Hello, my name is Kayla, and I’ve been a barista in Washington state for nearly a decade. My greatest passions in life are delicious drinks and everything kitsch and camp.

My dream life that I have been planning and working towards for several years, is to open my own drive-through coffee shop built into a vintage Airstream trailer called Camp Ground Coffee, located in the woods of Washington state.

In summer of 2024, I signed a contract with a locally known and recommended camper remodeler and $29,000 was taken as a down payment from me to remodel a 1975 Airstream trailer into my coffee camper dream. In June of this year, the business owner suddenly passed away before starting any work on my camper, leaving me (and many others) high and dry, and deep in the hole.

I’ve reached out again and again and have heard nothing back from anyone directly associated with the business or the owner’s estate. However, there is reliable evidence that the estate may be insolvent and the business bank accounts were empty when the owner passed.

I’ve spoken to attorneys, and unfortunately a lawsuit would certainly cost more than the amount I need returned. It has been three months since the owner’s passing, and to the best of my knowledge no probate has been opened for me to file a claim, although that would not by any means guarantee my refund and the process is also costly. I have even taken the step of opening a Consumer Protections complaint with the Attorney General’s office of Washington state. Considering everything, I may likely never see my money returned to me.

The purpose of the fundraiser is to replace the funds that have been taken from me to help start the business I plan to run for the rest of my life, and to help support any legal costs I will incur while fighting in court to get my money back. My goal is to raise enough for another deposit, find a new contractor and start building my dream life after this terrible setback.

Thank you, I really, really hope to see you all at my coffee camper in the woods some day.

Kayla Mathiasen

Camp Ground Coffee