New Caffe Vita Owner Deming Maclise Aims to Improve Iconic Shop’s Culture | Eater Seattle

"After a change in ownership on January 1, 2020, local restaurateur Deming Maclise took over this iconic independent Seattle coffee chain that has been at the forefront of the city’s coffee culture for more than 25 years. The handoff comes amid a controversy in which the company’s Capitol Hill location was accused of firing employees for serving leftover food to homeless people; an alleged staff email reportedly warned that “feeding homeless people without comprehensive services actually enables, increases and promotes homelessness” and that “giving away products is theft and the grounds for immediate employment termination,” prompting a public apology from then-owners Mike and Liz McConnell. Maclise, who previously held a minority stake, says he wants to start fresh by improving communication with staff, soliciting “everyone’s thoughts on how they feel about the future,” and reassuring the public that Vita will be welcoming to all — “I want to spread the widest net.” He plans some small cosmetic updates, to keep service “constantly improving,” to tweak food menus over time, and to pursue more local collaborations, while for now focusing on strengthening the company’s existing operation of more than 10 locations across four cities, three roasting facilities, and a robust retail arm rather than pursuing big expansion." - Gabe Guarente