Cafe owners sue Nisqually Tribe and MCEC

The owners of Quinn’s Coffee in the Nisqually Valley have filed a breach of contract lawsuit in Thurston County Superior Court against the Nisqually Tribe of Indians and the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation.

Steve Hanson, who owns Quinn’s Coffee with his wife, Whitney, told McClatchy that he signed a 10-year lease with Nisqually Valley Grocery in 2018. In 2021, Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation (MCEC) purchased the grocery store and the couple was told their lease would be honored.

However, the lawsuit states that the lease has not been fulfilled since then and several other problems have arisen.

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The lawsuit says MCEC first informed the Hansons in April 2023 that they were $90 back in rent, had failed to pay late fees, had trespassed on the property’s fence and failed to provide copies of their insurance policies – problems the couple alleges that she solved it.

“Although they continue to collect monthly rent, defendants insist that the Hansons are no longer tenants and are instead trespassing on the property,” the lawsuit reads.

While the Tribe and MCEC did not file an unlawful detainer claim, the lawsuit says they have since prevented Quinn’s Coffee from using the restrooms on the property, as well as turned off the water and septic systems. Additionally, Hanson said, mail has stopped being delivered to the business.

The shuttered cafe was closed in March by the Department of Health. Meanwhile, the Hansons continue to pay monthly installments.

“Defendants restricted Plaintiff’s ability to use the Property, effectively rendering the Property unusable or unmaintainable,” the lawsuit states.

As a result, Hanson informed McClatchy that he had to sell his home and he and his family were looking for a new location for the cafe.

The Hansons are seeking monetary damages as well as an injunction to prevent the defendants from interfering with their business.

Nate J. Cushman, tribal attorney for the Nisqually Tribe of Indians, told McClatchy in an email that MCEC, the tribe’s business arm, operates the location where the Hanson Coffee Stand is located “as part of the Nisqually Markets chain of convenience stores.” He said that before the Tribe took over the property, the Hansons operated a coffee stand with the permission of the former owners.

“Mr. Hanson’s contract with the previous owners was not assumed or assigned to the tribe when the property changed hands,” Cushman said. “Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation attempted to work with Mr. Hanson to find a new location for the espresso stand. Unfortunately, he has chosen to resolve the matter through court proceedings.”

Cushman stressed that he is confident the Tribe will win in court.

A trial date is scheduled for early October.