“Due to our logo and name, we are no longer allowed to serve coffee at Mayo Hospital,” said a Tuesday Instagram post from Graveyard Shift Coffee, a coffee shop in a trailer focused on serving night shift hospital workers.
Graveyard Shift’s trailer can be found at hospitals around the Phoenix, Ariz., area, including the Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix Children’s and Abrazo Central. Its logo is a skeleton in a lab coat and stethoscope enjoying a cup of joe, and the menu includes creative options such as the “Bloody Eye” chocolate and strawberry latte, the “Bone Crusher” vanilla and caramel latte and the “Murder Spice” honey and cinnamon latte.
According to a report from Fox 10, the business is co-owned by father-son team Tyler and Michael Tremaine and its been operating for around three years. Michael is a first responder himself who works 24-hour shifts as an EMS on the Gila River Indian Reservation.
He decided to start Graveyard Shift Coffee when he noticed night shift workers weren’t receiving the same perks as people working other hours, such as catering.
“He saw that the graveyard shift never got catering or if there was catering, there was always leftovers and cold pizza and that sort of thing, so we created this business to give the people who work night shifts a nice little treat for themselves,” his father explained.
As these workers care for others’ health, they put their own at risk. According to UCLA Health, shift work impacts the body’s circadian rhythm – putting them at a greater risk of developing cancer – and issues can continue for those who return to regular shifts.
“Shift work can influence your health throughout adulthood,” UCLA Health said.
Among the Phoenix area graveyard shift workers, the Graveyard Shift Coffee has been a hit with those who work through the night when most people are asleep.
“We night shifters hate that you guys are gone!!” said one comment on Graveyard Shift’s Instagram post. “We live off you guys. Multiple units and all nursing staff including techs are signing petitions and sending letters! we are fighting to get yall back!”
“I immediately signed the petition to bring you guys back!!” said another. “The best coffee truck that visits us, miss you guys already :(.”
“You guys are the best coffee vendor we have,” said another, adding, “and you’re not even in a patient facing area!”
“No surprise that they’d get rid of anything that brought an employee joy there,” said another. “Thank you for helping me get through my graveyard shifts and thank you for serving the healthcare community.”
Some commenters also got a little sassy, including the author of this one: “Well that’s completely fair, before you guys started coming many people there had no idea that skeletons and graveyards existed.”
Graveyard Shift Coffee isn’t the first business to get spooky with their branding – or even the first coffee business. Death Wish Coffee of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has been promoted across the country on Super Bowl ads and has even partnered with NASA to provide freeze dried coffee to astronauts at the International Space Station. Liquid Death flavored sparkling waters with a skull logo are sold in many U.S. grocery stores. As we roll into October, skeleton decor will also soon be hanging out in front of homes, businesses and more.
Johns Hopkins University noted in 2023 that demand what scientists call “counterhedonic consumption” (or seeking out experiences or products designed to evoke negative emotions) has been increasingly popular. A Psychology Today article explained that horror imagery and horror films can help ease anxiety by allowing people to take control of fears, and a blog post from Boston University said that horror media could even be used in therapy for trauma survivors for the same reason.
In Graveyard Shift Coffee’s Instagram post, the business owners said there is a possibility of the trailer being welcomed back to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix if staff tells administrators they want it back. Several commenters mentioned petitions and the Graveyard Shift owners said they hope to get a welcome back call soon.
Before they announced the ban, the trailer parked at the hospital Mondays and Fridays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for two years. Tyler said they had never received a complaint until now. Without their Mayo business, the company lost 40% of their work.
“We just received a call Monday afternoon that our logo and our name is offensive and that we are no longer allowed to be on their premises after going there for two years,” Tyler said. “I wish I knew what happened or who said something. I didn’t get any information on that, but the staff has known about us for two years. I can say that for sure. The staff has been coming out consistently for two years and there has been no issues.”
He said they would be willing to put a banner over the logo if needed in order to return and keep serving late night workers, Fox 10 reported. The outlet said the Mayo Clinic did not reply to a request for comment.