A local coffee shop with a social mission has closed after almost two years at Water Park in Crystal City.
But the story isn’t over for Brij Coffee owner Skyler Kelley, who opened the cafe in fall 2023 with the goal of using the business to combat homelessness.
As she plans to open another location in D.C.’s Mount Vernon Square neighborhood later this summer, Kelley hopes the lessons she learned at 1601 Crystal Drive will bring her business more success in its new era.
“It’s a new chapter,” Kelley told ARLnow. “Obviously, mistakes, I’ve learned from. I’m happy that I haven’t closed completely. I’m happy I still have the opportunity to be able to serve my coffee … I’m excited to see all I’m capable of with the Convention Center location.”
A self-described “social entrepreneur,” Kelley opened the cafe with a goal of supporting local nonprofits after experiencing homelessness in the region as a single mother. The cafe regularly donated to the D.C. nonprofit SMYAL — something Kelley hopes to continue in the District.
The shop closed in part due to financial reasons. Kelley cited the rising cost of labor and the opening of Tatte down the street last summer, as well as the strain of a loan.
“I don’t mind sharing that, so that people can know that, you know, trying to do things easy is not going to [work],” she said.
The cafe was one of Water Park’s original vendors. The outdoor food hall intends to function as an incubator space for small local businesses, hosting entrepreneurs with growing culinary talent.
“It was very fun,” Kelley said. “It was very challenging, because you’re talking about someone who’s never run a store before.”
With these experiences under her belt, Kelley is preparing to open a new Brij at 1123 9th Street NW through a partnership with Events DC. She said she is also scouting other District locations for further expansion.
Water Park, meanwhile, plans to host another unnamed vendor at Brij’s former kiosk “soon,” a park representative told ARLnow.
Kelley said she misses her everyday Arlington regulars, and encourages people to continue supporting the park’s small businesses.
“I’m so excited for what Crystal City is going to be, and I hope that people will continue to go to Water Park and support those businesses,” she said.
