In 25 years, downtown Overland Park has seen its share of changes.
Apartments have sprung up in phases. Its iconic farmers market has undergone an overhaul. An array of local businesses have come and gone; from cocktails and clothing to omakase and even a new wedding venue.
Through it all, one coffee shop has stood the test of time; pouring lattes, hosting live music and community gatherings, and watching downtown Overland Park transform around it.
“We’re a staple in this neighborhood,” said Vanessa Winkler, general manager at Homer’s Coffee House. “We might edit the menu a little bit, but we’re here and we’re steady.”
This year marks 25 years for Homer’s, which the team behind it plans to officially celebrate next month.
Homer’s launched in 2001
The coffee shop at 7126 W. 80th St. was founded by Jim Mathis, a Kansas City-area member of the Christian Business Men’s Committee.
The name itself is a nod to one of Mathis’ friends within the CBMC, Homer Anderson.
Byron Whetstone, the shop’s executive director, said Mathis was looking to create a different type of music venue; one that was more family-friendly.
“(Mathis) felt like it would be so cool to have a coffee house that also had live music, because he thought that most of the places that had live music only served alcohol,” Whetstone said. “More of a family-friendly atmosphere.”
In its earliest years, the live music side mostly meant Christian musicians. Today, a wider range of musicians play there; Christian, jazz, rock. Even some local high school bands, such as Indian Woods Middle School nearby, have student showcases there.
The ministry side is also still woven through the weekly rhythm at Homer’s. On the first Sunday of every month, the shop hosts public worship in the front of the coffee house.
Other congregations also meet there weekly — such as The Table in Kansas City, and Anchor Her, a faith-based nonprofit that aims to help women rebuild their lives after incarceration or domestic violence.
At the same time, Winkler said, Christianity isn’t necessarily the standard there.
“People behind the counters and in front of the counters don’t all have the same beliefs, don’t have the same lifestyles,” she said. “We always want to be welcoming and a safe space to everybody.”
Homer’s serves coffee and community
Whetstone took over in his role in 2008, after Mathis stepped away from the business to focus on other ministry and artistic ventures.
Winkler has been at Homer’s essentially since the beginning, coming on first as a barista in the early 2000s. Today, as general manager, she oversees the day-to-day at the coffee shop.
The shop offers a variety of coffee drinks, made with beans from Anthem Roasters, as well as other items like Italian sodas, sandwiches, and all-day breakfast.
From the start, Winkler said, the goal was less about chasing trends, and more about creating something reliable and approachable for its patrons.
“If you ask around, a lot of people kind of think of us as the comfort food of coffee,” Winkler said. “We’re just cozy and welcoming. To all generations, all paths of life.”
Homer’s will celebrate its anniversary in September
On Sept. 12, the coffee shop will host an anniversary event, with 12 to 13 local vendors from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and live music starting at 6:30 p.m.
The event will double as a reunion of sorts, with a lot of the same musicians who have been playing at Homer’s since the beginning. In fact, Mathis, a musician himself, plans to join in.
“It’s kind of a throwback night,” Winkler said.
Though it’s just been the downtown Overland Park flagship location for 25 years, growth could be on the horizon for Homer’s.
“We are exploring roasting our own coffee, as well as potentially expanding the idea of Homer’s to a second or maybe even a third location in other parts of (Johnson County),” Whetstone said.
Though nothing is yet signed on the dotted line, Whetstone said both Olathe and Lenexa are possibilities.
Regardless of how growth looks, Whetstone said, Homer’s will continue to lean on its three pillars: coffee, community and compassion.
Throughout her own time at Homer’s, Winkler has watched customers and baristas alike bond with one another; meeting new best friends, or on at least one occasion, their future spouse.
“It’s really common for me to run into someone and tell them I work at Homer’s, and they say ‘Oh, I remember coming there or playing there when I was in high school,’” she said. “I have all these comforting stories that I hear from people about some nostalgic way that they connect with Homer’s.”
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