Local coffee house La Paloma Sabanera will be closing at the end of June.
Beyond selling coffee, snacks, breakfast and lunch, it has provided a venue for film screenings, improv comedy, storytelling, meetings, and socializing.
La Paloma consistently got voted in the top three on the Hartford Advocate’s “Best of Hartford Readers’ Poll,” including being named as one of the best places for live Latin music in 2013. Musicians who played here include Sinan Bakir, Mijo de la Palma, Kate Callahan, Fernandito Ferrer, String Theorie, The Underscore Orkestra, and La Sabrosa Sabrosura.
What has been dubbed “Hartford’s living room” will be closing on June 27, 2013.
Until then, owner Virginia Iacobucci says it will be “business as usual.”
She says that employees were notified in advance of the messages released to the general public today.
What are your favorite La Paloma memories?
Tom
My first day in Hartford I drove my rental truck to the U-Haul office on Capitol Ave, dropped it off, and walked back to my new apartment. A little tired from the stress of moving, I was delighted to came across a little coffee shop, where I stopped in for a much-needed caffeine boost. Thank you, Paloma Sabanera, for welcoming me to the city.
Chris
La Paloma Sabanera first opened within a week or so of my 2004 move to Frog Hollow, and has been an integral part of my life here ever since. The sadness and loss I felt when it closed in 2007 was something I hoped to never experience again.
I’m tremendously grateful to Virginia for the renewed hope and joy she brought to Hartford by opening that door in 2008 and for keeping the dream alive as long as she has. I know it wasn’t easy, and I appreciate all of her efforts to prolong and sustain a place as special and important as this. It’s important to count your blessings, and La Paloma will stand as a huge one. Any further counting would be impossible, as I couldn’t even guess at the numbers of stories, films, performances, songs, conversations, snacks, meals, drinks, and friendships that have enriched my the hours of my life spent beneath that pressed-tin ceiling.
Allison
My fondest memories of La Paloma will lie in day-to-day familiarities: dashing in to change clothes in the bathroom (after buying an Italian soda, of course), or being greeted with “Where the f*** have you been?!” when I’ve been away for a couple of weeks.
The strongest and dearest memory, if not the fondest, is of December 12, 2012, the day of the Newtown shootings. When a co-worker and I couldn’t continue to bear the horror of the day on our own, we retreated to La Paloma’s couch, watching the television in stunned silence. On that terrible day, that was where I wanted, and needed, to be – in a place that had become like home to so many.
I like to think that there’s a Heaven somewhere, a place filled with eternal friendship, goodwill and love — and that, if I’m lucky enough to get there, it will look like this dear, quirky, come-as-you-are living room of a coffeeshop.
Peter Smith (@shmooth2)
People should get together and buy the place — make it a worker co-op. Easy.
Neil
Great Idea!
Kerri Provost
The building is not for sale.
lobonick
a sad day no doubt..la paloma will be somewhat impossible to replace.. Virginia gave a lot to the community..very happy for her as she starts a new journey..
unfortunate that this particular landlord apparently has no clue… compromise here by the landlord would have helped the community…a chance that doesn’t come around.. instead, the landlord held a hard line for some reason that will remain unknown.. will the landlord do better than helping the community by providing a better place for people to meet and for the arts to grow ? unlikely…
Jim Condren
Caffeine buzzes fade. But the memories? Never! Like Rick said to Ilsa in another legendary joint, “Virginia, we’ll always have La Paloma.” Thanks.
Mariana Evica
Really enjoyed listening to songs from the La Nueva Cancion genre as played by Juan Brito and friends at a Pena of sorts that La Paloma held.
Heartbroken to hear of its closure. And I agree, it’s HIGH TIME for a worker owned business in Hartford!
David F. Pendrys
I never got the chance to go to La Paloma much but when I did it was an enjoyable experience in nice space. I also know how many great events it hosted. At a time where people are looking beyond the chains for good coffee places in general, its reputation for events went the extra mile. I think it was great for Hartford and am really sad to hear of its closure. Hartford, and indeed many localities need more places like this.
Jim C
Favorite memories? To name a few, leisurely mornings slowly sipping into consciousness watching the ebb and flow of the cream of cafe society en nosotros ciudad.
Luis turning me on to some new tunes. Local musical heroes Kevin Lamkins and Steve Fournier at the Hope Out Loud hoots. Virginia fueling up readers before Julia Pistell’s Syllables R Us series.