The Flying Camel Literary Cafe and Piano Bar, a jazz club, cafe and bar in downtown Hagerstown, Md., that added a bookstore in its lobby earlier this year, officially closed last Friday, the Herald-Mail reported.
Owner Julie Castillo and her husband opened the cafe in Hagerstown's Arts District in 2018, and for the first several months had a strong run. But as part of the city's Urban Improvement Project, construction began throughout the Arts District, and soon business began to suffer. Castillo told the Herald-Mail that despite having a loyal following, the Flying Camel was simply not doing enough business.
"We were trying to create an inclusive space where everyone felt welcome, where the whole community could come together; a place for writers and musicians and artists and thinkers," said Castillo. "A community space where there would always be something going on where people could come in and relax, have a sandwich, have a nice drink."