Startup connector Thou Mayest closing Crossroads coffee shop, hints at new flagship

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.