Hyde Park loses its only coffeehouse

Despina alone was worth the trip (not even counting the superb pastries she made at home and brought in). It also hosted open mics for poets and folk singers. And where will realty goddess Pat Tierney have her informal office hours every morning?

We'll miss B&C.

Late add: I just walked down for a final bean. Alas, she didn't bring her famous biscotti today — she makes unquestionably the world's best. Despina is not too sad, figures she'll visit and has other things to do with her time. It was a good run and she was fab at the café biz.

One (this one at least) wonders about the dearth of coffee-specific joints in HP, particularly Cleary and almost adjacent Logan Squares. I call the area Keratin Quarter because the default store fronts are a few particularistic churches and far too many hair salons/barber shops and nail parlors.

While numerous restaurants and dive bars sell coffee, it's not at all a thing on its own or as destinations. T.C.'s was in the building with Townsend's restaurant. The restaurateur's uxorial unit, Rosaline, ran the coffee/pastry side (and made desserts for hubby Michael's place. She's a superb baker and stocked the café. Alas, they split and sold the joints. In compensation, we got the Fairmount Grille. It's a very good restaurant, but jolly owner Chris Rassias shows no interest in a coffee shop or bakery.

Bean & Cream filled the bill for six years, even though down at and across Truman Parkway, it was not as well traveled. The Papadopoulos family owns the small block from Cappy's south. Mom, Despina, did a fine job and even ID'ed and stocked superb ice cream.

So why when the whole rest of Boston has cheek to jowl Starbucks, Nero and such, is this area relegated to a single Dunkies well off the squares and uninviting for spending any seated time? Is the demand absent or do the hipster chains just eschew the southernmost end of the city?