Anchor Island pours into coffee shop’s potential with unique investment round
December 19, 2023 | Taylor Wilmore
A crowd-funded investment opportunity through HoneyComb Credit would allow customers to help a Troost Avenue coffee shop enhance its kitchen equipment and expand the Anchor Island Coffee brand’s popular menu. Franchising and a liquor license could also be on the horizon.
Armando Vasquez, Anchor Island Coffee; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
“We need support for the vision that we have, the product we serve, and how unique of a business we are,” said Armando Vasquez, who founded and owns the tropical-themed space with his husband, Mike Hastings.
Anchor Island Coffee launched in March 2020 just before the pandemic, ultimately rebounding before encountering another setback in 2022 when a truck damaged the front entrance.
The spot remains a busy gathering place along the Troost corridor, with a menu that ranges from tamales to French toast.
“We were open during COVID, we survived, we made it work, and we’ve only grown,” said Vasquez.
Click here to check out Anchor Island Coffee.
Funds raised from the investment round through HoneyComb Credit are expected to be used for crucial upgrades, including an HVAC system, kitchen remodel, and relocating certain equipment to boost the kitchen’s efficiency, Vasquez said.
“Anyone can invest, from $100 to $1,000, or more. It’s not a GoFundMe; it’s an investment in our brand,” he continued.
Click here to learn more about how the investments work.
The investment round runs through Jan. 18.
Clean concept
Vasquez takes pride in Anchor Island’s efforts to prevent food waste through careful planning, he said.
Mike Hastings and Armando Vasquez, Anchor Island Coffee
“Opening a week before COVID, we were forced to create a very lean menu,” Vasquez said. “This not only allowed us to introduce and continuously grow our food production through COVID and beyond, but it also created a system with very little waste.”
Click here to read more about the origins of Anchor Island.
Serving fresh food is also a priority at Anchor Island, he said. The coffee shop’s staff makes everything on the menu from scratch, and also provides dietary options like gluten-free and dairy-free items.
“To keep the quality, we need more expensive ingredients,” said Vasquez. “What I like about our concept is we try to make the food as clean as possible. No MSG, as little preservatives as possible, and no soy.”
Vasquez revealed plans for an evening menu and the potential addition of a liquor license.
“We are in talks with local chefs and considering partnering with the KC Restaurant Association,” he said.
Gaining a liquor license in 2024 would align with Vasquez’s vision of offering a full bar and evening services, transforming Anchor Island into a multifaceted establishment and drawing in more people.
“Getting my license will definitely bring the crowd that we are not getting currently,” said Vasquez. “We will be in a more functional place in the market.”
“We are trying to do a coffee and breakfast vibe in the morning with maybe some mimosas,” he continued. “In the evening we would like more of a full bar and service with servers and hostesses.”
Anchor Island Coffee; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Plans to expand
Anchor Island Coffee; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
In response to customer demand, Vasquez aims to expand Anchor Island Coffee through franchising, focusing on locations with strong personal connections and community support.
“Our aspiration is getting big, and growing, and to grow into a place where we franchise to a few states slowly, like Hawaiian Bros.,” said Vasquez.
Reflecting on Anchor Island Coffee’s resilience amid the pandemic, Vasquez shared the significance of expanding his and Hastings’ homegrown brand, feeling that it will spotlight their growth despite adversity.
“Being open during COVID, a time when people sometimes didn’t have a lot of faith, and then being able to grow into more locations would be just such a big success story by itself, and people will see that,” he said.
Taylor Wilmore
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Serial entrepreneur hopes to cultivate ‘real talk’ with startups at day-long Own It event
Business often isn’t pretty, said serial entrepreneur Mike Wrenn. And it’s time to expose some of the hard truths he and his wife, Becky Cole — as well as other business heavyweights — have learned through their careers, he said. “Becky and I have built a successful business with national and international reach,” said Wrenn, chairman…
Enjoy the college life experience? Homeroom invites you to KC’s new coliving concept
Homeroom is a coliving experience that takes you back to your dorm room days, said Johnny Wolff. “I think everyone looks back with really fond memories of living with really good friends in college in a house. The coliving experience is about taking that shared roommate situation and kind of curating it at Homeroom,” said…
Second-shift startup: Wobblrs pins soccer-inspired game’s future to youth sports pivot
Wobblrs, a soccer-specific tailgating game, is refocusing its niche on youth development, said Roberto Camacho. The game, which involves two self-righting pins for players to knock over by kicking a soccer ball, is proving to be a valuable exercise in aiming, as well as a basic introduction to soccer, said Camacho. “I had a few…
Nickel & Dime supplement club relocates to KC, aims to disprove industry stereotypes
Startup nutrients like location, atmosphere and opportunity have proven the right dosage to lure another young company to Kansas City, said Ben Harris. “[Our move] allows us to ship two days domestically anywhere in the United States,” the co-founder of Nickel & Dime supplement club said. Launched by Harris and co-founder, Michael Giangregorio earlier this…