Craftwork Foundry
It's a bittersweet day for Craftwork Coffee Co.
The coffee shop and coworking space is closing its Foundry District location Saturday, citing revenue losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our losses nearly tripled after the pandemic," owner Riley Kiltz said in an interview with Fort Worth Magazine. "When you have those losses, you have to make a decision."
But Craftwork isn't leaving The Foundry District completely. In its place, a new coffee concept — Trinity Coffee House — will open Sunday, still using Craftwork beans as its roast of choice and retaining the coworking facet of the space. The 3,956-square-foot space has 17 micro offices and one central conference room, open for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses.
Trinity Coffee House is owned by husband-and-wife duo Jennifer and Sam Demel, who also own the Thirty Eight & Vine wine bar just next door.
Meanwhile, Craftwork will continue operations of its Camp Bowie, Magnolia, and Austin locations, but the company is also shifting its focus toward hospitality, specifically in apartment communities.
One of its first hospitality concepts — Craftwork at The Cooper — will open inside The Cooper apartment complex at 1001 W. Rosedale St. in the Near Southside. Craftwork at The Cooper will operate as both a coffee shop and concierge service, adding beer, wine, and light grab-and-go food to the menu. Craftwork will also provide The Cooper residents with poolside beverage service and access to private work suites, communal worktables, and conference rooms.
Craftwork at The Cooper, whose coffee shop is open to the public, will launch Thursday; and Kiltz said former employees of The Foundry District location will have opportunities to work at Craftwork's other shops, as well as Trinity Coffee House.
"There's sadness and grief from loss," Kiltz said. "[But] I do have a ton of hope and belief that this model is going to be something that allows us to run Craftwork for a long time."
