Startup connector Thou Mayest closing Crossroads coffee shop, hints at new flagship
November 20, 2018 | Tommy Felts
Thou Mayest plans to shutter its Crossroads coffee shop — a popular collision point for startup leaders and community members — on Christmas Eve, founder Bo Nelson said this week, teasing a pivot to an enhanced wholesale operation and search for a new retail home.
Bo Nelson, Thou Mayest
“This has been an amazing year of change for Thou Mayest. Like many businesses, we saw some bumps in the road this year, and we now have a renewed and inspired approach,” Nelson said in a Facebook post. “We have looked into the future and we can’t wait to share that vision with you.”
Click here to read more about Nelson and his coffee shop philosophy.
“This might sound silly, but Thou Mayest understood the role of coffee,” said Jay Austin, CEO and co-founder at Creators Group and a frequent collaborator at Thou Mayest. “They knew it as a conduit to ideas and conversation. Big ideas and conversations. Naturally, Thou Mayest became the go-to spot for the entrepreneurs seeking that vibe.”
Click here to read more about how coffee culture fuels Kansas City’s startup ecosystem.
Nelson declined to immediately share details of the transition publicly, but hinted at more news to come as the business examines its brick-and-mortar options.
“We are grateful for our time at 419 E. 18th St. and the friendships and community that have emerged in the East Crossroads, and we’re excited to share the next chapter of the Thou Mayest story with you,” he said in the post. “We’re positive that our flagship location will be everything you have come to expect from the Thou Mayest brand and more.”
Wholesale and online operations are expected to be unaffected by the planned 4 p.m. Dec. 24 closure, Nelson said.
Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters
“Even as our retail business has continued to evolve, we’ve experienced tremendous growth in our wholesale coffee program and it continues to operate and grow at an astounding rate,” he said.
As word spread across the startup community early this week, longtime customers of the Crossroads location shared memories of personal and professional connections made at the busy meetup spot.
Click here to read comments about the change at Thou Mayest.
Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters from Summer House on Vimeo.
Featured Business
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
‘Buddha was a Baller’ seeks to awaken success without overthinking, Mindsport founder says
Buddha had the mind of an athlete, said Ryan Stock. The spiritual sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded inspired Stock, creator of the MindSport app and a former basketball coach, to put his own thoughts to paper. His book, “Buddha was a Baller,” is set for release Oct. 28, the Kansas City entrepreneur said.…
Pipeline opens applications for 2019 fellowship class, reveals three-city 1MC pitch event
An application for Pipeline’s 2019 fellowship class isn’t just about next year, said Joni Cobb — it’s an opportunity for a lifetime of support from the organization’s network of developing and top-tier entrepreneurs. “Pipeline is available for life for each entrepreneur who successfully completes the fellowship year,” said Cobb, president and CEO of Pipeline, in…
Report: Black women’s impact overlooked in KC startup community and beyond
Raise a hand if you know that black women have created more than 1 million jobs, Dell Gines challenged. A statistics-based question –– frequently answered with an expected, yet glacial silence –– acknowledges an unprecedented phenomenon in both the small business community and within the confines of the often-exclusive startup ecosystem, said Gines, Federal Reserve…
‘Class reunion’ collides with newer generation at Top VC-Backed Companies celebration (Photos)
It was a night of old school collisions, said Adam Arredondo, bringing together founders, executives, investors and a curated group of younger startup leaders for Startland’s Top VC-Backed Companies celebration. “The energy in the room was palpable. Many people said it felt like a class reunion, which in a way it was,” added Arredondo, CEO…