She wanted to keep her Long Beach coffee shop open forever. Here’s why it’s closing.

Lisa Owens has been operating her popular coffee shop in Long Beach for almost five years and had no plans of leaving the city.

But earlier this week, she announced that her business at 578 Klondyke Road, The Coffee Box, would close Dec. 30.

Owens broke the news to her customers on Facebook Tuesday night and has received a large outpouring of support from the community.

Her biggest reason for closing, she told the Sun Herald, is “the inability to expand in order to operate smoothly and to continue to grow.”

Owens was denied the permits she needed to expand her business three years ago, and she said she is closing down now because she cannot make changes that would help her grow the business and meet increasing demand.

Owens said she called the city planning commission in 2019 to make sure she wouldn’t need a building permit to complete a porch on her coffee shop and breakfast restaurant. It had previously been approved by an official who no longer worked for the city, she said. “He told me he didn’t think I could make any changes and I would need to speak with the alderman for my zone. The alderman confirmed that I cannot make any changes to the building or property,” she said

Long Beach Aldermen Bernie Parker, who represents Ward 2 where the Coffee Box is located, told the Sun Herald that the business was likely denied permits for expansion because the coffee shop is based out of a portable building.

When asked why portable buildings may be denied permits, Parker said that is determined by the city’s building permit office.

“From what I understand, some are put in there temporarily for them to come back and build something permanent. So that’s what we’re looking for … something permanent, not something temporary,” Parker said.

Owens said she heard the same thing from other city officials she spoke with about her business.

“They do not want any portable buildings,” Owens said.

In addition to a porch, Owens said she planned to add a grab-n-go quick shop, a storage shed for inventory, large awnings and pave the driveway.

Coffee Box customers were critical of the city’s support of small business in the Coffee Box’s Facebook post, but also said they are sad to see Owens close up shop. She will continue operating her Gulfport location at 28 Pass Road, Suite 6, that she opened in 2022. Many vowed to make the trip there to support Owens.

“They (customers) really are the absolute best,” Owens said in an email. “I’ve watched kiddos go from mom’s belly to Kindergarten, junior high to graduating and going off to college or moving into their first apartment. We’ve hugged grieving customers after a loss. We’ve laughed - a lot.”

Owens said she considers her customers family and she will miss the hometown feeling of comfort she’s experienced in Long Beach, a feeling that began when she moved there with her father when she was 15.

“I have been very blessed that the community has shown love and support since day one,” Owens said.

This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 6:50 AM.