7 minute read
Perks of Station 3
Former fire station becomes a local coffee hangout.
article by Jackie Hostetler
photos by Molly Kuplen
Residents of Shawnee and the surrounding Kansas City metro area are fortunate to have a host of perks to satisfy any variety of interests. Historical sites, beautiful parks, unique artwork, and delicious coffee and treats are just a few things that keep locals busy. What could be better than having all of those options in one place? All of these perks, and more, can be found at Station 3 Coffee Shop located off Midland Drive in Shawnee.
Perk #1, Historical Sites
Station 3 holds a wealth of history. Some of that history is local, but much of it is the family history of owners Courtney and John Nelson.
The Nelsons have owned the adjacent property, Twin Mill Farms, since 1996. They run a stable on the property, and the small building that now houses the coffee shop is an ideal buffer between the stables and Midland Drive. The Nelsons eventually acquired the building from its previous owners, Goode Brothers’ Asphalt, and turned it into the ultimate hangout spot for their children.
“We renovated the property in 2017 as a hangout for our kids. It always had a big screen TV for [football] games, and it was just a fun place to hang out,” Courtney Nelson says.
Once the children moved out, John and Courtney had more time to explore other interests, like going out for coffee every morning. This eventually led the Nelsons to transform the former hangout into Station 3 Coffee Shop.
The new coffee shop was born on March 1, 2024, with help from Courtney’s sister-in-law, Betsy Merckens, who serves as manager. Things haven’t slowed down since.
“We really had no idea what to expect. Opening weekend was more than we had thought it would be, and we’ve been really steady since,” says Merckens.
In terms of local history, the small building was originally a gas station in the 1930s. As area infrastructure changed, the need for a gas station lessened. Later, the building was an armory office before being converted to Shawnee Fire Station #3 in March 1971. The building remained a volunteer-only station until the property was sold to Goode Brothers’ Asphalt Co. in 1985.
Perk #2, Beautiful Parks
Station 3 is just steps away from the trailhead of Streamway Park, which winds all the way to the Kansas River.
Nelson reports that, among the many groups that frequent the coffee shop, runners are some of the most prominent. “We see runners park near the shop and go for an early run and then come back for coffee.”
The coffee shop not only boasts the beautiful backdrop of the trail but also is surrounded by lush landscape on all sides, courtesy of John Nelson.
“We have a scenic place to enjoy the outside,” Courtney says of her husband’s work.
According to Merckens, the view makes Station 3 a popular destination. “We have regulars come in on their way to work. We have a lot of moms’ groups, running groups, and biking groups,” she says.
“We get a lot of out-of-towners with the ballfields on Johnson Drive, too,” Courtney adds.
Perk #3, Unique Artwork
The coffee shop also features a variety of art and crafts, both inside and out. Two exterior walls display a giant sunflower mural that bleeds into a Grand Canyon landscape painted by local artist Jeremy Collins (see sidebar).
A large metal robot, affectionately known as Conductor Jobot, stands guard near a decommissioned caboose just behind the coffee shop. The robot acts as conductor for the vintage rail car, which Courtney Nelson’s father acquired in the 1990s.
The robot, created by artist Baker Medlock, has become a bit of a mascot for the shop—so much so that the Nelsons commissioned Medlock to create another, smaller robot, for the coffee shop. Station 3 celebrates National Robot Day on September 26 with robot-themed coffees and merchandise.
Custom goods crafted by Courtney Nelson are also available in the shop. Beeswax lip balm, lamb’s wool dryer balls, cat toys, and handmade beaded earrings are products of the adjacent Twin Mill Farms.
Perk #4, Coffee and Treats
The centerpiece of the coffee shop is, of course, the coffee, provided by Hammerhand Coffee out of Liberty, Missouri.
Merckens and Nelson pride themselves on sourcing their other treats locally as well. Baked goods are handmade by Scratch KC in North Kansas City, Missouri. Macro-friendly protein balls are provided by Lite Bites KC in Prairie Village. Kombucha is made by Daily Culture out of Kansas City, and teas are provided by North Kansas City purveyor Hugo Tea Co.
Station 3 offers a variety of coffee flavors, many of which change monthly or to reflect the season. All syrups are made in-house with simple and natural ingredients. Additionally, Station 3 uses compostable plastic cups and utensils, achieving the goals of being both eco-friendly and delicious.
The Best Perks
Perhaps the best perks are that Station 3 fills a void within the Shawnee community and fosters a sense of community.
“We’ve heard from many of our customers that this is something that was needed—a local spot that is something other than a big chain,” says Merckens. “We have lots of regulars who come in. We know them by name, we know what they drink. You get that personal touch when you come here.”
“From a personal standpoint, it’s been really fun seeing the neighbors come in, and I get to know some of them,” says Courtney Nelson. “It feels good to provide a gathering spot for our community.”
Station 3 Coffee Shop
19115 Midland Drive
913-210-0980
Open daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Artistic Touch
Local artist Jeremy Collins is the artist behind the large murals in and outside Station 3 Coffee.
The Nelsons reached out to Collins after seeing him drop a post on Instagram that floated the idea of painting the entire interior and exterior of a building.
Based in the Kansas City metro, Collins jumped at the opportunity to help the Nelsons give Station 3 a personal touch.
In addition to the sunflowers and Grand Canyon scene on the building’s exterior, Collins painted the café’s interior with a depiction of Little Mill Creek and Big Mill Creek, which converge on the property of Twin Creek Farms.
The shop’s dining room contains a mural of Bishop, California, a popular rock-climbing spot visited by Collins and one of the Nelson children.
“The Nelsons have been fantastic patrons of my work over the years and have a genuine desire to infuse art into their local community,” Collins says. “Before Station 3 was a coffee shop, it was a family clubhouse where they hosted guests. Not much has changed. It’s still a gathering place for those in their community, and it feels great to know I play a small part in adding to the vibe.”
