Update 2/18/21: Muddy’s Coffee House will stay open for one more week until Feb. 25 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to owner Elham Massarweh.
Massarweh, who owns the two coffee shops with her husband, said they decided to close after failing to negotiate a rent reduction with their landlord.
“We tried so many times to get rent reduction, but he was not willing to take that, not willing to do anything about it,” Massarweh said.
He also wanted them to pay through the period of their lease, but Massarweh used a stipulation in the city’s updated eviction moratorium ordinance that allows businesses unable to renegotiate a lease successfully to end it with a 30-day notice.
Original post: Muddy’s Coffee House, near the corner of 24th and Valencia streets, has closed after 27 years.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we have to close the doors to Muddy’s,” states a note taped to the window of the now-empty coffee shop.
The note does not explicitly state the reason for closure, but suggests it may have closed as a result of the pandemic.
“These trying times have changed everything… We are not the only shop struggling, so please support your local businesses,” the note says.
Muddy’s Coffee House is under the same ownership as the Muddy Waters Coffee House, eight blocks north at 521 Valencia St., near 16th Street, which has been there for 30 years.
“Come down to the original (and first ever coffee house on Valencia Street!!) Muddy Waters on Valencia and 16th Street! We would love to serve you and continue to be a part of your lives,” the note ends.
Muddy’s Coffee House ownership could not be reached for comment.
The posted message in full:
It is with a very heavy heart that we have to close the doors to Muddy’s Coffee House. Without your loyalty, love, warmth, candor and, of course, coffee addictions, we would not have made it 27 years! These trying times have changed everything. The way we interact with others, the relationships we have, the connections we make, our daily morning routines all have new meanings!
We want to thank you for your dedication and support throughout the years. After all, small and local shops are what Valencia Street was known for! We are not the only shop struggling, so please support your local businesses. We will miss you! Come down to the original (and first ever coffee house on Valencia Street!!) Muddy Waters on Valencia and 16th Street! We would love to serve you and continue to be a part of your lives.
Reformation empties
Update: Reformation to reopen today, Feb. 18, according to a company representative.
“Reformation Valencia will re-open on Thursday, February 18, offering in-store shopping at limited capacity, curbside and in-store pickup,” the company said in a statement to Mission Local.
Original post: Reformation, the clothing store at 914 Valencia St., near 20th Street, currently sits empty.
While many other retail businesses have been distressed over the economic impact of local and state-wide restrictions, Reformation has chosen to voluntarily close stores as a precaution.
“Given increasing infection rates throughout the nation, we temporarily closed all of our retail stores until at least February 18 to ensure we keep our teams safe and help contain the Coronavirus,” said the company in a statement sent to Mission Local.
“We know it’s a complicated situation, so we’re monitoring it weekly and that date may change,” the statement said.
The seven-day rolling average of new Covid-19 cases has been dropping steadily since the record high of 373 cases per day at the start of 2021. But the most current average of 128 new cases per day is still much higher than the 27 new cases per day seen in early October.
Reformation is an international clothing company with 20 stores primarily in the United States, seven of which are in California. The only other Reformation store in San Francisco is in Pacific Heights on Fillmore Street.
Reformation did not immediately respond to questions about why the store on Valencia Street had been emptied out.
Awww, soooo sad to hear about Muddy’s! This family has been such a special part of the Mission, serving neighbors who become friends for so many years! They have extended their hearts to everyone, from all walks of life…they have served the poor and helped the homeless, they have supported the artists…they are such wonderful people! I hope they read this and know they are loved! Once I am able to get outside again, I will definitely be supporting Muddy’s on Valencia & 16th in full force – thank you so much to this family of lovely people for your decades of service to our neighborhood!
Was there since the day it opened. Many a morning jagged edge thanks to their (and 16th Street’s) coffee. But I think JaValencia at 20th predates it as the “first coffee shop on Valencia”, no? Owner super nice guy.
JaValencia used to be Club Coffee House back in the nineties….Muddy’s was before that…there was also Cafe Beano where the Ethiopian restaurant now is, there was Macondo on 16th and years ago, Picaro on 16th was a coffee house serving cake and coffee with books to read….There was the turkish coffee house too near 16th….
So sad , the best coffee ☕ 😢.
Muddy Waters is my definite go-to coffee shop whenever I visit San Francisco. I’ve been a customer of theirs since 1994. Sad to see the 24th and Valencia Street location close…BUT…grateful for the 16th and Valencia Street location to be remaining open.