Darwin’s regular here. They closed on Dec 22, all locations. I walk by the empty husk of one of their locations every day.

I now have to make my own pour over coffee and pack a lunch twice as often often.

My wallet is happy, but my heart is sad.

And this is all because he didn’t want to negotiate with unionized workers? Cool…

At least one location is going to be revived under new ownership including bringing on the previous store manager. No word on what’s happening to the rest of the sites yet.

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2023/01/11/roust-coffee-prepares-to-open-in-darwins-space-with-a-business-model-familiar-from-darwins/

Lmao no, this is because workers wanted $30/hr and healthcare with NO COPAY (something practically no one in thr state has) for working at a fucking sandwich shop. How tf is the store supposed to stay profitable with that? Why would the elderly owners suddenly want to deal with triple the paperwork and bureaucracy?

Also a ton of paid vacation.

From what I heard they negotiated and got something running with the union, but subsequent asks were too much so it had to shutter.

I believe it was 24/hr but those were also the starting positions for negotiations for which he declined to participate. Fair I guess but not an optimal strategy.

Also it was probably the highest end sandwich shop in a high cost area. What was a sandwich like 147 semolians ?

High cost area means that the shop also has high costs on rent or property taxes and utilities.

I'm pro union but the people doing the asking on their behalf were absolute idiots about how they went about this thing

Didn't a faction allied with the Union also picket the owner's house?

Edit: lol at the downvote. You get the right to bargain, how you choose to bargain and whether it's done poorly is another discussion.

I can't remember, all that drama is from 2022

> And this is all because he didn’t want to negotiate with unionized workers?

No. They negotiated. They weren't able to come to a compromise, and Darwin's went out of business instead.

This means that the union was asking for enough that the store literally went out of business. Not that they weren't willing to negotiate.

Maybe we can compile a list of favorite backup sandwich shops and coffee near the closed Darwin's locations.

Darwins Cambridge St.

• Sandwiches: Harvard Market next door. Bigger portion, better price. To be completely honest, better sandwiches.

• Coffee: 1369 in Inman for mid-Cambridge. Any suggestions for people closer to Somerville?

Mass Ave.

• Coffee: Flour for MIT students, Cicada or Andala for residents closer to central. Cicada and Andala are solid food options, too.

• Sandwiches: the Reuben at Cambridge Deli & Grill is solid. Call for fast pickup. Staff is super friendly and longterm local, love those guys.

Darwin's Auburn (here my ignorance starts to show)

• Sandwiches: Black Sheep Bagel

• Coffee: not sure. Harvard is super corporate now and I want to avoid adding Flour twice. But Zinnekens coffee is a delight actually?

Darwin's Putnam

• Hard because Putnam is very residential.

• Coffee, maybe Zinnekens or Andala. Although when I lived in Riverside I made the walk to Cicada almost daily.

• Sandwiches... tough one. Cambridge Deli I loved. Coast Cafe is not strictly sandwiches, but the patties are amazing for lunch.

Business ownership is super simple and I'm sure this was all just due to only one issue, yes.

>Cambridge St
Coffee: 1369 in Inman for mid-Cambridge. Any suggestions for people closer to Somerville?

Broadsheet coffee is very close to the old Darwins on Cambridge St and has fantastic coffee

>Putnam
>
>Hard because Putnam is very residential.
>
>Coffee, maybe Zinnekens or Andala. Although when I lived in Riverside I made the walk to Cicada almost daily.

1369 on Mass Ave and Barismo on Broadway are also some good coffee options in the general area

Oh yea, def agree on 1369 Mass Ave. Didn't add Broadsheet cause I haven't been, but glad to see it's a good option.

I've had strange experiences at Barismo that might not be the usual so I'll reserve judgement... but typically I'll opt for Cicada in that area.

In other news, anyone remember Longfellow next to the brewery? I miss that place so much :(

I’m soooo glad someone else recognizes the genius of Harvard Market’s sandwiches

No, it’s a holistic activity and that includes a motivated and productive staff.

They may have just retired out but it’s hard to imagine the optimal value capture was shutting down.

They asked for $24/hour, not $30/hour and zero-deductible, not zero-copay.

The replacement for the Mt. Auburn Darwin's will soon be Roust Coffee, going into the same location. Cafe Faro advertised a ton at the Cambridge locale in the final days... could be a Putnam replacement... seems really over-the-top hipster though.

We'll be fine on coffee, so many great options (Barismo, Broadsheet, 1369, Cicada, so many others).

Sandwiches is a bit tougher... especially Cambridge and Putnam, as they were "strategically located" far enough from Harvard and Inman that they didn't face much competition, but that means that there are few other options in the area.

Harvard Market is solid, another Somerville-side option is P&K Deli. Giant, high-quality subs for a good price. Darwin's always felt like walking into a 1999 vibe... P&K feels like walking into 1979.

They asked for 168 hours of PTO. For reference, I receive 296 hours PTO.

>For reference, I receive 296 days PTO.

Huh? Not sure if a typo, or a completely bizarre, unique situation that has nothing at all to do with coffeeshop workers.

What companies offer zero deductible?

Maybe they’ll put a Wendy’s in its place

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Also have had strange experience at Barismo, nonetheless best breakfast burrito

How much were Darwin employees making per hour before the shut down?

> Coffee: not sure. Harvard is super corporate now and I want to avoid adding Flour twice. But Zinnekens coffee is a delight actually?

Pavement - great coffee and unionized

Harvard: Pavement in smith center; also Blackbird donuts if you just want plain/cheaper drip coffee; Harvard’s art museum has an okay cafe; Clover if you like expensive pour overs…

Even with no holidays, there are only ~250 work days per year. So it's not possible to have that much PTO unless they are counting weekends as PTO...which also doesn't make sense.

Cambridge has been losing its soul for years and this just feels like one of the last nails in the coffin. Cambridge now feels like a dead mall. But outside.

It’s a real shame Darwin’s is closing. Tbh it was the only place I could walk to and get a decent sandwich in Cambridge/Boston. I’ve since moved to nyc and loving all the bodegas and delis in nearby walking distance, cheaper and way more options. My dream is to start a nyc deli in Boston and sell the only proper bacon egg and cheese in town

Putnam: Dado Tea

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You’re wrong but go off

This is what happened.

Every company I've worked for offered a low, or zero-deductible plan.

I clearly meant hours.

Yes, it was a typo. I receive 296 hours (37 days) PTO.

If it happens, I would love to be your customer

Also Flour, which has great sandwiches and so-so coffee.

Not super close but the sandwiches at Pemberton Farms near Davis are so good. Remember the Biscuit? I miss that place too.

Sad, overpriced, mediocre sandwiches were the last vestiges of Cambridge? Good riddance... Hopefully something better will pop-up.

You really need to get out more if that's the only decent sandwich in Cambridge/Boston lmao

Do you work at a sandwich shop

Nice companies. I have worked for a good-sized non-profit software company, a university lab and a school and all of them had at least a $500 deductible.

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You are right, it wasn’t the ideal, and the hand was forced against its will in this case