nick writes...

thanks to all who sent such encouraging and supportive e-mails over the past few weeks. We opened this morning as "murky coffee arlington." As this morning has shown, we're definitely in a "transition period" with various snafus lurking left and right, but we're encouraged by the kind support of the Clarendon community.

Thanks for reminding me Jennifer... the website has been updated to include hours of operation for the Arlington shop. The FAQ has been updated as well, though it's far from complete.

Anyway, we'll have our new coffee brewer in any minute now, and our new espresso machine will arrive in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I ask that you might provide some encouragement to our staff through this transition period. There's a lot to learn, some stuff to un-learn, and a bunch stuff to teach the 'boss' as they're working... please be patient, and supportive.

Thanks a lot, and see you 'round Clarendon.

nick writes...

No, it's not censorship. The comments are all gone because we changed the comments service. Blogger's comment box requires you to register with Blogger (and therefore Google.com), whereas Haloscan's comment box is less intrusive.

If you want to know the content of the comments that are gone, here's a summary of the last couple of weeks: sandwiches, sandwiches, sandwiches... nick is a prick... the end. Oh yeah, and to Mr. Anonymous: no, you can't post a blank page, but if you want to display that or any other artwork, send an e-mail to Courtney at art(at)murkycoffee.com.

Nick writes,

FYI, the first day of "murky coffee arlington" will be Wednesday, October 27, 2004, at 7:00am. Common Grounds will close a little early (3:00pm) on Tuesday to allow us time to prepare.

The product lineup will be fully "murkified," most of which is on the "menu" page of this site. We'll have an assortment of whole-bean coffee-by-the-pound available as well.

Please know that there will be gradual changes to the place after Wednesday... but also know that everything will be somewhat announced here on the website and in notices posted around the shop.

On Wednesday, you'll notice that the tables and chairs throughout the shop have been rearranged. We're trying to use the space that we have in better ways, and you'll see some of the couches brought out to the "main area," while some of the tables-and-chairs will be relocated to the other rooms. Nothing is permanent, and please bear with us as we experiment with a few different layouts over the coming months.

The "community bulletin board" will be thinned out, and will have certain rules about what's posted. I apologize to those who will be disappointed by the new rules. The rule is this: everything posted must be substantively in the interest of the community. No personal business solicitations, business cards, or the like will be allowed. Nothing "for sale" (though "freebies," as long as they're not part of a business solicitation, will be allowed). Also, nothing (even if it's community-related) that would be identified as "partisan politics" will be allowed (no matter what the slant). We want it to truly be a community board, and some guidelines will help keep the board effective.

That's enough for now. Please stay tuned, as always, for more updates. In the mean time, please know that I'm happy to answer any questions or concerns. I'll be around CG over the next few days, and of course, through Tuesday and Wednesday. Thanks... and peace-out.

Nick writes:

Frequently Axed Questions regarding the impending 'murkification' of Common Grounds

Q) Are you gonna turn CG into a Starbucks?
A) Puleeze!

Q) Are you gonna change the name? Why?
A) Yes... it will be 'murky coffee,' and yes, with the pretentious e.e.cummings-lowercase thing goin.
The problem, if you can call it a problem, with 'Common Grounds' for a name is that there are dozens of coffeeshops around the country called 'Common Grounds.' Not a huge deal, but considering we are involved in a lot of coffee-community related stuff around the country, a more unique name seems better.

Q) Will you have live music?
A) Most definitely. There are some great venues for music around the neighborhood, but I think we can provide a unique sort of space for live music... don't you?

Q) Will you change the facility at all?
A) Well, bathrooms that are working more than 50% of the time would be nice, no?
We're planning for some moderate renovations to happen in a couple of months (floors, furniture, fixtures, etc.), but not right away.

Q) Is your coffee really that great?
A) That's a personal preference thing for sure, so I can't promise too much. Just try it, and see if you like it. Many people consider us to have the best coffee in the DC area.

Q) What about tea?
A) Actually, this is an example of how customer feedback CAN make a difference. We don't serve loose-leaf tea at our Capitol Hill shop, but due to customer begging and pleading, we rethought our initial plans to eliminate loose-leaf tea (in favor of high-quality whole-leaf tea bags). We're happy to report that we are planning to continue (and hopefully improve) the tea selection and service.

Q) What about the great sandwiches?
A) I enjoy the sandwiches at Common Grounds as well... they ARE great! However, we're going to streamline the overall product offerings and focus on our core business. If you want to have a sandwich, I hope you have a GREAT sandwich from a great sandwich place. Know that you can come to us for great coffee.

Q) Are you gonna keep the (insert your favorite drink/food/item here) ?
A) Again, we will be streamlining our product offering, which means that many of the menu items that you may have come to enjoy might be dropped. I hope and trust that there will be something else that we offer that will more than make up for the missing item.

Q) Are you going to keep the Wi-Fi?
A) washingtonpost.com/..articles/..2003Apr18.html (hopefully that will answer your question)

Any other questions? e-mail them to us at the address provided!

Nick writes:

A clarification of sorts is in order.

I've been getting e-mails from devoted Common Grounds customers who are incensed that I would imply that Common Grounds is a place that "served BAD coffee, mediocre baked-goods, and had a somewhat aimless character." I did not mean this at all... I was referring to Stompin' Grounds, the place that murky coffee capitol hill once was. I see, however, that one could misunderstand my comments, and for this, I sincerely apologize.

Common Grounds Arlington is an amazing place, with amazing people. In its almost five-years of existence, it has developed into a wonderfully unique place with a very special character and culture. Through the tireless efforts of a small, committed group of individuals during its early years, Common Grounds became what its founders intended: a place that is first and foremost, a place that is loving and welcoming.

Please don't think that I, or anyone else connected to murky coffee lacks respect for that. In conversations with the current owner, we've found that the possibly most exciting aspect of this change is that we can, and will, take the core values of Common Grounds and be able to really let them shine.

I'm hearing back from many of the Common Grounds customers, and some are, understandably, mourning the end of this chapter in the story that is Common Grounds. Some of you have shown some anger and resentment, and I hear you. Common Grounds was and is a special place. I trust that, when all is said and done, the people of Clarendon will see that murky coffee arlington carries on the best parts of Common Grounds... in some ways, fulfilling many of the hopes and dreams of Common Grounds.

murky coffee is no big multinational corporation. We're not about conformity and uniformity. We're about the best coffee joint that mankind can create. The most important part of it all is, by a very wide margin, the "people part." We're obsessed with coffee... not because coffee is something worth obsessing over, but because it's for our customers. We're a coffee shop. We want our customers to have the best coffee known to mankind.

I will be preparing a "Frequently Asked Questions" regarding the transition this week. I hope that many of your concerns will be addressed. In the mean time, I continue to welcome your e-mails. I'm also in and around Common Grounds more and more this week, so if you're so inspired, please come up and hit me up for a chat.

Looking forward to it! Thanks, and God bless.

P.S. I fixed the "comments" thing.