Hidden Gems: Meet Heather Hnizdil of Flight Crew Coffee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Hnizdil

Hi Heather, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been an old soul who believes that uncommon kindness will never go out of style, nostalgia feels like a warm hug, and everyone feels better in a nice space. I worked at coffee shops throughout high school and college and always enjoyed how personable I was able to be with customers. I house sat and taught English classes and made amazing friends by getting to know people over making them coffee. And then I lived in Taiwan and Sicily for a few years, teaching English, and spent my extra hours at local coffee shops and cafes, their baristas becoming my family away from home. There’s nothing like walking into a shop where people know you by name and start your drink before you even have to order. I love the random conversations and connections you make in a coffee shop. I love how you can have an hour long meeting or a friend date that lasts half the day, all in a place that feels like an extension of your living room. I am an artist with a wandering soul, and my dream is to someday be able to do all the design work for an airline. Instead, I put my talent to use and created Flight Crew Coffee. Yes, it’s a coffee shop on all the wonderful levels that I love coffee shops. But it’s also an experience! The comfort of a couch in front of a fire, baristas that serve you at the level of a stewardess during the Jet Age, and classic drinks named for heroes of flight who I think should be known for their bravery.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
You know, I say all the time that if I knew how it was going to be, I might not have done it at all! But the beauty of having a dream and going for it is that most of the time, the hard stuff doesn’t all come at once. And we can do hard things, right? One thing I will say is: follow the open doors. It was not easy, but it was a series of open doors that I stepped through. After feeling like most things in life before Flight Crew was taking unnecessary effort, beating down walls, swimming upstream. But I think you know you’re on the right track when doors start opening. I came to visit my sister in Manhattan and happened to see a rent sign in a window downtown. Talking to some local business owners (that I didn’t know at the time) led to the Director of downtown Manhattan calling me. Which led to me walking through the space, the owner excited to call to let me rent as I drove back home. Open door after open door. But of course, there have been many crazy unexpected challenges! A two year old milk fridge going out. Espresso getting lost in the mail. An ice maker not working for a week. The faucet to our dish sink popping off and spraying water clear to the ceiling. Half the staff being sick and working on my feet three 12 hour days in a row. Yes, definitely not easy! But for me, because it’s my dream, it’s been worth it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
It’s all in the details. Yes, we’re a coffee shop where you can get your favorite espresso drinks and the best chai latte you’ve ever tasted. But here, you also get an experience unlike anywhere else. As an artist, I enjoyed turning the space into this beautiful theme. I painted a mural of a Douglas DC3 on a wall, printed photographs I took while living in Taiwan for the walls. Every detail you see, I designed: the metal wrapped bar (that I wrapped and riveted), the split flap inspired menu boards, the fabric that makes up the scarves that are part of the flight crew inspired barista uniforms, and the choice of furniture and placement of each piece to turn it into a comfortable and inviting space. I love when people tell me about their first flight or someone in their family who was a pilot. I delight in watching connections be made in the space I created on a daily basis! I enjoy watching people come in and be filled with a sense of wonder as they notice little things, like the clocks that keep the time for an airport on every continent. And I have had a great time continuing to learn about women in flight and being able to share that interest with others.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I grew up on a farm in western KS. There’s nothing country about me besides my midwestern friendliness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://flightcrewcoffee.com
• Instagram: @flightcrewcoffee