Keep Moodswing Coffee & Bar Open!

The Hard Ask

Hello,

We're Li Johnstone, Stephanie Vu and Ricky Castanedo Laredo, the team behind Moodswing Coffee / Bar (formerly Old Crow Coffee Co.) and we need your help. It has been a rough year to be a small independent business, as I'm sure anyone that runs one can tell you. We’ve been having a really hard time since the pandemic and have been struggling to catch our breath since.

However, in the past few months, we were hit hard by a few things which have made it difficult to even just serve coffee. With these things combined, there is no other option beyond closing our doors or asking for help.

We're looking for $80,000 which we intend to use to pay for the now-necessary upgrades to our store's power — but also to help us stay afloat while we await permits and construction. We anticipate between permits, labour, and loss of revenue that this will amount to about $25,000. The remaining money will be used to settle our debts incurred through the pandemic and to pay back our suppliers who have been incredibly generous to us through all of this. With upgrades done and our debt settled, any remaining funds would be invested into the space itself or to aid in expanding our programming.

Broken down, we estimate these amounts to be allocated towards the following:

We are saddened and disheartened by the treacherous condition so many independent businesses have been thrust into. We feel for them because we are so aware that the struggle is real right now. We want to commit to staying open — for you, for our staff, and us. We've been a proud part of the New West community for 10 years, but we won’t be able to make that call anymore without some extra support.

Donate whatever you can. Even just 10 bucks from everyone reading would put us in great shape. But if you can donate more, we’d be really grateful. We’ll paint your name on one of our bricks and remember you forever. Seriously. Just tell us which one.

Any help is greatly appreciated, and we're excited to see you around.

warmly,

Steph, Li, and Ricky

(Moodswing Coffee / Bar)

OLD CROW / MOODSWING LORE FOR THE CURIOUS

Our story started as Old Crow Coffee Co. and trust us, we know that most of you will never forget that name. And that's okay — it speaks volumes to the impact Old Crow Coffee Co. had in New West, and to what this space has meant to the people that frequent it, and the staff/former staff who continue to bolster it. We are more than just a coffee shop — we’ve been a venue, a gallery, a marketplace, and now, a cocktail bar. We’ve hosted stand-up, artist talks, open mics, metal shows, and D&D themed pop-ups. We work with other independent businesses and makers, hosting them directly in our space; because in what world is hosting second-hand LGBTQIA+ BIPOC literature in a coffee shop a bad idea? We embraced that coffee shops are meant to be harbours for connection and community. Places for, and of, collaboration. We wanted to open a cocktail bar, and so we did.

Last year we launched Moodwing Coffee / Bar in earnest. Close friends Li, Steph, and Ricky started it as a quiet little pop-up out of Old Crow on the weekend, and a thin blue fridge filled with a handful of bottles of natural wine. Now, bar programming is an integral part of our business and we’re busy trying to expand it. Running as both Old Crow Coffee Co. and Moodswing became cumbersome — especially as the two were never really separate, so we rebranded under Moodswing Coffee / Bar, which we felt better encapsulated the kind of space we wanted to be. At the whims of our mood. Coffee most of the time but also “/ bar” because we are a bar sometimes.

We're more than just a coffee shop – we're a space where everyone is welcome. We intentionally keep our pricing accessible so that everyone can enjoy our drinks and food and come together with family, friends, and mysterious forces.

Those familiar with Old Crow would recognize Steph, who has formed meaningful and long-lasting relationships throughout the Old Crow years — though particularly with our amazing staff. And while people move on from these kinds of jobs, many of our staff still frequent the shop, because it continues to be an important spot for them beyond employment. We’re really proud of that. Our goal has always been to create a space that feels like home, especially for the bundle of nerds, weirdos, and misfits that we gather up.

So that's who we are. If you've read this far — Thank you. Hope you'll donate to help keep our shop open.