When we first started murky, I was under 30, married with no kids, had one employee, a little two-group La Marzocco Linea espresso machine, and the idea that if we were going to serve something to people to drink and eat, that it would need to be the best 'something' that we could make it... otherwise, we would dishonor those people and the love and care that every person deserves.
A few years later, I'm over 35, divorced, two kids, about 20 employees, and a pile of various coffee-making rigs and such, on the last day of murky coffee: May 3, 2009.
Looking back, murky coffee is a cacophony of memories, both good and bad. To try to list any specific ones here would do them injustice--some things should just never, ever, be summarized. That said, I'll choose to remember murky this way:
I always wanted murky to be like a funny little love song for each and every person who comes through our doors; both our staff, and our customers. A little song that was manifested in the ways that we served each other, but with all of the inevitable human frailties. Sometimes, the little love song was sung badly. Sometimes, the intended audience wasn't paying attention. Sometimes, things were misheard. Sometimes, the words and music didn't match up in the right way. Sometimes the timing wasn't right. Sometimes people weren't in the right mood or state of mind.
But sometimes, things would come together in that magical sort of way that little love songs can create.
I'll remember murky coffee for those moments.
Looking ahead, there's still much to overcome, and there's much to look forward to. I've been humbled to the point of weakened knees at the outpouring of love and support from our friends and our customers in the past few weeks. There are special people who made murky what it is, and they know who they are. I have to especially thank Ryan Jensen, Katie Carguilo, Aaron Ultimo, Katie Duris, Travis Edwards, Jennifer Mulchandani, Zachary Carlsen, Daniel Stearns, Liz Zamorski, Jenny Lawrence, Tommy Gallagher, and Marianne Hines, who were at murky as managers but mostly as my sisters and brothers. It's never been about the coffee, and it never will be. It's about the people.
As I've learned from past mistakes and will inevitably make new ones, I am blessed to be given the opportunity to experience more of what this walk has to offer. When training our staff, I've said, "From the moment someone thinks that they want to go to murky today, to the moment they actually forgot they ever came... that's the whole experience that we offer, and can choose to make better for them or not." There are many hands who have shaped my experience with murky coffee, and I am better for it. Thank you all, and please keep in touch.
Nick
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