Local Athens market Birdies announced its closure via an Instagram post on Sunday. The market, located on Prince Avenue, opened in November 2023 and serves as a market, lunch counter and coffee shop.

“We have barely kept our head above water these past two years, and there is no pathway to profitability in this current climate of rising costs and economic uncertainty,” the post stated. “We are committed to working out the rest of the month at full capacity, and hope that you will consider us as a holiday shopping and dining destination.”

Birdies will close on Dec. 28, according to the post. The market has won awards in its two years of existence from both The Red & Black and The Flagpole.

The post added that additional sales in that period will be essential to supporting the staff and paying remaining bills. A Birdies staff member confirmed the closure to The Red & Black by phone.

This announcement comes just over a week after Boulevard-area coffee shop Buvez’s closure became public. Buvez’s baristas also cited rising costs, as well as tariffs, as reasons for shutting its doors.