On January 22, 2016, Washington, D.C. was blanketed by over a foot of snow overnight.

Dubbed "Snowzilla," this storm brought the city to a standstill. Public transport was paralyzed, and businesses chose to shut their doors. Compass Coffee had just two cafes then—1535 7th Street and 1921 8th Street—and I faced a decision: follow the crowd and close, or find a way to serve the community that relies on us.

The easy choice would’ve been to shut down. But Compass Coffee wasn’t built on taking the easy road. Our mission is to "Make Your Day Better," and we saw this storm as an opportunity to deliver on that promise when it mattered most. After talking with the team, we agreed: opening in the middle of a snowstorm wasn’t just a challenge—it was a moment to create something memorable for our customers and ourselves.

The first question was how. Snow made walking impractical for most of our baristas, buses and metro lines were shut down, and Uber wasn't yet an option. Borrowing from my experience as a Marine infantry officer, I developed a plan worthy of a tactical operation.

Before there was the real Lyft and Uber, there was Compass Uber—me in my Jeep Grand Cherokee, braving the snowy streets of DC with baristas and croissants in tow. We plotted routes to pick up pastries from Sweet Lobby bakery, delivered them to the cafes, and then coordinated a precise schedule for picking up baristas. Starting at 5:30 a.m., we worked in phases: collecting the opening team, transitioning to gather the afternoon shift, and then reversing the process to drop everyone off safely at the end of the day. It was a logistical puzzle, but it worked.

That day, while the rest of D.C. was snowed in, Compass Coffee became a beacon of warmth and connection. Customers trekked through the snow, some on skis, to grab their coffee and croissants. Word spread that we were the only business open, and the cafes were filled with laughter, gratitude, and an overwhelming sense of camaraderie.

That was the day Compass Coffee truly embraced our core value: Always Find a Way. It’s not about being reckless or stubborn—it’s about resilience, creativity, and a commitment to serving our community no matter the obstacle. That day, the team didn’t just make coffee; we made memories. We showed that with a little grit and a lot of teamwork, we could rise to any occasion.

With 21 cafes and a much larger team, I’m proud that 'Always Find a Way' has grown and evolved with us. It’s no longer just about meeting the challenges of a snowstorm—it’s about how we approach every moment, big or small, to make our customers' day better. Whether it’s a barista at the register helping someone navigate their Monday morning coffee order or our team finding solutions during a global pandemic, this core value is always there to guide us. Growth has brought more moving parts and new challenges, but it has reinforced our commitment to 'always finding a way,' pushing us to uphold and improve this principle with each obstacle we face.

Today, all 15 of our neighborhood cafes are open, a true reflection of the "always find a way" ethos that has defined Compass Coffee from the start. Our 7th Street location, the original home of Compass, stands as a powerful testament to this spirit. Over the years, it has weathered not only Snowzilla but power outages, a global pandemic, citywide protests, and countless other challenges. Yet, through it all, it has remained open for 3,761 consecutive days, serving as a cornerstone for our community and a symbol of resilience.

To the Compass team braving today’s snowstorm to serve real good coffee: thank you. You’re not just pouring coffee; you’re pouring your dedication, heart, and grit into every cup. Each time you push through an obstacle—whether it’s snowdrifts, uncertain times, or just the daily grind—you’re proving that our mission is more than words. It’s a way of life.

Here’s to making every day better, no matter the weather. Here’s to showing up, staying strong, and reminding everyone that a great cup of coffee can be a small but mighty way to bring warmth and joy to even the toughest days.