Charlotte-area coffee shop ‘closed until further notice’ after SUV rams business
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- SUV crash forced Coffee Republic & Bakery in Cornelius to close temporarily
- No injuries were reported during the Sunday evening incident at 6:30 p.m.
- Authorities have not released crash details or confirmed any driver charges
A Charlotte-area coffee shop will remain closed following a crash over the weekend.
Coffee Republic & Bakery posted photos of the damage after a large SUV crashed through the entrance at 19905 W Catawba Avenue, Ste 105 in Cornelius.
It happened at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, CEO Sean Flynn told CharlotteFive, adding there were “no injuries, thank God.”
“When we said we were excited about pumpkin spice latte season, we didn’t mean to drive the point home quite like this!” the cafe said in an Instagram post. “Our Cornelius location will be closed until further notice while we clean up the enthusiasm.”
Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue crews arrived at 6:40 p.m. and found a vehicle had hit the front of the building, Assistant Chief EJ McCormick told CharlotteFive. Photos from the scene showed a gaping hole left by the SUV, with broken glass and debris covering on the restaurant floor.
“Our crew assessed structural integrity, secured the area, and ensured there were no additional hazards,” McCormick said via email. “Proper notifications to the business owner and landlord were made.”
Authorities didn’t say what led to the crash, or if the driver could be charged.
CharlotteFive reached out to the Cornelius Police Department for more information Monday, Aug. 25, and was awaiting a response.
Flynn confirmed the Cornelius location is temporarily closed for repairs and encouraged coffee lovers to “enjoy our 6 other local locations“ in the meantime.
News of the accident prompted a flurry of reactions from concerned locals:
- “So glad everyone is ok and I hope repairs are quick,” Lindsay Butler wrote on Facebook.
- “Someone’s car insurance company is not happy with them. Hope everyone is okay and hope you get repairs done quickly,” Jane Haas commented on the bakery’s Facebook post.
- Pat Turner shared their sentiments, writing: “Glad that no one got hurt.”
Coffee Republic & Bakery
Location: 19905 W Catawba Ave Ste 105, Cornelius, NC (temporarily closed)
Location: 14825 Ballantyne Village Way, Charlotte, NC
Location: 500 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC
Location: 3016 Weddington Rd #600, Matthews, NC
Location: 239 W Center Ave, Mooresville, NC
Cuisine: Coffee shop / bakery
Instagram: @coffeerepublicnc
This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM.