ENP - The Artz Gallery & Cafe closed abruptly last week.

The Artz Gallery & Cafe in the Lockview Plaza, Main and Pine streets, closed abruptly early last week according to the owner of the space.

The cafe proprietors, Heather and Doug Clubb, left town without notice while the owner was in Florida, he said. The owner told ENP that the couple, one of whom is his daughter, took equipment with them that he hadn't finished paying for yet.

The Clubbs had moved to Lockport from Nebraska earlier this year for the purposes of opening the shop.

The coffee shop and cafe had been open since October, offering assorted coffees, sandwiches and baked goods. It allowed local artists to display their works on the walls and featured "meet the artist" events and "open mic nights."

This afternoon the walls were barren. The building owner said the Clubbs took the artworks with them.
The owner released a statement on the Artz Gallery & Cafe Facebook page:

The Artz Gallery & Cafe is not responsible for debts or agreements made by Heather or Doug Clubb. They are no longer a part of the cafe. If they made an agreement with you, it is between you and them. We apologize for any misrepresentation made during their time at the cafe. If something in the cafe belongs to you please contact us and we will get it for you. Thank you for your patience in this.

The owner said he can not afford to reopen the shop. At this point, he's simply trying to recoup as much of his losses as possible, he said this afternoon.

The space has hosted numerous coffee shops in recent years but none of them have lasted very long.

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