Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Buzek.
Hi Kimberly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I had lived in Northside for a few years while I finished college and felt that the neighborhood desperately needed a coffee shop – a neighborhood hub where people of all ages would be welcome. Having experience in management, as well as working in coffee shops and food service for several years, I felt I had the right business acumen to run my own place. I opened Sidewinder Coffee in September 2004, just a few months before my 28th birthday.
At that point, Northside was still a very up-and-coming neighborhood, so I was not sure what to expect as far as how successful the business would be. The first few years I was solely focused on paying the bills and getting by. As the years went by and we became more established, I was able to grow the business a bit more. In 2018 we took another leap and started roasting our own coffee. Our former shop manager Hannah Gedeon spearheaded the transition & became our Master Roaster, and she has been expertly roasting our coffee ever since. This has enabled us to control the quality & consistency of our coffee on a much higher level and has enabled us to expand our brand beyond Northside.
I have been blown away by the support of the neighborhood & how much it has grown over the past 20 years. It has defied all my expectations. It has really become the community hub I had envisioned, and I am very proud of that.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road – there have been many ups & downs. The first few years were a struggle simply because I had to be present & available 24/7. It was exhausting! As the company became more consistent & stable, I was able to step away from that a bit. I think the biggest difficulty is that being a very small business, you are always fluctuating – be it with staffing or finances or emergencies – and must stay involved and at the ready in order to stay afloat. Ultimately, though, after 20 years, I definitely now have a less stressful role and get to focus more on the overall behind-the-scenes aspects of the business, not so much the day-to-day operations. It is a very rewarding & enjoyable place to be.
We’ve been impressed with Sidewinder Coffee, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small, independent coffee shop & roastery. We specialize it sourcing coffee beans from small, independent growers around the world. The quality of the coffee we serve is our top priority. We have an array of drinks on our menu ranging from traditional brewed coffee & espresso drinks to more creative concoctions like our Mexican Latte or White Rabbit (named for our white rabbit Patrick Swayze – our original mascot & long-time courtyard resident).
We are a very community-oriented business catering to the residents of Northside and nearby neighborhoods. We feature rotating art exhibits to support local artists. We are dog-friendly (for carry-out), so we are a great place to stop on your walk with your pup, and we always have a treat for them! We focus our charitable contributions towards local animal welfare organizations and educational programs.
I am most proud of being a welcoming & inclusive neighborhood place. It is easy to get to know your regulars & form a relationship with them. It is also a great place to meet your neighbors. We offer drinks & treats for any age, so it is very family-friendly. We are a safe space for the LGBTQ community. We are ultimately a neighborhood hub – one of my main goals in opening the coffee shop – and I am very proud that that has come to fruition.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
At this point in my career, I think what matters most is continuing to be passionate & energized about Sidewinder and my life in general. My happiness level is much more important to me than it used to be. I do not want to get burned out or end up feeling ‘stuck.’ I try to prioritize self-care and putting myself first to maintain that passion & drive. Ultimately, I think being passionate about what you do in life is what enables you to be successful at it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sidewindercoffee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidewindercoffee/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sidewinder-Coffee/100063744062875/
