Post navigation

Prev: (03/17/11) | Next: (03/17/11)

Online Cafe to pick up where Online Coffee left off at East Olive Way location

For the unobservant or out of town, arriving at 1727 East Olive Way this weekend for a cup of coffee might seem like just another visit to the neighborhood coffee shop. An entity apparently called Online Cafe is planning to open for business where just over a week ago, one of the three Online Coffee Company locations in the city went out of business.


(Image: CHS)

We don’t know much about Online Cafe yet but are checking around to see what we can learn. It’s a safe bet that the owner of Online Coffee Company is not involved given the financial situation around the company. Paper went up in the windows earlier this week along with the hand-witten signs proclaiming the new venture.

Online Coffee Company abruptly shut its two Capitol Hill and one downtown location on March 8th. Owner Ken Fox blamed the high price of coffee and the increased availability of Internet access for ending his decade-plus run of business.

We reported this week that the first signs of major troubles with the Online Coffee Company business emerged in January as the company-owned headquarters at Pine and 14th had been foreclosed and sold at auction to a bank. Things weren’t any better at Fox’s leased Olive Way location. A notice posted at the East Olive Way shop says Online Coffee owed $56,661.98 in back rent.

Fox also cited four lawsuits as contributing to his chain’s demise. We’ll have more on those soon.

Thanks tipper Joe!

Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

9 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
kage3000
kage3000
13 years ago

The body is still warm.

kb
kb
13 years ago

Oh, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this is the same owner. He probably set up a new llc (or put it in a relatives name) and assumed the lease for this, his most profitable store. I don’t see how anyone else, without knowing the numbers, would be willing to move in so quickly and run the same biz.

linder seattle
linder seattle
13 years ago

I think you are close. Searching the state’s corporations database, it looks like the place is owned by Online’s former manager.

jseattle
jseattle
13 years ago

Linder’s on the trail :) We’re hoping to get more from Nick Woell about his new venture.

kb
kb
13 years ago

oh yeah – that would make a lot of sense too. he would know the numbers. i’ll bet the former owner is pissed!

abbasolomon
13 years ago

For 12 years, we’ve enjoyed his low-pressure places to hang out and have good coffee, drinks, and eats. I feel grateful to the owner, for all his places meant to the Hill. Farewell!

ZefWagner
ZefWagner
13 years ago

This is great news! That was a cool location and the computers often do come in handy for people who don’t have smartphones or laptops with them all the time. I just hope the new owner gets a better source of coffee. I assume since Online was roasting their own coffee that that part of the business is shut down, too. Please just get your coffee from Stumptown or Vita or some other established roaster–that was always to the weak point at Online Coffee.

Jaws
Jaws
13 years ago

Wouldnt it be funny if it was another starbucks experimental location just like roy street coffe? Who else would be able to move that quickly into that spot unless they either have a ton of resources or knew well in advance that this was coming. You dont just sit around on your ass and magically decide to start a shop like that on short notice….just a theory

jeanineanderson
13 years ago

By following the link from Linder you can see the corporation papers for Online Cafe were filed and accepted by the state in mid-February.