Downtown Tuscaloosa's Sage Juice Bar & Speakeasy has permanently closed after failing to find its footing in Temerson Square since opening months after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The café created natural smoothies, juices and fruit bowls and served some of the area's best cocktails by night. The combination concept was opened by Ken and Cheyenne Cupp, married entrepreneurs who moved to Tuscaloosa from New York to do so.

This week, Cheyenne Cupp took to Sage's social media to announce their permanent closure.

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"Sage had to come to a screeching halt last Friday and close permanently," Cupp said. "Sage has struggled since the beginning trying to get ahead, just from opening at the beginning of the pandemic and because of our opening date, not qualifying for any government assistance or PPP loans."

Cupp said she and her husband, along with their baristas, bartenders and other staff, have worked for months to allow them to remain in business, but time and money have run out and the one-of-a-kind business will have to shut down permanently.

"We've tried and tried and tried and had a ton of people just pouring resources and time into this busines, just trying to keep it open because of how awesome the concept was," she said. "We wanted to bring something that was different but also beneficial for the community and it is devastating for our family and I'm sure for the community that Sage is going to have to close."

 

Cupp did not close the door on the possibility of reviving the concept in the future, but said effective immediately, Sage Juice Bar & Speakeasy will be permanently closed.

Their space on 4th Street in Temerson Square in downtown Tuscaloosa's entertainment district is prized real estate and will likely not stand vacant for long -- stay connected to the Thread for updates on the venue as well as other exclusive restaurant and retail developments.

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