murky coffee capitol hill
Link to today's Washington Post article
It is with great sadness, regret, and shame that I report that murky coffee capitol hill will not reopen.
The above article in today's Metro section of the Washington Post sums up our situation fairly well: due to my own financial mismanagement, and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue's inability to revise their figures to the actual liability in time to be able to re-open the shop, the shop has been shut down and will not reopen.
I again thank everyone who has sent emails and messages of well-wishing and support. There have been many questions, and I'd like to address a few of them here now:
Q: What about the staff that we've come to love and appreciate?
A: A few have already found new employment at other local independent coffee shops and elsewhere. A few are now working at our Arlington shop. The staff is grateful for the outpouring of support for them specifically.
Q: Will this DC issue effect the Arlington shop?
A: The two shops are separate LLC's and separate companies. As far as I know, having received expert advice on this, there won't be. I have contacted Arlington County, as well as Virginia's tax authorities, and we have no issues that threaten a similar occurrence.
Q: What happens to the tax liabilities, now that you can't reopen?
A: I am committed to resolving all outstanding issues to mutual satisfaction, and as soon as possible. I am not, and never have been, interested in not living up to our obligations. The problems in DC were due to mismanagement that spun out of control.
Q: Can I use my gift certificate at the Arlington shop?
A: Absolutely
Q: Will you open a new shop in DC? If so, when?
A: We are hoping that we will, though that would require that all outstanding issues with DC are resolved first.
Q: Have you engaged any DC Council members, or other people to engage the DC OTR?
A: We had spoken to a couple individuals involved in the DC Council, and may request support from Council members soon. However, and perhaps (at least in hindsight) foolishly, I chose to engage the DC OTR directly and being completely forthcoming.
Q: Why couldn't things get worked out and the store reopened?
A: The DC OTR Audit Division assessed (estimated) our taxes for specific months and years at amounts ten-times higher than the actual amounts, resulting in the $427K published figure. Until the actual amounts would be entered into their records, we could not negotiate terms that would allow us to reopen (we expected that successful revisions to those assessments would have led to our reopening within days of the original action). As engaging the DC OTR continued to drag on slowly, our landlords for the Capitol Hill store were understandably unwilling to wait forever as their property remained locked up. Therefore, they chose to evict us, according to their rights. Our landlords have always been reasonable and understanding with us, and there is absolutely no ill-will towards them. They clearly had no choice. It is unfortunate that the DC OTR could not work with us to allow us to reopen when we had a chance.
If there are any questions or comments, feel free to email me at nick@ (and then murkycoffee.com). Thanks again to all, for your comments both positive and critical. I completely deserve what angry commentary that I have received, and I can only hope that I will be able to re-earn your trust.
Sincerely,
Nick Cho
It is with great sadness, regret, and shame that I report that murky coffee capitol hill will not reopen.
The above article in today's Metro section of the Washington Post sums up our situation fairly well: due to my own financial mismanagement, and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue's inability to revise their figures to the actual liability in time to be able to re-open the shop, the shop has been shut down and will not reopen.
I again thank everyone who has sent emails and messages of well-wishing and support. There have been many questions, and I'd like to address a few of them here now:
Q: What about the staff that we've come to love and appreciate?
A: A few have already found new employment at other local independent coffee shops and elsewhere. A few are now working at our Arlington shop. The staff is grateful for the outpouring of support for them specifically.
Q: Will this DC issue effect the Arlington shop?
A: The two shops are separate LLC's and separate companies. As far as I know, having received expert advice on this, there won't be. I have contacted Arlington County, as well as Virginia's tax authorities, and we have no issues that threaten a similar occurrence.
Q: What happens to the tax liabilities, now that you can't reopen?
A: I am committed to resolving all outstanding issues to mutual satisfaction, and as soon as possible. I am not, and never have been, interested in not living up to our obligations. The problems in DC were due to mismanagement that spun out of control.
Q: Can I use my gift certificate at the Arlington shop?
