West Bottoms fire claims Blip Coffee Space; Broadway Café and Blip plan benefit collaboration

Blip Coffee Roasters opened up shop this past September, and owner Ian Davis is already facing a small business owner’s worst nightmare: fire. Last Thursday afternoon, Davis noticed smoke blowing past the front door of his West Bottoms warehouse space. Upon going outside, Davis and a couple of colleagues noticed flames coming from a second-story window, and after calling 911, they went into action.

“We took out our extra fire extinguishers and a few of us ran up to the second floor. … We went down the hallway opening up doors. It was the last one we tried. We figured we could see the flames and try to help, but when we opened the door it was just pitch black. … I wanted to help but I also don’t have a death wish.”

Davis and the others went back down to Blip, and while they waited for the fire department to arrive, they started removing what they could from the shop, including some motorcycles that were being stored in the back of Blip’s space. (Davis and his friends are avid motorcycle enthusiasts, and motorcycle culture is a big part of Blip’s ethos.)
 

Davis credits the Kansas City Fire Department for arriving “within several minutes,” and for quickly putting out the fire. The flames never reached Blip’s first-floor space, but the damage was done. The city is giving occupants a few days to move their things out and then will condemn the building until further inspections and repair can take place. While sad and stressed over the loss of his store and livelihood, Davis is also very grateful.

“I can’t say enough about the community,” he says. “The roasting community as well as the motorcycle community. The motorcycle community has been out of this world.”

Davis explains that he has been contacted by motorcycle clubs, both local and across the country, and that dozens of friends and acquaintances have shown up at Blip’s doors to help Davis break down the shop and remove its contents. Friends and other community roasters are helping store Davis’ equipment. 

Davis has also been overwhelmed by the amount of support coming from the local coffee community. He credits Jon Cates, of Broadway Café, for his support before and after the fire.

“Jon is a motorcycle guy, too,” Davis says, “and has been a big supporter of mine going back.”

Moving forward, Cates is planning to release a special coffee in collaboration with Blip. The coffee beans for the collaboration were purchased at a special auction in Colombia by Cates, while he was judging a coffee competition in Antioquia, a department (state) of Colombia renowned in coffee circles for its excellent product. Proceeds from the sale of the Blip-Broadway collaboration entirely benefit Blip on its journey to reopening. The coffee will be available Tuesday, February 2, at Broadway Café (4106 Broadway, KCMO). Anyone who wishes to donate to help Blip rebuild can also visit Blip’s website.