First It Was Muddy, Then Full, But Always Delicious
Douglas G. Cala’s childhood friends in front of the original Muddy Cup Coffee House storefront, around 2004-2005 (Photo by Sam Moon Rafferty, courtesy of Douglas G. Cala)
Can you taste it? Is that steaming hot cup of java simmering and wafting? You think to yourself, What ingredients does it possess and was it made lovingly? Who is pouring it? What’s the intention? Like any sought-after food and drink recipe, ingredients are key. And just like that, a place you visit with real investment in its community also possesses these ingredients. If you were around in the early 2000s, chances are you could look no further than the Muddy Cup Coffeehouse, which was located at 388 Van Duzer Street in Staten Island’s Stapleton district during the height of the early aughts.
If one were to recreate the interior of the Muddy Cup in its heyday, there would be many notable elements of how it looks. For starters, there were couches strewn throughout the interior. They were purchased from an antique store across the street. If you looked around, you’d see red walls and gold crown molding. Sauntering over to the café, friendly young baristas greeted you and invited you to purchase coffee, tea, coffee, shakes, and Italian sodas. There was a glass case with pastries that adorned a long serving table. A huge chalkboard menu listed what was offered as well as the day’s specials. If you peered closer, you would see a metal sign that read, “Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks.” Most assuredly, to affirm their LGBTQIA+ alignment, a rainbow flag sticker adorned the window. If you wanted to relax and bond, they even had a big-screen TV set, board games, and a fireplace. Local artists would install their work, which was available for sale, on the walls. If you swung open the interior doors, you’d enter the back room. There were brick walls and a stage area parallel to the door. Additionally, there were steps, a platform, bookcases, and available seating throughout the space. You’d also notice a PA system on the stage and a mic stand.
What was once the site of a venerably popular German bakery, Weinmann’s, the Muddy Cup opened shortly after the tragedy of 9/11/2001. Co-owners, Jim Svetz and Robb Huddleston wanted to replicate the “look and feel” of the Boho cafes you’d regularly see popping up in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. To do this, they furnished the space with antiquity and charm, imbuing it with that rarefied personality. Calling it “Muddy Cup'' came naturally, as the duo noted that in the 19th and 20th centuries, mudslides were a frequent occurrence on the slopes of Van Duzer Street. It used to be referred to as “Mud Lane.'' With an emphasis on community building to propel them forward, Jim and Robb would turn their once seemingly scrappy venture into a profitable and treasured Staten Island resource.
In the ensuing years, Muddy Cup became widely known throughout Staten Island and New York City for becoming a mecca for all types of performance and art even as it transitioned and changed ownership from the Muddy Cup (2001-2010) to the Full Cup (2010-2014). Open mic nights for poetry, comedy, and music started springing up as early as 2002. There were a range of hosts from diverse backgrounds. These curators created a multitude of flavors. One such host and poetry open mic participant, Jacob R. Moses (formerly Jack M. Freedman) recalled his time facilitating and the impact the open mic nights had on the cadre of performers: “I remember hosting the poetry open mic at the Muddy Cup from 2005-2007. During that span, I saw several poets from different walks of life grace the stage and bare their souls through verse. From those who just started writing to those who wrote a canon of books, there was nothing short of surprise every Tuesday night.”
Jacob goes on to characterize the benefits of attending the open mic night, his hosting style, and what it meant to him: “There were four incarnations. With each host came a flavor. Mine was freeform, avant-garde, and experimental. By today’s standards, our policy of ‘no disclaimers’ would not fly in a more sensitive paradigm. In retrospect, I’m fine with content warnings. The world was scary back then, but it’s gotten much meaner. I miss the Muddy Cup because it was like my sanctuary. Every artist felt a sense of belonging.”
Beth Gorrie, a mover and shaker within the Staten Island OutLoud theater and poetry performance troupe, shared an intimate personal recollection about co-owner Jim and his personality during a frequent trip to get coffee: “It was a few weeks after 9/11, and two women whom I'd never seen before marched through the door and up to the counter to order. They scanned the blackboard and demanded that Jimmy change his offering of "French Vanilla" coffee to "Freedom Vanilla." Well, it sounded like Jimmy did not want to be drawn into a petty conflict, though the two women were raising their voices with increased belligerence. He said that he'd be glad to give them coffee, but that during this time of mourning, wouldn't it be better for us all to create an atmosphere of kindness together, rather than conflict? Apparently, the women didn't agree, and they stormed out. Jimmy sighed quietly and went on with his day.”
Evelyn Katz, an assistant principal who visited from Brooklyn to see acts at the music-centered open mic nights also had fond things to say about the Muddy Cup’s nightlife and its warm and inviting atmosphere: “Back in the early 2000s, a friend brought me to the Muddy Cup and instantly I felt like I was stepping into a dear friend’s welcoming, cozy living room. Community and creativity buzzed all around us and the coffee was never burnt.”
Lastly, there is Wil Wynn. He is a venerable bilingual performance poet and thespian, having lived in Staten Island for forty years before relocating to Brooklyn. He also had uplifting and enthusiastic things to say about his Muddy experiences: “What I remember best about the Cup is how its events attracted a great variety of people, from the erudite, like A.D. Coleman, to the unhoused from Project Hospitality. The poetry open mics’ attendees ran the gamut from the tentative newcomers to seasoned veterans showing how it was done. What The Cup promoted was creativity in a friendly atmosphere that really welcomed all. The Cup was a proving ground for many who became prominent poets and teachers, such as Marguerite Rivas and James Tolan. Long live The Cup!”
Over the years, there were several versions of the well-attended poetry mics at the Muddy Cup. In the first iteration, the mic played host to features from around the city and the country. Two notable poets who graced the stage during host Jim Tolan’s stint from 2001-2003 included the likes of Jackie Scheeler. She was a key host who led programming at the now-defunct Cornelia Street Café. There were also legendary performance poets and HBO Def Poetry’s own Regie Gibson. After Tolan vacated his hosting duties, Staten Island Poet Laureate Marguerite Maria Rivas took the reins from 2003-2004. Local poet Jeremy Condit stepped into Marguerite’s shoes from 2004-2005. Spoken word artist and frequent attendee Jacob R. Moses hosted between 2005 and 2007 along with several co-hosts who, coincidentally, include the author of this article.
Before the social media boom, not much was documented. As I readily realize, there have been many artists from this era who came and left. It is important to note that the Muddy Cup helped to imprint the cultural identity of Staten Island arts by setting a precedent for future artistic activity in the borough. Current iterations of open mics owe enormous deference to what the Muddy Cup initially paved. Muddy Cup kick-started a vibrant and everlasting ecosystem that still hums in newer venues. These include HUB17, Richmond Hood Company, and NYC Arts Cypher. While emergent generations of artists may not have experienced the legacy of Muddy Cup, history is fondly remembered and encapsulated by the still thriving torchbearers of this irreplicable Renaissance.
Douglas G. Cala is a spoken word performance poet and writer. He has been published in anthologies and magazines both nationally and internationally. He frequented the poetry open mic as a teenager, beginning in 2004. When not writing and reciting, Douglas works full-time as a Desktop Publisher & IT Support Specialist for NYC Public Schools’s Division of Instructional Information Technology. You can visit his Poets & Writers directory profile to learn more about him and his work.