Coffee lovers bid farewell to Bella Bean

Downtown shop closes due to coronavirus pandemic

It was a last call for coffee.

Bella Bean announced that Friday would be its final day of operation. The downtown coffee shop is located in the heart of downtown Woodland, on the northwest corner of Main and Third streets. It will be open on Friday until 2 p.m.

“Dear Customers, we want to inform you that Bella Bean Coffee will be closing on Friday, September 18, 2020. This was not an easy decision…but a necessary one based on the loss in sales/customers caused by COVID-19,” a Thursday morning post on Bella Bean’s Facebook page states. It is just another casualty of the pandemic’s effect on small business.

“Since March, businesses have been maneuvering and following ever-changing protocols by Federal, State and local County mandates; to include stay at home orders and months of no dine-in operations, severely hurting local small businesses,” the post, signed by owner Tawnya Galeazzi and her small crew of baristas, continues.

“It was our sincere effort to make it through this Global pandemic. We fought for the last six months to keep the doors open to you while prioritizing your safety. We want to personally thank all of you for your continued support to our business. We are hoping that you will take the next couple of days to redeem your loyalty points and gift cards.”

The downtown storefront — located at 729 Main St. — has provided caffeine to Woodland residents long before Galeazzi took over the space in 2016, renaming it after her daughter, Bella.

Before the reopening, the shop was home to Common Grounds. Son Chong sold the location to Galeazzi so he could focus efforts on the Davis Common Grounds location, he indicated previously.

On Thursday, many customers came out to buy their final coffees from the Woodland staple, which serviced many of those who frequented the downtown area.

The Facebook post detailing the closure thanks customers “for believing in us and being with us for the last four years.” It also referred people to Zest West, which long provided baked goods at Bella Bean, as well as Morgan’s Mill, another downtown coffee shop.

“I continue to encourage you all to shop/support Woodland’s local small businesses,” the post concludes.

Contact reporter Sarah Dowling at 530-406-6234.

JIM SMITH — DAILY DEMOCRAT Customers visit Bella Bean, a downtown Woodland coffee shop, on its final day of operation. The shop announced that Thursday would be its final day due to the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in a drop in business.