ItB次元官网网址檚 not a stretch to say that when it comes to counting beans, David Evans is a stickler for details.

B次元官网网址淲e opened in 07-07-07, and weB次元官网网址檙e closing on July 23 at 4 oB次元官网网址檆lock,B次元官网网址� Evans said when asked about when The Stick in The Mud Coffee House will officially close. B次元官网网址淭hat will be 16 years, 16 days and 16 hours to the minute unless something changes between now and then.B次元官网网址�

He said the main reason for opening The Stick in the Mud at the time was because there was nothing like it in Sooke.

B次元官网网址淲e had three kids and found ourselves going from our home in Otter Point back and forth into Sooke, sometimes six times on a bad day,B次元官网网址� he recalled. B次元官网网址淚 saw a real need for a spot where people could bring their kids of all ages and have a coffee.B次元官网网址�

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The decision to expand to add food-baked treats arose out of necessity.

B次元官网网址淚 found out quickly that no bakeries would deliver to Sooke, so I quickly bought an oven and hired a baker.B次元官网网址�

Thanks largely to word of mouth, Evans percolated the business to the current number of 15 staff members, although, like many businesses, he had more staff and longer hours before COVID hit.

There is much he will miss about the day-to-day operations, he admitted, between roasting batches of beans.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to miss the staff, customers, the community and a thousand other things,B次元官网网址� he noted. B次元官网网址淭his place wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be what it is without the best staff and customers. IB次元官网网址檝e only had to fire a couple of customers over the years, one of them twice.

B次元官网网址淪ixteen years is a long time to be in food service. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a long chapter, and I look forward to turning the page. I havenB次元官网网址檛 thought about it, and IB次元官网网址檓 not sure exactly what that will be at this time. It probably wonB次元官网网址檛 hit me until after July 23.B次元官网网址�

Evans does plan to expand the wholesale roasting operation, do more work through the website, increase home deliveries, and open a small retail outlet for beans and coffee supplies after the coffee house closes.

HeB次元官网网址檚 retained a portion of the 2,500 square feet of space he leases for those purposes and hopes someone will step up to keep The Stick in The Mud operating.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of interest from the staff and people in the community since we made the announcement on April 15,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always tried to keep the space a commercial-free zone, an oasis in the midst of busy lives. IB次元官网网址檝e donated time, product and energy to supporting various worthwhile causes, and I hope that continues. Personally, IB次元官网网址檇 love to see some form of community cooperative take over.B次元官网网址�

You can add Kim Brown and her husband, Jon Meredith, to the list of local folks who would like to see that happen.

B次元官网网址淲e started coming here when we lived on Pender Island,B次元官网网址� Brown said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes twice a day, hot in the morning and iced in the afternoon. WeB次元官网网址檝e lived in Sooke for four years, and itB次元官网网址檚 by far our favourite spot, a great place to gather with family and friends.B次元官网网址�

Meredith quickly agreed, adding that itB次元官网网址檚 a great place for coffee, food, and conversation.

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