Happy Gillis Monday, Jan. 6 | Photo courtesy of Happy Gillis

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

Only a couple of days into this new year, a frigid blanket of snow and ice wrapped around Kansas City and its surrounding areas — trapping many inside and leading to temporary closure of schools and businesses within the community.

Kansas Citians received notice of inclement weather across respective social media and television announcements, which would hit over the weekend of Jan. 3 through Jan. 5. What meteorologists refer to as “Winter Storm Blair” has affected the mid-Atlantic and Central Plains of the U.S., including Kansas City, Mo. On Jan. 5, the total accumulation of snowfall recorded near Kansas City International (KCI) airport was 11 inches, according to the National Weather Service — which led to the cancellation of many flights entering and exiting Kansas City. 

This total marked the fourth largest individual day flurry in Kansas City history with numbers, which have not rivaled since 1988. This weekend’s events additionally served as the 12th largest snowfall, which occurred over a two-day period — the greatest since February 1993, according to the National Weather Service.  

With a blizzard of this impact, several businesses, restaurants and institutions closed their doors over Sunday and Monday until conditions improved — including The Kansas City Museum, KC Care Health Center and Bishop Sullivan Center (One City Café), among others. 

However, two Northeast businesses — while closed Sunday, Jan. 5 — braved the weather on Monday to serve their community. 

PH Coffee, located at 2200 Lexington Ave, while traditionally open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday, was closed Jan. 5 due to road conditions. While this Pendleton Heights coffee shop was open Monday, Jan. 6, business hours were adjusted to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the day. 

“No business wants to close, but it’s best to be safe,” PH Coffee owner, Eric Rosell said in an interview, Monday. 

Rosell and in-house Barista Riley shared that many PH staffers live within the Northeast neighborhoods, which allowed the coffee shop to open Monday, despite inclement weather. PH business remained steady Monday, gathering a slew of Northeast neighbors, families and professionals together.

“I get to serve my community today,” Riley said in an interview, Monday. “People are feeling cooped up and wanting to leave the house; It’s nice to be that place for people.” 

Rosell said PH Coffee hopes to remain open the rest of the week as well, however, its hours of operation may be abbreviated. Shop updates — including hours of operation — will be posted to its social media at PH Coffee. 

Happy Gillis — a Columbus Park neighborhood, vegetarian-friendly cafe and hangout — also opened its doors on Monday, after owner Jeffery Gatton shoveled its front sidewalks.

Gatton announced on social media that this eatery at 549 Gillis St., would open at 9 a.m. Monday to account for those who had to dig themselves out but were able to walk over. Gatton lives on the same block as the restaurant — according to Happy Gillis staff members — which allowed him to open as the solo server for the day with a limited menu of biscuits and gravy, accompanied by various beverages.

Due to weather, the cafe was closed on Sunday, but Happy Gillis expects to operate its traditional hours — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday through Monday — the rest of this week.