News Thu Oct 22 2009

Metropolis Barista Killed

Liza Whitacre, a barista and trainer for Metropolis Coffee, was killed yesterday when she slipped under a truck on her bike at Damen and Wellington Avenues. Metropolis closed early yesterday and remains closed today, to allow staffmembers time to mourn. The coffeeshop will re-open Friday at 6:30am.

An email from Metropolis remembering Whitacre is posted after the jump.

Liza Whitacre died yesterday. She lived more in 20 years than anyone that I have ever known. Her approach to being was so simple - love it, whatever it is. That, for Liza, was so many things. Coffee, biking, friendship, school, figure skating... She meant the world to us, and we will never forget her strong and positive impact on each and everyone of us. She radiated, she beamed, she rubbed off that pixie glow on everyone that she came across.

Many of you know Liza. We are collecting cards, memories, photos, and stories at the cafe. If you would like to leave a card, I am sure that her family will really appreciate it.

Thank you for understanding, and for being kind during this time - our crew is reeling and grieving, and we may require a little patience.

Here is a recent photo of Liza - she had just gotten a tattoo of a coffee tree. The image of the tree came from Dr. Illy's book on coffee - an incredibly scientific, long winded, and difficult book to grasp. Liza read it in 2 days.

— Andrew Huff / Comments (5)