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"The Sweet Auburn location of Refuge Coffee closes Friday, September 23, after nearly three years in the historic Atlanta Daily World building on Auburn Avenue. The decision to close was partially due to the financial fallout from the pandemic. This location opened just one month prior to the start of the pandemic, which shut down businesses, hotels, and Georgia State University nearby in downtown Atlanta for months. Despite the challenges, Refuge continued to pay its employees and barista trainees. The nonprofit coffee shop provides support, job training, and job opportunities for Atlanta’s refugee community, a mission that began at its original location in Clarkston. However, it continues to partner as the coffee provider for co-working and events space Constellations in Sweet Auburn. Refuge Coffee also includes a location in Midtown at Woodruff Arts Center. A third location opens later this year in downtown Norcross." - Beth McKibben