Less than a week after opening its doors, The Muddy Cup will remain open for now provide to-go orders while San Luis Obispo undergoes a prolonged "shelter at home" order.
Mike Dyer and his wife Leah purchased the Black Horse location along Los Osos Valley Road back in January. After weeks of renovations, the Dyers were excited to offer up coffee, pastries, and sandwiches.
"It's made with love. We just wanted a local spot that felt comfortable to everyone and inviting," Mike said.
Mike knows volatility. He worked in the oil industry for 32 years. "I got tired of the cyclical, up and down price per barrel and the threat of being laid off. And my wife loves coffee, wanted a coffee shop and here we are taking care of the people of SLO County."
Now the world heads into an unknown with the coronavirus threat and what looms for businesses is the uncertainty of when life will return to normal, where customers regularly come for their cup of coffee.
"It's been challenging. I really don't even know what to say ... It's been tough."
Local businesses are tightly bound together, especially in the food and service industry. The Muddy Cup's pastries come from SLO Baked, bread from Edna's Bakery, and beans form Corberosa Coffee. All are experiencing their own uncertainty on hours and staff. Now the county-wide shelter at home order throws that into more disarray.
But the Dyer's are a glass-half-full type of people.
"We aren't going anywhere," Mike said. "We will definitely weather the storm and will be better for it. We are going to be here for the community for hopefully many years to come."
The coffee shop will remain open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
