Check out KC area’s newest coffee shop: Adventure-themed Johnson County spot now open
Susannah and Travis Seipel have spent the last several months transforming a former Overland Park salon into a trendy coffee shop.
On Monday, they enjoyed the fruit of their labor — and so did the neighborhood.
Their shop, Odyssey Coffee, is now open at 5247 W. 95th St., near Prairie Village’s Meadowbrook Park.
The couple unlocked the doors and welcomed in a steady stream of espresso-drinkers, ready to drink specialty coffee brewed from Peet’s Coffee and Onyx Coffee beans. They also chose from a selection of sandwiches and pastries.
“We’ve had a lot of support,” Travis said, standing behind the counter on opening day. “We finally feel like we’re part of the community.”
The Seipels announced their plans to open the shop last year. But Odyssey has been a long-term goal for years.
Travis has worked various jobs in the coffee industry since 2005, when he started by working at a shop in San Francisco. He continued slinging espresso off and on after he moved to the Kansas City area in 2010.
The couple has had their eyes peeled for a location for a while until the spot in the Trailwoods Shopping Center opened up.
Sitting on a shelf on the back wall of the shop: a copy of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
.jpg "travis and susannah (1).jpg")
The coffee shop isn’t covered in nautical or Greek mythology decor, but it’s a subtle nod to the overall theme of allowing a good cup of coffee to take them on an adventure.
“More than coffee being a destination, it’s a journey …” Travis told The Star last year. “Whether it’s your first cup or your millionth cup, it’s always something different.”
A three-dimensional wooden map of the world hangs on one wall. Plants hang from the ceiling and beautiful natural wooden tables.
A quote from novelist Ken Kesey is painted above a water station:
“Since we don’t know where we’re going, we have to stick together in case someone gets there.”
Odyssey is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
In Kansas City’s Marlborough Heights neighborhood, another specialty coffee shop is gearing up to open. Neighbors Coffee + Hospitality’s opening is likely still a few months away.