After lawsuit and business losses, KC coffee shop will close all locations
Kansas City coffee shop Prefix Coffee will close its remaining two locations in the metro.
The business announced on social media that its last day will be Friday after five years in the community. It will cease all roasting operations as well.
“Although there were many times when there seemed like hopeful opportunities for turning our business around and entering into genuine sustainability and growth, we have ultimately been brought to an abrupt and difficult conclusion that we could not continue any longer,” the business’ statement said.
“Thank you to all the people that have been part of shaping Prefix over the years — getting to work with our incredible team and getting to engage with our beloved community day in and day out will truly be our greatest loss.”
The shop currently has two locations: 325 E. 31st St. in midtown and 1100 Main St. in the Lightwell building downtown.
Prefix previously leased spaces from religious group International House of Prayer–Kansas City at 3523 E. Red Bridge Road in south Kansas City and 12905 S. U.S. 71 Highway in Grandview.
The coffee shop closed those locations last year after a decades-long sex abuse scandal involving Mike Bickle, IHOPKC’s founder, surfaced in October 2023.
“Though Prefix was never owned or managed by IHOP KC, we have decided to remove both our coffee shops from the organization’s property to protect the overall well-being of our staff and customers in the community and to restore the vitality of our business,” Prefix ownership said in a statement posted to social media.
Ten days after the allegations were made public, IHOPKC announced it was “immediately, formally and permanently” separating from Bickle, saying it had confirmed “a level of inappropriate behavior” with Bickle.
In August, Jouby Bean LLC — operator of Prefix — sued IHOPKC, saying that the scandal had caused the business “substantial financial harm.”
The suit alleges the group committed “a series of misrepresentations, false statements, and breaches of contract” regarding its lease and failed to disclose sex abuse allegations against the leader.
The Star’s David Hudnall and Judy Thomas contributed to this report.