It’s a generational effort to start and keep the caffeine flowing at Chaos Coffee.
The renovated coffee stand opened in March as part of the Sequim Village Shopping Center at 651 C W. Washington St. after a few years of efforts.
Manager Allie Decker said the project came together sooner for her than she imagined after working as a barista for several years and then as a stay-at-home mom.
“It’s always been a dream of mine, but far in the future,” she said of owning/operating a coffee stand. “But when you get an opportunity, you go for it.”
A few years ago, Decker’s mother-in-law Marie Dickinson, owner of neighboring Mariner Cafe, was working with her niece Meghan Hueter to find a coffee stand to bring to Sequim.
They found the “Java Monkey” stand in Pahrump, Nevada, but Dickinson said the asking price was too much so they put the idea on the back burner. However, the price was later reduced, so Dickinson had a friend check it out, which led to her purchasing the stand and having it delivered to Sequim about three years ago.
Dickinson said it took her a while to navigate correct city permitting and called the experience a “huge learning curve” that was “fun and frustrating.”
Four generations of family members helped renovate and/or operate the stand.
Dickinson’s father John, and her brother Ryan helped set up and connect the stand, and her father also did the building’s metal work and chose the outside color scheme, she said.
Decker also employs her childhood friend Caitlin Hughes and Dickinson’s granddaughter Zoe Thompson.
She said Chaos Coffee has “always been a family plan” starting with Hueter’s vision.
Dickinson, who started working at Mariner Cafe in 1999 and recently celebrated nine years of owning the business, said she simply does the books for Chaos Coffee and supports them as best as she can.
“I want to make sure my family is taken care of,” she said, mentioning that her employees are also like family. “I want to have a good place to work and where people want to work.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Chaos Coffee Manager Allie Decker makes a coffee inside the stand that’s open 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, and 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays. She said a goal of hers was to open a coffee stand.
Local brews, goods
While the coffee stand is a family affair, Decker said they were having a hard time settling on a name until they noticed Dickinson’s hat one day that read “Chaos Coordinator.”
They all loved it and the business became Chaos Coffee, family members said.
As for what they’d offer, Decker said they’ve opted to go with all local offerings of coffee and treats.
They use Rainshadow Coffee after she and her husband Travis, Mariner Cafe manager, connected with the owners through Little League baseball. She said the coffee they use is a little darker and bolder than other coffee places in the area.
Chaos Coffee also has daily barista specials that Decker said is typically what they’re “hyper fixated” on that day.
Their signature coffee is an Americano, she said, and they offer a wide variety of coffee, spritzers and smoothies, and they make their own cold foams.
Hot drinks come in sizes 12-20 ounces, and iced drinks range from 12-24 ounces.
Baked goods come from Sour Baby Bakery in Sequim, and special treats like a Whoopie Pie from East to West Bakery in Port Angeles.
Decker describes a Whoopie Pie as “a sandwich cookie but better.”
In the future, Decker said they’re hoping to add hot breakfast sandwiches, soups, and the ability for customers to order ahead.
Chaos Coffee offers T-shirts and sweatshirts, and if a size isn’t available at the stand, they can take orders, Decker said.
The stand is open 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 7 a.m-3:30 p.m. Saturdays, and closed Sundays.
For more about Chaos Coffee Sequim, visit instagram.com/chaoscoffeesequim.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Chaos Coffee opened in March, and four generations of family either helped renovate and/or currently work in the stand at 651 C W. Washington St., Sequim.
Chaos Coffee
651 C W. Washington St.
Hours: 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday;
7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sundays
