10/28/2026
Hello, MCCo Fam—
It feels like it’s time to share my heart again. Also you are probably wondering why Merchant's social is so ghostlike. It's spooky season obviously...
But seriously, Merchant is moving through another season of change. It isn’t exactly the season I thought we were entering, but I’m learning that growth doesn’t always look like expansion. Sometimes growth means slowing down, protecting what is healthy, and being willing to find a new direction. Let that sit.
Yesterday evening I held one of our quarterly staff meetings and it was a little different than usual. I still talked a bunch, that never changes lol but one thing I didn't do was go over a list of habits and behaviors that need attention and need to change with in our team. Are there areas where we need growth and training? Sure. Is this team flawless in every way possible? No. Are we committed to showing up for you everyday with excellence? Yes! I am so very proud and grateful for our current team. While some have been here years and others months, I am excited about the dedication and commitment my staff has to Merchant and this community. Last night our meeting focused on hospitality and how it is the glue that holds everything together. I went over a new foundational framework for the essential building blocks of the Merchant Standard. From failures to successes this has been years in the making. I created the 10 pillars for the standard that we practice. I truly believe that these concepts temming from hospitality with practical application not only build a team from the inside out but encourage ownership and strengthen community. I am considering options on how I can share these pillars with other business owners in maybe some form of a class, workshop or blog but for now I am keeping it low key and testing it out.
The Evening Ritual
Is Taking a Hard Pause
If you haven't heard, for now, The Evening Ritual is taking a hard pause.
This is not me giving up on it, and it does not erase what we created. The Evening Ritual gave us beautiful evenings filled with music, conversation, botanical drinks, and genuine community.
But right now, I don’t have the staffing or personal capacity to give it the consistency and energy it deserves. Rather than forcing it forward until the idea or our team burns out, I need to give it room to rest.
I still believe deeply in creating space for people to gather, slow down, and leave a little lighter than they arrived. That vision is not going anywhere. It may simply need to return in a different form.
We Will Be Closed
Sunday, November 1
I know Sundays matter here. They are part of people’s routines, a place for breakfast, coffee, family, friendship, and a softer start to the day. Closing on a day our community relies on genuinely sucks.
But the team we have right now has been giving Merchant their all. They are showing up, working hard, adapting, and pouring themselves into creating a welcoming atmosphere and serving excellent drinks.
I love this team, and I will not burn out great people to keep a door open for one more day.
For now, we will evaluate circumstances like this individually and make the healthiest decision we can for our staff, our guests, and the long-term well-being of Merchant.
Thank you for understanding.
The Merchant Standard
Is Still the Merchant Standard
We have welcomed some wonderful new additions to our team, and I’m incredibly proud of the care, energy, and willingness to learn that they have brought with them.
Together, we are putting our whole hearts into creating the Merchant experience you deserve: beautifully crafted drinks, genuine hospitality, a welcoming atmosphere, and a place where people feel known and cared for.
Things may not always be perfect while new employees learn their rhythm, but the standard has not changed. We remain committed to excellence in both craft and connection.
We’re Looking for One More
Right Person
We are hiring for a barista position again but we aren’t simply trying to put another body on the schedule.
We are looking for the right person.
Someone dependable, kind, hardworking, and ready to learn. Someone who cares about quality and cleanliness, can remain calm when things get busy, and understands that hospitality is about more than handing someone a drink.
We need someone who wants to contribute to a team, protect the atmosphere, and help people feel like they belong here.
Experience is helpful, but heart, reliability, and a willingness to grow matter just as much.
If that sounds like you or someone you know we would love to hear from you.
[Apply to Join the Merchant Team] (https://tmt.spotapps.co/job-listings?spot_id=202858&callback_url=http%3A%2F%2Fmerchantcoffee15003.com%2F&_gl=1%2abe3bdk%2a_ga%2aMTg1NTYwNTQ3Mi4xNzcyNDkwNDM5%2a_ga_VG24VK2VKT%2aczE3OTMxOTYyNDkkbzQzJGcwJHQxNzkzMTk2MjUwJGo1OSRsMCRoMA..%2a_ga_0Y1HBZR7W4%2aczE3OTMxOTYyNTAkbzQzJGcwJHQxNzkzMTk2MjUwJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..)
A Personal Note
Life outside of Merchant is asking more of me right now than it has in a long time.
There are personal circumstances requiring my time, energy, and attention, and I am learning that I cannot pour endlessly from every part of myself without eventually running dry.
I thought Merchant was entering a big phase of growth and expansion. Maybe it still is... but perhaps growth looks different right now.
Maybe this season is about strengthening our foundation. Maybe it is about simplifying, getting clear, caring well for the people already here, and allowing the next version of Merchant to take shape with intention.
More than anything, I need this place to stay healthy.
Merchant matters too much to me, to our team, and to this community to build its future on exhaustion.
There Is Still
So Much to Look Forward To
A pause does not mean nothing is happening.
On November 18, we’ll welcome another beautiful sound experience into our space. Stay tuned for the upcoming details and registration link. We’re also looking forward to more meaningful events, creative collaborations with local businesses, and new ways to bring people together.
The heart of Merchant is still beating strong.
We are still creating. We are still dreaming. We are still serving. We are simply learning how to do it in a way that is healthy, sustainable, and true to who we are becoming.
Thank you for continuing to walk with us through every version of this journey. Thank you for loving our team, supporting our new employees, and giving us grace when we need to make a difficult decision.
We’re still here. We’re still growing. We’re just letting growth take a new direction.
With love and gratitude,
Kimberly + the Merchant Coffee Team
Coffee is the vehicle. Community is the destination.
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