Owner says goodbye to 6 years of Kansas City area coffee camper: ‘We had a great run’
Six years ago, Christine and Jon Clutton were handing their first customers lattes out the window of the Wild Way Coffee Camper.
On June 30, they’ll serve their last.
“We had a great run, and we’re ready to move on,” Christine told The Star Monday afternoon.
The couple built the camper themselves, with the help of nearly a dozen people. Both had previous coffee experience before embarking on their journey. The white and blue coffee camper — with blue lettering reading, “Stay wild, Kansas City” — frequented various spots over the years, including the Brookside Farmers Market and the Wild Way Warehouse at 708 E. 19th St.
Its weekly schedule was posted on its social media pages.
Wild Way’s menu consists of coffee drinks with a variety of flavorings. Last summer, when Taylor Swift was in town for her Eras Tour, Wild Ways offered a rotating Swift-inspired menu.
On Instagram, Christine announced the camper’s closure and posted photos with a few memories over the past couple years.
“Last year I did a lot of soul searching, trying to find a creative way to keep the business rolling while spreading the emotional and physical labor of running a small business in a more sustainable way …” the post read in part. “Instead of pulling myself up by my bootstraps, I decided to put the straps down and head for calmer ground.”
In the comments, fans expressed their well wishes.
“Endlessly proud of you. I’m so thankful to have existed at the same time as this beautiful, special creation that is and always will be one of my favorite things about KC. The light you all bring to this city is unmatched. Sending all my love for your next adventure,” wrote one social media user.
“My favorite memory was the long line of people who just attended (or were about to attend) the Eras Tour, waiting to get eras tour drinks from you. Felt like girlhood,” wrote another.
While Christine is about finished with Wild Way, she said she’d consider selling the business or camper, if someone is interested.
She said she’d miss her loyal customers.
“Everybody’s been so supportive of us and so proud of us,” Christine said. “All of my customers have been nothing but loving and gracious to us.
Her baristas, too, have been an important part of her journey. Christine described their connections as friendships and mentorships, not the typical boss-employee relationship.
“It’s been fun to be a little part of their lives and build a community of people that make this thing roll down the road,” she said.
Wild Way will be at Virgil’s Plant Shop Party Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at 56th Street and Brookside Boulevard Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On June 29, the camper will be at the Wild Way Warehouse from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The next day, they’ll serve their last customers at 56th and Brookside from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
