‘In shock’: Kansas City coffee shop damaged after pickup truck smashes storefront
Owners of a Kansas City coffee shop in the Manheim Park neighborhood were evaluating plans to close its doors — at least temporarily — after the building was struck by a small pickup truck that smashed through the front entryway on Tuesday evening.
Anchor Island Coffee, located at 4101 S. Troost Ave., was hit by the truck around 6:30 p.m. with enough force to send bricks to the back of the shop, co-owner Mike Hastings told The Star by phone Tuesday night. The business, which opened its doors in March 2020, was still in the process of figuring out what its next steps would be after the sudden and destructive incident.
“Right now we’re just kind of all in shock,” said Hastings, 33, of Kansas City, adding that he was told the driver of the pickup truck had left the scene on foot. Hastings said the business was closed at the time of the crash and no employees were hurt.
Photographs shared on the business’ social media pages showed the green Ford pickup’s front end through the front entryway. Its driver’s side door was ajar, hanging, and the airbags appeared to have deployed.
Inside the store the doorframe appeared severely damaged, and broken glass and debris was scattered along the floor.
The precise circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately known. Hastings said there was one other involved vehicle, and its passengers were provided some medical attention.
Sgt. Jake Becchina, a police spokesman, said in an email that there were no serious injuries the department was aware of stemming from the crash as of Tuesday night. Further information about the event was not immediately available from police.
The coffee shop opened during the COVID-19 pandemic and has lived through the financial struggles felt by many small businesses during that time, Hastings said. As he and his husband, a co-owner, determine next steps, Hastings said he was grateful no one was seriously hurt and that community members had already begun reaching out to offer assistance.
“I’m just glad that we have the support of the community,” Hastings added.
