Kettl Bowery - a chapter comes to an end.

And another begins…

This week marks the end of a chapter for Kettl as we serve our final guests at our Bowery outpost. The owner of the market has decided to sell the space to a developer and pursue a new direction. Running the market has never been easy, and I feel grateful for our landlord and the work he put in over the past several years to keep this unusual project alive. All things eventually come to a close, and it has been a privilege to operate such a unique little café in the heart of Manhattan.

The Bowery was Kettl’s first true café — born from the belief that the spirit of tea and our vision for hospitality required a space where we could serve, share, and interact with our community. I’ve always been drawn to unconventional spaces that demand vision to come alive. Our very first gallery space above Okonomi proved how fruitful such small, odd spots could be. So when this tiny stall on the Bowery opened up, I saw it as the perfect “starter” café. We had a to-go window for hurried guests on lunch breaks, but more importantly, a four-seat counter equipped for traditional tea service. I even bought a set of Zalto wine glasses for cold-brewed teas — they lasted only two weeks before a frigid January wind swept through our imperfect front window and took them out. But I didn’t mind. Then, and now, I believe a refined tea experience can be offered anywhere, as long as the tools and the spirit are aligned.

From the very beginning, we had the support of so many. One of my most cherished memories is when Chef Eiji Ichimura suggested we serve ochazuke — sashimi over rice with hot tea poured over — a gesture of support from a Michelin-level chef that validated our vision in those early days.

Over the years, we’ve served tens of thousands of guests — , designers, politicians, neighbors, travelers, friends old and new - and each guest mattered equally. The space itself had glaring imperfections — exposed pipes, rusting beams, water damage, and endless plumbing challenges — but the spirit endured. Thanks to our loyal following, what started as an 80-square-foot box became a place of connection. With the help of our leadership team, our staff, our architect Michael Tower and our contractor Seth Heeres, we even gave the café a facelift last year, allowing us to serve more guests, reduce wait times, and operate at the highest standard we ever had. To see consistent growth in our fifth year is something I’m incredibly proud of and deeply grateful for.

As this chapter closes, I’m excited to share what comes next. This fall, we will open Kettl Matcha Sen Mon Ten in Brooklyn — a space dedicated entirely to the depth and discovery of matcha. And, most importantly, we’ve found a new home on Great Jones Street for a true Manhattan flagship — one that builds on the foundation we created at Bowery and keeps us rooted in the neighborhood that has supported us for five years.

This is not a goodbye, but an update and a heartfelt thank you. To everyone who has been part of this journey — especially my incredible wife and partner Minami — I am eternally grateful. Being part of New York City, and hopefully leaving even the smallest mark, has been the honor of a lifetime.

And to all of the team members past and present that have been a part of the journey, your hard work is a testament to the success of Bowery.

I look forward to welcoming all of you to our new home in NoHo next year.

With gratitude,

Zach + Minami