said in the cafe’s Instagram video, this wasn’t some dramatic exit so much as a hard, slow-season reality check. That makes it feel even more familiar, and more frustrating.

According to azcentral.com, the South Phoenix shop’s last day was Sunday, Sept. 6, after the closure was announced on Sept. 3. Rivera said, “We’ve been here for six wonderful years. Thank you so much for all the blessings,” and then got even more direct about the pressure behind the decision: “We’re just not seeing volume that we’ve seen in the past. This summer has been super tough, I think all over.” That’s the part that lands with me. It’s not a flashy collapse. It’s the kind of squeeze that makes local spots fight for every customer, every week.

What keeps this from feeling like a total loss is that the story isn’t over yet. Rivera said the staff from the South Phoenix cafe would move to the Coronado location, which he said would remain open “for the rest of the month.” I like that detail because it says the people behind the counter aren’t being tossed aside. The business is still trying to hold onto its community, even if the footprint is smaller now.

There’s also a little bit of that last-chance energy that always shows up when a beloved place starts winding down. Rivera said some of the cafe’s equipment and furniture would be available for sale, and azcentral.com reported that a follow-up Facebook post on Wednesday, Sept. 9 said all operations for Tres Leches Cafe would close by the end of 2026. That’s the bigger picture, and it’s a sad one. Fans can still make the trip to the Coronado spot for now, at 1302 E. McDowell Road in Phoenix, where azcentral.com says it’s open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

So yes, I’m reading this as a loss — but not a quiet one. The comments on Rivera’s video, which azcentral.com says drew over 2,000 likes, make it clear people feel attached to this place. That kind of loyalty doesn’t disappear just because one location does. It just gets redirected, for a little while, to the next counter, the next cup, the next chance to show up.

— Sloan Rivers