Brian Bergeson has said before that he and wife Linda were roasters that opened a coffee shop, not a coffee shop that became a roaster.
They will soon return more to that original journey as the couple announced Nov. 2 the imminent closing of Bergies Coffee Roast House, the Heritage District shop in a historic building with an outdoor patio and garden that evolved into perhaps Gilbert’s favorite morning gathering spot. Brian and Linda Bergeson opened the shop with Brian’s brother Bruce 14 years ago.
The coffee shop will close to the public Dec. 24, though the couple will continue to use the 103-year-old Clare House property in the short term for part of its roasting operation.
They also will continue to sell their beans online and wholesale operation that sells to about 15-20 restaurants and businesses.
Customers also can get their fix Saturday mornings at the Bergies booth at the Gilbert Farmers Market. The Bergesons have had a booth there almost since the market opened in 2010, Brian said.
A truck could be in the future, but that would be down the line, he said.
The reason for getting out now is simple enough: It’s time, Brian said.
The Bergesons were part of a partnership that owned the property at 309 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, and acted as landlord for the coffee shop. But the partners are getting close to retirement age, and the appreciation of the property’s value made the timing right to sell the property.
“We just were fortunate to for 14 years to be able to have a little coffee shop like that on that type of property,” Brian said. “So that’s the first thing. I mean, we’ve been lucky and been blessed, and we’re thankful to the group that owns it, which we are a part of but there’s others involved, that have allowed that to happen.”
The timing is right not just for the partners, but for the Bergesons, as well.
“We’re getting time to transition our lives,” Brian said. “We’re both getting toward retirement age and want to spend more time with grandchildren and more grandchildren coming.”
The property sold about a month ago to Wags Capital out of Lehi, Utah, a boutique investment firm that specializes in real estate, food and beverage, and private equity. Its investments in food and beverage include 20 brands. Crumbl Cookies is one with which Gilbert residents would be familiar. But Bergeson said he does not know the firm’s plans for the property.
Since the announcement on social media, people have told the Bergesons how they will miss frequenting the coffee shop, though the Bergesons are excited about what is ahead for them.
“I understand everybody being sad,” he said. “We’re sad. It’s a bittersweet pill, and so I certainly have no problem when people come and say, ‘I’m so sad.’ I completely understand because it has become such a sweet little spot downtown, and it really has identified with our history down there.”
Tom Blodgett Senior News Editor | Gilbert @sp_blodgett
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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