A: Absolutely
Q: Will you open a new shop in DC? If so, when?
A: We are hoping that we will, though that would require that all outstanding issues with DC are resolved first.
Q: Have you engaged any DC Council members, or other people to engage the DC OTR?
A: We had spoken to a couple individuals involved in the DC Council, and may request support from Council members soon. However, and perhaps (at least in hindsight) foolishly, I chose to engage the DC OTR directly and being completely forthcoming.
Q: Why couldn't things get worked out and the store reopened?
A: The DC OTR Audit Division assessed (estimated) our taxes for specific months and years at amounts ten-times higher than the actual amounts, resulting in the $427K published figure. Until the actual amounts would be entered into their records, we could not negotiate terms that would allow us to reopen (we expected that successful revisions to those assessments would have led to our reopening within days of the original action). As engaging the DC OTR continued to drag on slowly, our landlords for the Capitol Hill store were understandably unwilling to wait forever as their property remained locked up. Therefore, they chose to evict us, according to their rights. Our landlords have always been reasonable and understanding with us, and there is absolutely no ill-will towards them. They clearly had no choice. It is unfortunate that the DC OTR could not work with us to allow us to reopen when we had a chance.
If there are any questions or comments, feel free to email me at nick@ (and then murkycoffee.com). Thanks again to all, for your comments both positive and critical. I completely deserve what angry commentary that I have received, and I can only hope that I will be able to re-earn your trust.
Sincerely,
Nick Cho
posted at 11:48:00 PM -14 comments-
14 Comments:
murky coffee capitol hill was our teeny-bopper boyfriend: we both lost it to him. but in the end, murky wasnt ready for the realities of our love.
we will miss it dearly. we stand by you, nick, and we wish you all the best. everybody makes mistakes- you created something special and we hope you have the chance to do it again.
love,
katie and ellen
sigh.
hope to see you back in dc...and hopefully back on the hill.
daniel
So what's this about owing VA taxes as well? Does this have anything to do with the Arlington store going cash only as well? I'm getting a bit suspicious.
Hey, Nick --
I've been where you are; so have a lot of others -- it's one of those parts of life that ride under the surface and you don't know about until you're down there with it. And then you see it all around. Decent people sometimes make poor choices; you'll get through this.
I greatly admire you for having the chutzpah to really take ownership of your choices, without trying to dodge responsibility. That takes character, pal, and they don't teach that in business school.
Between your coffee and the character you've shown, you've built up a lot of good will across a broad spectrum in an otherwise divisive city; you can take comfort in that.
Like you, I lost a lot more than my business when things went south. Even the most important things, the relationships with those most loved. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and just loathed myself for a long time. But what I gained. . . there's no way to price it. It may be hard to see now, but better days will return.
I look forward to supporting you at your Clarendon shop.
You're a good egg, Nick.
Tim Wilson
Reston, VA
What about Alice?
Nick,
You hired me from Alabama without ever knowing me. All that you knew of me was that I wanted to learn more about coffee. You and the murky family taught me everything I know about coffee and gave me a passion for it. The people I met through murky have left on impression on me that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I met my wife at murky and today is our son's one year birthday. We now have our own coffee shop. You have a wonderful vision and what ever happens, murky coffee is something special. it's a rare thing to have something that has touched so many peoples lives in such a positive way. I don't know much about the tax situation but I do know...win or lose, open or closed, good business decisions or bad, Red Sox fan or not, the good things far out weigh the bad. You can forever be proud of what you started. If your fat ass gets knocked down, have enough respect for yourself to get back up and see what you can't make of the situation. I'm sure you can handle this shit.
Thanks,
Daniel Stearns.
Oh man, I am really sorry to hear about this Nick. Hope you are ok, and that the staff is ok. Here's to better times ahead for Murky.
Murky Coffee, you broke my heart.
We had some laughs, you and I. Long, sunny afternoons sitting around listening to music. You introduced me to Cold War Kids, and National, too, I think. We bonded over Johnny Cash and a classic cappucino. It was bliss.
