LEWISTON — Three years after promising to bring a different kind of offering to life in downtown Lewiston, the owners of Obscura Café and Drinkery at 108 Lisbon St. announced on social media this week, and have confirmed to the Sun Journal, that they are closing at the end of June.

“We stayed as long as we possibly could, as businesses opened and closed around us, but the ongoing challenges we faced with the city, and the current declining conditions and safety of the area have just proven insurmountable for us,” the announcement states.

Co-owners Angie Lafrance and Corey DuFour, Nathan Hines and Chef Jules Muzyka worked to create a different space on Lisbon Street but had permitting issues with the city over their planned event space, which they alluded to in their post.

“Without the main piece of our business model — our basement-level speakeasy-style event space — we simply could no longer draw our previous event-centered crowds,” the announcement said.

The city of Lewiston provided the following statement: “We’re genuinely sorry to see Café Obscura closing its doors. The team there created something special and contributed to the cultural energy of Lisbon Street. It’s never easy to close a business that comes from the heart.

“We understand the deep disappointment around the planned event space. Those frustrations were shared by our team here in the City as well. From the outset, we worked to help make their vision viable, offering financial assistance, design guidance, and operational support. Our objective was clear: to help this business not just thrive, but to open safely so they can be a lasting part of our downtown. However, certain standards, such as those required by the National Fire Protection Association and State Fire Marshal for Assembly Occupancy permitting are simply not negotiable.

“While it’s difficult to see this chapter close, our commitment remains to work with entrepreneurs to build strong, sustainable businesses that is rooted in safety while positioned for success.”

Obscura came to the table with hummus, charcuterie and salads, with vegan and gluten-free options. A lot of time and attention to detail went into the buildout of the Art-Deco-themed space.

“We created, if even temporarily, a magical little place to bring people together,” the owners wrote. “Please don’t stop seeking those spaces and making community a priority. Continue to support our neighboring small businesses as much as you can and support one another. We hope we somewhat achieved what we always set out to do — create a welcoming, safe, and fun space for people to gather, create, be themselves, and make memories in person.”

The post ends with a cryptic reference to the permanency of the closure: “We will keep exploring options and locations, but for now, it’s time to walk away from this one, at least.” It goes on to add, “it might be goodbye, or maybe just see you later, but either way, it’s been so great to share our little world with you.”

Obscura Café is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and reopens from 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and 5-9 p.m. on Saturdays through the end of June.

The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or [email protected]