Coffee Sknobs: 7 Years of Serving Coffee, Community, and Connection

An Interview with Kendy Berislavich | Conducted October 16, 2024

Just ahead of their 7-year anniversary, we caught up with Kendy Berislavich of Coffee Sknobs to learn more about the heart behind the business, their community mission, and what’s kept them grounded (and growing) all these years.

Q: What inspired you to start your business?

A: Craig and Maggie Coppenbarger moved up from Springfield to plant Valor Church, and Coffee Sknobs is actually a ministry of the church. Because of the way we do church—no debt, no paid staff—everyone’s bi-vocational. So to help support the church and cover expenses, they opened the coffee shop.

Q: How long have you been in business, and what’s been your biggest milestone so far?A: We’re getting ready to celebrate 7 years—November 11th will mark that! One of the biggest milestones was expanding into the full space. Originally, there was a wall cutting the building in half, and other businesses were in the rest. During 2020, those businesses moved out, and since a lot of people were off work, including my husband and some others from base, they helped renovate and open this whole side. It more than doubled our space, which has been amazing.

Q: What’s the main mission or philosophy behind your business?

A: It’s about reaching the community—and especially the base. So many people stationed here don’t have family nearby. We wanted to create a space where people could connect, talk, and feel supported. Military suicide rates are high, and we take that seriously. Part of our employee training includes being intentional about connecting with people, even just sitting and chatting if we sense they need someone.

Q: How does your business contribute to the local community?

A: As a nonprofit, we’re able to give financially—donations, gift cards, things like that—to the school district, the base, and others. But more than that, we try to be a hub. We use our chalk wall for school info, open the space for events, and just try to be a positive presence.

Q: What are your most popular products or services?

A: The caramel latte is hands-down the favorite! But I think what sets us apart is that all our syrups are homemade, and almost everything is baked in-house. Our bakers are the best! The only thing we don’t make ourselves are the bagels.

Q: Do you offer anything that’s unique to Coffee Sknobs?

A: It’s less about offering something brand-new and more about the space itself. Having a place to just sit, be comfortable, and connect—that’s special. We’re not trying to reinvent everything, just create something meaningful.

Q: How do you decide on your offerings?

A: Trial and error! I make the syrups and get to come up with new drink recipes—that’s one of the best parts of my job. Our bakers experiment all the time. When something’s great, we add it to the menu and give it a shot.

Q: What challenges have you faced, and how have you handled them?

A: Being from a small town myself, I know they can be tight knit. Even though my husband and I have lived here 17+ years, we were still seen as outsiders for a while. It just took time—showing up, getting involved, spending time with people. That’s how you build trust.

Q: How do you support other local businesses or the broader community?

A: We try to participate however we can—donating, giving away coffee during parades, hosting events like open mic or worship nights. We like to say “yes” when things are happening in town.

Q: What do you want customers to feel when they visit?

A: Loved. That’s it. We want people to feel cared for and welcome.

Q: Do you have any memorable customer stories?

A: There’s a couple—an older pair—who had their first date here while restarting their lives. They kept coming in, and eventually got engaged here. It was so sweet!

Q: What are your future goals for the shop?

A: Honestly, we want to keep doing what we’re doing. Be a space for community events, continue reaching the base. We’ve got young airmen at our church who are amazing at connecting with others—that makes a big difference.

Q: Any upcoming changes or events you’re excited about?

A: Our 7-year celebration! We’re planning to give away t-shirts, have some special drinks, and maybe live music. It'll be on the 12th since we’re closed on the 11th.

Q: What’s something most people might not know about Coffee Sknobs?

A: Like the church, we operate on a bare-bones budget. A lot of our team are volunteers. We keep prices low because we’re not here to make money—we’re here to make space for people to gather and connect.

Q: What’s your favorite part of running the shop?

A: That’s hard! I’ve been here all 7 years. I love our employees—they’re fantastic—but also just getting to know people. Being so close to Whiteman, we meet folks from all over, and they bring great stories, ideas, and even coffee knowledge with them.

Q: What do you love most about being part of the Knob Noster community?

A: It’s a sweet town. Other businesses check in on you, the school district is wonderful—we’ve had great experiences there. I brag on Knob Noster all the time.

Update: Coffee Sknobs Celebrates 7 Years! The team at Coffee Sknobs marked their 7th anniversary on November 12th, 2024, with a fun and festive celebration. Guests were treated to free drip coffee, slices of birthday cake puppy chow (yes, that’s a thing!), and a limited run of birthday t-shirts. The highlight drink? A buttered popcorn latte—available hot, iced, or blended. True to their mission, the celebration was a thank-you to their loyal customers, with Coffee Sknobs making sure everyone knew: you are the guest of honor.

Photo from Coffee Sknobs 7th year birthday celebration.

Visit them at 103 W McPherson St, Knob Noster, MO 65336

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