Oh, there were signs. You raised your prices and I pulled back a little, wondering if this was really built to last. But that sweet-talking note you posted about higher costs for beans and dairy calmed my fears. I came back, tentatively at first. And then it was just like old times.
And then those cupcakes showed up! Our relationship was better than ever, though I knew I was giving you more than I could really afford. I had to keep something for myself, too, you know. But your $5 hot chocolate was just too good for me to resist. I lost myself for a while.
Now I know you're just like all the others. A beautiful exterior masking a financially fucked mess. Skinny jeans, Arcade Fire CDs and tragically hip haircuts don't pay for themselves, you know. Mamma's gotta buy a new Macbook Pro.
And then it all fell apart for good. The doors slammed shut. Ugly signs taped to the door and windows. Eviction. Withdrawal.
I still walk by sometimes. I can see my reflection in your dark windows. I pause every few days and remember better times.
These days I keep walking, up the street to Port City Java. It's a bit brighter in there, not really my type, and oh god, the music. They play James Taylor! Unironically!
But they pay their rent on time. They take credit cards. Their bill with the DC tax office is current. And I guess that's what I need right now.
I hope we'll meet up some day, Murky. Years from now, maybe you'll be in a better place. Maybe we can try again. I'd like that.
Nick,
Sorry that things turned out poorly for you and the staff at Murky, best wishes to you going forward. I've always learned more from failure than I have from success. Take this opportunity to grow and learn, relax, reload, and come back stronger.
I am a little pissed that you showed me the way, the truth, and the light about coffee and then left me high & dry. Thankfully SOVA and Sidamo are there to fill the void, otherwise you'd have to come to my house and make me coffee as penance.
Best,
Hill Rat
So is the DC government going to seize all your shit in the store?
That looks like an expensive espresso machine in there!
Nick:
Man... totally bummed. My brother moved to DC last year, I loved hitting your shop, and I actually got there twice in the last couple of months. Dang.
Intelligentsia Coffee sends you our good thoughts.
Marc Johnson
Nick-
I'm not a customer but I happened to save the January 10, 2008 Food section of The Washington Post. I re-read the coffee article today and based on the reviews, resolved to try Murky Coffee, although its Arlington location is not convenient to my home in Great Falls. Going to your website, I read your post dated March 20. I am amazed by, and so appreciative of, your disarming candor. You actually take the blame and you don't complain about the DC government or your Capitol Hill landlord (always a predictable and easy villain). I am so impressed with your honesty. I will now absolutely make it a point to try the Clarendon shop. I'll never be a regular- too far for that- but I want to show my support. Best of luck to you!
Nancy
Nick,
You've changed the way I view coffee forever. Because of you, I'm still thinking of starting up a shop of my own some day. I've been proselytizing, bringing every coworker I have up here at the Arlington Courthouse plaza to the Clarendon shop for two years.
Your passion has made you a better barista than businessman, and I'm sorry that that's cost you. You can recover from that, but nothing is more important than your family.
If never having a Murky latte again would somehow contribute to fixing the things that have become broken in your life, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Do what you have to do, man. You and your family are in my prayers.
My friends suggested that we meet at your Clarendon location to work on our school project and while looking for directions, I found this whole ordeal. I read back-posts, I went to the Post article - eventually I suggested that we not patronize your establishment. But it was the only place that offered us the environment that we needed - somewhere to sit & be able to talk, wi-fi, and last but soooo not least, coffee.
The reason I'm posting this is because, as a late finder of your shop and one that came in prejudiced with regards to your tax ordeal, I wanted to be able to write you off as a bad business and a bad person. But it must have been something in the cappucino, because I loved the place, think it serves a good role in the community, and hope so much that you pull out of this trial with your store still standing. I hope that you can also reopen in DC sometime in the next few years so I can stop having to go out to clarendon for the weekend cup o' gold that you all brew!
Luck,
Maria
Wash., D.C.
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