Despite rumours, Mercury Espresso Bar is not closing

The papered-over windows of Mercury Espresso Bar prompted a rumour on on-line restaurant forum Chowhound Wednesday that the Leslieville hipster haven had shut down—perhaps losing the battle to nearby competitor Te Aro—but Mercury’s blog confirms that it’s just undergoing renovations and will reopen soon.

We called the coffee shop to get some more details on the upcoming changes but were unable to reach the staff. A voice message said that Mercury will reopen on March 1, adding, “Trust me, it will be worth the wait.” The coffee shop also plans to unveil a new blend of espresso “geared specifically to [their] strict specifications.”