West Side Java Co. to close on Sept. 28

Editor’s note: West Side Java on Sep. 24 announced there may be a potential buyer of the business. The following article was prepared prior to this announcement.

West Side Java Co. announced in a Facebook post on Sept. 21 that it will close its doors within the next week after being in business just shy of one year.

The building and business owners, Dave Bral and Juli Stanford, also said in the post they will be retiring. Living 35 miles away was too far to keep everything on track, they said. Bral and Stanford started West Side Java Co., which previously operated as Bridgehouse Coffee Co., with the intent to sell the business.

“After months of trying to sell it with no good leads, it is with heavy hearts that we have decided to close and retire,” Stanford said. “I want to personally thank each and every one of you for making my life better and for supporting a local successful business. Our last day to be open will be Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023.”

Stanford will be at the coffee shop Sept. 26 through Sept. 28. Although the business is not selling any equipment, there will be boxes of muffins, cheesecakes, frozen cookies and frozen scones for sale. West Side Java Co. is up for sale until close at a price of $80,000.

“It has made a profit every month and would have to be owner-operated.”

Customers were heartbroken when they first learned Bridgehouse was going to close its doors in summer 2022. At the time of the coffee shop’s closing, there were extensive facade renovations that had yet to be completed after the building sustained latent, severe damage from the 2020 derecho.

In a past interview, Stanford said the storm shifted and loosened a part of the building. It was a difficult process to get it fixed. The renovation was handled by Ciro Diiorio Masonry & Landscaping of Marshalltown. When the building reopened as West Side Java Co. in October 2022, customers were overjoyed.

West Side Java Co. made efforts to set itself apart from Bridgehouse by expanding its food menu and offering new, trendy beverages.

Stanford embraced her new title as business owner and enjoyed customers.

“The customers have been amazing. Love my customers. They’re great. I’m starting to make friends with some and recognizing the ones that come in every day or sometimes twice a day,” Stanford said in a past interview. “This is a service we wanted to do for downtown Newton and for the people that loved it.”