Undergrowth Coffee, the queer-owned café tucked along Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans, quietly poured its last lattes this week after five years in business. Owners Alyssa Johnson and Zack Rescoe said they opted for an abrupt shutdown so employees could receive severance pay, pointing to rising costs and a hospitality market that has lost some of its steam. With the closure, the neighborhood loses a staple known for its small-batch roasting, house-made plant milks and those much-loved meatless breakfast burritos.
As reported by NOLA.com, Johnson and Rescoe announced the decision on Feb. 19 and said they are heading back to Rochester, New York. They told the outlet that the combination of soaring supply and labor expenses with a softening hospitality scene made it unrealistic to keep pushing forward, and that closing on short notice was the only way to be sure staff would be paid. Johnson reflected on the run by saying "it was special," and the pair added that they have no plans right now to launch another venture.
A five-year run and a plant-forward identity
Johnson and Rescoe opened Undergrowth in 2021 as a roastery-café built around plants, sustainability and careful sourcing, roasting small lots onsite and leaning into plant-based menu options. The café’s meatless breakfast burritos, along with house-made syrups and milks, quickly became go-to orders for regulars. According to Daily Coffee News, the duo intentionally shaped the space as a queer-friendly neighborhood hub. The shop’s approach drew notice beyond its block; Big Easy Magazine later listed Undergrowth among the winners in the 2025 NOLA Vegan Chef Challenge.
Staff, severance and the move
The owners told NOLA.com they intentionally chose a fast shutdown so they could cover payroll and severance instead of limping along and risking a deeper financial hole. They framed the move back to Rochester as both a business decision and a personal reset.
What’s next for the Magazine Street corner
The café’s former home is listed at 4332 Magazine St. on local directories and on the Magazine Street Merchants Association site. Profiles and reviews, including the 2022 feature in Daily Coffee News, still capture Undergrowth’s history and plant-focused menu and now serve as a record of the closed business. For any future plans for the space, neighborhood directories and local outlets will likely be the first places to carry updates.
