The Town of Vienna has lost a beloved community figure.
Michael Amouri, founder and owner of Caffe Amouri, died at his home this weekend, more than three years after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, the coffeehouse announced Saturday evening (Sept. 12).
“It is with great sadness and gratitude that we share with you that Michael Amouri passed away peacefully at home,” Caffe Amouri said in a Facebook post. “Michael loved every bit of life and was a tireless promoter of community and loved Vienna dearly. We will miss him with all our hearts.”
The news brought an immediate outpouring of grief and love from patrons, current and former employees, friends and local leaders, who shared memories of his kindness and devotion to championing Vienna beyond the doors of his business, including as a longtime youth sports coach and Vienna Business Association board member.
Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert recalled her family’s excitement when Caffe Amouri opened its doors at 107 Church Street NE in July 2010.
“When my mother [Jane Seeman] was mayor we met Michael when he was just moving into his shop,” Colbert wrote on Facebook. “We were so excited to have a coffee shop in Vienna! To his daughter, family, and friends I wish you comfort in all the good memories. I will be praying for you and for our community for this great loss.”
Melanie Meren, who represents Vienna and the rest of the Hunter Mill District on the Fairfax County School Board, praised the “authentic way” Amouri approached building community.
“Rest in peace, Michael. You will be remembered for what you created and shared,” she wrote.
As Amouri observed in a statement to mark Caffe Amouri’s 10th anniversary in 2020, the coffeeshop’s success was far from a sure bet.
In addition to opening in the wake of the 2008 recession within blocks of two Starbucks locations, Caffe Amouri represented a major change of pace for Amouri, who had built a career as a TV producer with stints at WETA and Discovery Communications.
Amouri told Patch in 2016 that he had hoped to open “the coolest coffeehouse ever” since he was in college and began drafting a business plan a couple of decades into his TV career. When the space at 107 Church Street became available, his decision to take the risk of starting a business was informed by the recent passing of his mother, who believed a good life was defined by what you leave behind for others, as well as a desire to get more involved in the community he’d called home since 1985.
Caffe Amouri wasn’t an immediate hit, at least in terms of its profit margins, but its commitment to supporting the community — whether through events like open-mic nights and the annual Vienna Idol competition or charitable fundraisers and donations — gave it staying power, making it feel as embedded in the fabric of Vienna as the nearby Town Green and Freeman Store and Museum.
The shop’s emphasis on giving back continued through the pandemic, when it introduced a pay-it-forward program allowing customers to pay for a future patron’s drink.
“I’ll always remember how Michael greeted everyone by name and made each visit to Cafe [sic] Amouri feel personal and welcoming,” one commenter said on the announcement of Amouri’s death. “His kindness helped make the cafe a cherished gathering place in the community, and his warmth and presence will be deeply missed.”
Despite the loss of its founder, Caffe Amouri will continue serving freshly roasted coffee and baked goods.
Amouri shared on Aug. 22 that he was again undergoing treatment for cancer. While he intended to return to the business on a part-time basis, he announced that he was handing down its ownership to three employees, including his daughter and roastmaster Nicki Amouri.
He expressed confidence that they would “do an outstanding job maintaining standards of Quality, Community, Sustainability, and Knowledge.”
