The cafe, located in a prominent spot at 155 Brighton Ave., announced the closure Wednesday.

Refuge Cafe, an Allston staple popular among students and hipsters, will close at the end of the month, according to the eatery’s Facebook page and employees who work there.

Refuge Cafe, an Allston staple popular among students and hipsters, will close at the end of the month.

“When september ends so will Refuge, so wake up this month and come on in for your last Allston sunrise,” the Facebook post reads.

The owner, Jennifer Lee, did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

An employee who answered the phone said the cafe would close Sept. 30.

“It’s a very popular spot,” said the employee, who asked not to be named. “This came out of nowhere. Everyone’s very sad, but it seems as if there’s nothing we can do.”


The employee said the owner did not tell staff who they sold the space to, or what will become of the eatery.

Refuge Cafe opened in 2011, replacing the cherished and quirky Allston Cafe, which had closed after 26 years of business.

The owner of Refuge Cafe also has ties to Buk Kyung II on Brighton Avenue and owns Myung Dong 1st Avenue, a Soju bar on Harvard Avenue. Employees at Refuge Cafe were not sure if those spots would be kept open.

An employee who answered the phone at Buk Kyung II said no one was available to speak, and a call to Myung Dong was not immediately returned.