Mayo Clinic Phoenix bans Graveyard Shift Coffee over logo, costing family business 40% of revenue

Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix told Graveyard Shift Coffee they are no longer welcome on its premises, citing the coffee cart’s branding as the reason. The ban ends two years of service to the hospital, where the family-owned business had been delivering coffee to night-shift workers on Mondays and Fridays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Tremaine family says the decision has slashed their revenue by about 40%, a blow they say comes after steady service and familiarity with hospital staff.

Co-owner Tyler Tremaine told local outlets that the hospital cited a complaint about the branding as the basis for the ban. He said the staff had known the cart for years and there were no issues observed during their time there. "This trailer was made for the night shift workers at hospitals. The graveyard shift, hence the name and the logo with the skeleton and the scrubs," he told AZ Family. "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."

The cart has continued to operate at other hospitals during the week, including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Abrazo Central, and Scottsdale Osborn. Its menu leans into its theme with drinks such as Bloody Eye, Bone Crusher, Murder Spice and Nutty RN. The skeleton-in-green-scrubs logo, complete with a stethoscope and a coffee cup, distinguishes Graveyard Shift Coffee from more conventional hospital-catering vendors.

The Tremaine siblings say the business has roots in their father’s experience as a first responder. Tyler explained that he and his sister, Sierra, launched the cart to address what they saw as neglect of night-shift 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."

The ban has taken an emotional and financial toll on the family. Tyler said, "All we want to do is pay our bills and put a smile on people’s faces. My grandma’s been working for free for three and a half years." Graveyard Shift Coffee’s social media presence has been flooded with messages of support from customers, many urging the family to stay true to their branding. One commenter wrote, "Don’t let that ruin your dream!! I’m so proud of you, Ty!!" and offered to buy coffee for teams. Others suggested the name or logo could be provocative in a hospital setting, with one commenter proposing a change to a term like "midnight shift" or "overnight shift" to reduce offense.

Responses on social media have reflected a mix of support and concern. While many back the family’s branding as a clever nod to the late hours they serve, some say the branding may be sensitive in a healthcare environment, especially where patients face serious life-or-death situations. In a note accompanying the coverage, Daily Mail reported that Mayo Clinic did not respond to a request for comment as of publication.