Splitlog Coffee Opening Soon Next to New ArtsBlock Project

By Kevin Collison

The timing couldn’t have been better for brothers Adam and Caleb Wittmer to open their new Splitlog Coffee off Independence Avenue in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood near downtown.

On Tuesday, the new ArtsBlock development, a mixed-use project featuring affordable lofts geared toward artists along with gallery and classroom space, was holding its grand opening at 2300 Independence Ave.

And around the corner on Olive Street, Splitlog was celebrating its upcoming debut within the next couple weeks by offering free coffee to those attending its neighbor’s party.

“We knew something was coming, but we didn’t know exactly what the redevelopment was going to be,” Caleb Wittmer said about ArtsBlock.

He and his brother opened their first Splitlog Coffee at 548 Central  in downtown Kansas City, Kan. in 2016 and had bought the long-vacant building where their new place is located two years ago.

“That (ArtsBlock) was key to us,” Caleb said. “Knowing they were going to be a mixed-use project with people living there made it a lot more viable. The timing went very well.”

The new Splitlog will feature coffee drinks made with beans from some of the best roasteries in the city–Oddly Correct and Messenger–as well as from other parts of the country.

The new Splitlog features coffee drinks brewed from beans supplied by Oddly Correct and Messenger.

“We wanted to focus on quality coffee,” said Simeon Bricker, general manager of both Splitlog locations.

“Our kitchen will also offer breakfast and lunch. We hope it helps complete the idea of a cafè. It will be a way for people to get a full breakfast to start their day.”

In addition to hearty breakfast fare, Splitlog lunches will include soups, salads and sandwiches.

The café hours will be from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The kitchen will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Tuesdays through Saturdays. On Mondays, only pastries will be available.

Splitlog will be closed Sundays.

“We want our vibe to be relaxed and inviting,” Bricker said. “We don’t want people to feel that pretentious vibe sometimes associated with coffee shops.”

And patrons will be welcome to stick around, do some work using the free wi-fi and meet friends.

(Editor’s note: Beginning Dec. 2, CityScene KC has become a paid subscription publication)