Since the age of 6, coffee has been a part of Meghan Parris’s life.

That was when her father started Jitters Coffee at 15010 N.E. 20th St. in Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood. The coffee shop has since become an Eastside staple with a strong following — some of which dates back to its early days.

“Some of our customers have been coming since we opened the doors,” said Parris, who is now 28 and manages the shop.

But now after 22 years, Jitters, which has a drive-thru as well as a seating area for customers, will soon be serving its last cup of coffee.

Parris said Jitters will be closing its doors — tentatively scheduled for Jan. 1, 2014.

In a letter addressed to customers dated Oct. 7 and posted throughout the coffee shop, Parris said the closure comes as a result of the City of Redmond’s Utility Relocation and South Detention Vault projects.

“There are many unknowns as to what the next few months will bring as far as the ability to operate under the construction conditions,” she writes. “Relocation has been considered, but unfortunately there are no viable options comparable to our current location.”

Parris told the Reporter that if they were to find and open a new location, staying in the area would be ideal.

“I would like to maintain a business for my customers,” she said. “But a lot of it is unknown.”

Parris said in learning about the city’s construction projects in Overlake, she did not realize their ramifications and scope and how much her business would be affected. She said Jitters has been impacted for months and it has been a “slow death” for the coffee shop, Parris said.

“These are the impacts that make a huge difference,” she said.

She added that this has been going on for only a few months. The Utility Relocation and South Detention Vault projects are estimated to be two-year projects and she said the impacts would just be worse.

Jeri Rowe-Curtis, chief communications officer for the City of Redmond, said in order to build the storm water detention vault, which will be underneath the ground on the Sears property just northwest of Jitters, the city needs to utilize and acquire access rights to adjacent property.

“Building the underground vault requires that we obtain temporary rights to access the property in order to work underground,” she said.

Rowe-Curtis said the vault is part of Redmond’s long-range infrastructure investment plan for Overlake and while city staff work in advance and in collaboration with “local businesses, building owners and managers to mitigate any problems resulting from construction projects…It is impossible to launch broad-scale projects in (Overlake) without some intermittent disruption to business as usual.”

With the announcement of Jitters closing, many customers have expressed their sadness.

“It’s hard to accept change when it happens to something you really care about,” said Bellevue resident Lorelee Hedlund.

She and her friend Carroll Rehmke — also of Bellevue — have been meeting at the coffee shop for years as it is located in between their two homes. The two women have been returning to Jitters because of the homey feel it has. They said it is also comfortable and allows for privacy if needed, with a conference room as well as tables that are spread out throughout the shop.

“It’s just a fun place,” Rehmke said.

After many years of coming to the coffee shop, she said they have gotten to know fellow regulars — mostly just by sight — as well as the shop’s baristas.

Parris said Jitters closing is both emotional and sentimental for her as it has been part of her life for so long.

“Because I was 6 (when it opened), it’s hard to see my life without Jitters,” she said.

In addition, Parris said she has built relationships with so many customers and asks them to focus on celebrating Jitters and not be sad about things that are out of their control.

“It’s been a privilege,” she said. “I’m just humbled by the support by everyone in the area.”