The Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters located inside of the VandalStore will be permanently closing on May 30. News of the closure has been confirmed by John Kosh, Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications at the University of Idaho.
The Spokane-based chain will be closing its doors in Moscow after just over two years. Prior to January 2023, a Starbucks was housed within the VandalStore for a 10-year long duration.
The reason for Thomas Hammer’s departure was not provided.
According to an Argonaut interview with Kosh from 2022, Thomas Hammer initially signed a 5-year lease with UI. It is unclear if it’s the coffee shop or UI choosing to break this agreement.
Arrangements for what will be occupying the space afterward have not yet been completed, but Auxiliary Services expects to have a new business in operation by Aug. 1. This will allow for the upcoming venture to serve students in time for the following fall 2025 semester.
Thomas Hammer’s departure, along with the regular summer closing of nearby Monica’s Coffee Bar at the Catholic Church, means the closest summer coffee shop to Pitman will be the Moscow Food-Coop store on Elm Street, which operates on reduced hours in the summer.
Despite the uncertainty, Kosh shared that the new business “will offer food and beverages.”
Until 2013, Thomas Hammer resided on Sixth Street at University Pointe. Following the VandalStore location’s closure, the next closest will be in Pullman.
Alison Cranney can be reached at [email protected].