This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

a tiki-themed, Hawaiian-/Polynesian-inflected coffee shop anchoring the corner of 18th & Cherry in the East Crossroads, opened January 2021 by husband-and-wife makers Johnny & Michele Dawbarn inside their Collective Ex creative space (also home to their apparel label SewKC). Locally owned and owner-operated.

Description

HITIDES Coffee is a tiki-and-aloha-themed coffee shop at 519 E 18th St (the corner of 18th & Cherry) in Kansas City’s East Crossroads.12 It opened in January 2021 — a soft open around January 15 with the full launch following later that month — inside Collective Ex, the shared maker/designer space run by owners Johnny and Michele Dawbarn.1 The café took over the storefront previously occupied by the coffee shop Thou Mayest.1

The concept blends classic café staples with island and Hawaiian flavors and culture: the shop has partnered with Dole Whip, Shaka Tea, and Hawaiian Sun, pours exclusive blends roasted by Kansas City’s Marcell Coffee (Christopher Oppenhuis), and rounds out the menu with bagels and donuts from local makers.123 The space is decorated as a tropical hideaway — custom wallpaper, tiki décor, velvet paintings, and ukuleles sourced from antique shops and eBay.1

Johnny Dawbarn has described HITIDES as “an all-inclusive trifecta of what you might want — depending on the time of day and time of year.”1

Ownership and history

PeriodEvent
~2010sJohnny & Michele Dawbarn build their KC maker presence — apparel label SewKC and the Collective Ex shared creative space (SewKC cited as 10+ years operating).45
2020Dawbarns featured for SewKC’s hand-sewn design work and collaborative ethos.4
January 2021HITIDES Coffee opens inside Collective Ex (519 E 18th St), taking over the former Thou Mayest space; soft open ~Jan. 15.1
2024Johnny Dawbarn organizes the Lei Away festival celebrating Aloha / Polynesian culture and creativity in KC; the Dawbarns recognized among downtown KC “Urban Heroes.”56
2021 → presentContinuous operation as an East Crossroads café and community/creative anchor.

HITIDES is independent and owner-operated — there is no corporate parent. It sits under the same roof as the Dawbarns’ other ventures (Collective Ex, SewKC), forming a maker-hub at 18th & Cherry.5 The owners’ deep Hawaiian/Polynesian thematic commitment is sourced through real partnerships with Hawaii-based companies and vendor visits; available reporting does not indicate the Dawbarns are themselves Hawaiian natives, and their KC business roots run 10+ years.45

See also

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Startland News — “Sneak peek: KC’s new tiki hideaway pours the unexpected — 1,600+ miles from the beach” (Jan. 2021). https://www.startlandnews.com/2021/01/hitides-coffee/. Asserts: owners Johnny & Michele Dawbarn; Jan. 2021 opening (~Jan. 15 soft open); inside Collective Ex; former Thou Mayest space; tiki/aloha concept & décor; Marcell Coffee roaster (Christopher Oppenhuis); Johnny’s “trifecta” quote; East Crossroads location. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  2. Yelp — “HITIDES Coffee, 519 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO” (updated May 2026). https://www.yelp.com/biz/hitides-coffee-kansas-city. Asserts: address; active operation; reviews through May 2026; phone (816) 360-9321 on listing. ↩ ↩2

  3. IN Kansas City Magazine — HITIDES Coffee dining-guide listing. https://www.inkansascity.com/eat-drink/dining-guide/hitides-coffee/. Asserts: island-flavor concept; partners (Dole Whip, Shaka Tea, Hawaiian Sun); Marcell roasts; Meshuggah bagels; reported hours. ↩

  4. Startland News — “Married to collaboration: SewKC couple stitches meaning into each handsewn design” (Oct. 2020). https://www.startlandnews.com/2020/10/sewkc-michele-johnny-dawbarn/. Asserts: Johnny & Michele Dawbarn co-found SewKC; established KC maker presence. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Startland News — Lei Away 2024 / “Urban Heroes” coverage. https://www.startlandnews.com/2024/09/lei-away-2024/ and https://startlandnews.com/2024/04/urban-hero-awards-downtown-kc/. Asserts: Dawbarns own/operate Collective Ex, SewKC, and HITIDES at 519 E 18th St (corner 18th & Cherry); Johnny organizes Lei Away festival; 10+ year tenure; Hawaii vendor partnerships and visits. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. Startland News — “These ‘Urban Heroes’ are helping evolve downtown KC” (Apr. 2024). https://startlandnews.com/2024/04/urban-hero-awards-downtown-kc/. Asserts: Dawbarns recognized among downtown KC community contributors. ↩

See also

Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Coffee
  • Crossroads