Anchor Island pours into coffee shop’s potential with unique investment round

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.

From the archives: Shot of gratitude: Coffee shop damaged by truck collision reopens, celebrating with thank you event

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.