Espresso Royale Coffee, a popular Ann Arbor-based coffeehouse chain, has permanently closed all of its locations. A message on the company’s website cited the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for the closing. “Sadly, our company has not survived the coronavirus pandemic. On March 20, 2020, we closed all of our cafes hoping the closure would be temporary. However, as the closure continued, it became impossible for our company to remain viable,” the message says. Espresso Royale Coffee was known as a place to study or gather with friends. According to the company's website, locations in Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Champaign/Urbana, illinois, and Madison Wisconsin, have ceased operating. The company's roasters, bakers, catering, grocery and online operations have also been closed. Espresso Royale thanked its baristas, cafe managers, bakers and entire staff as well as its customers. "Some would say that a company that goes out of business has failed; we don’t think so," the company said "Since 1987, Espresso Royale has served excellent coffee to millions of customers, has provided good work for thousands of people, and has purchased millions of dollars of goods and services from businesses around the country. We think that’s a success." Jonathan Martin, CFO of Espresso Royale, said the loss of business on college campuses as a result of COVID-19 hit the company hard. Espresso Royale referred customers to M36 Coffee Roasters, which uses the same roasted coffee blends as Espresso Royale. M36 Coffee Roasters was formed by Ken Pargulski, Espresso Royale's former master roaster, and Lisa Tuveson, who was involved in operations. Pargulski and Tuveson, reached by phone Thursday afternoon, said they bought Espresso Royale's roasting business, which is in Whitmore Lake off M-36. They are leasing the space and did not discuss details of buying the business. "I didn't want to let that piece of the business go, and it was something I was interested in taking over," Pargulski said. The new roasting company began June 1 and will continue to carry the Espresso Royale name on it, Pargulski said. The coffee is sold at independent stores such as Busch's Fresh Market and Plum Markets as well as through Amazon. "That line still exists and is now roasted by M36 Coffee Roasters," Pargulski said. For more information, go to m36coffeeroasters.com . Contact food writer Susan Selasky at 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.