Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Hardy.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
HALCYON (Hal-see-yon) is an adjective that means “carefree and untroubled”. In short – happiness. Our idea for Halcyon was to be the ultimate hang out place by combining the comfort and convenience of a coffeehouse and cafe by day with a laid-back bar & lounge atmosphere at night.
We opened our first location on a shoestring budget in January 2002 in the heart of the Austin warehouse district, where it has since evolved and thrived for over 16 years. In 2012 we expanded to the Blue Star Arts Complex in San Antonio’s hip “Southtown” neighborhood and this year, we opened our third location on Dallas’s storied “Lower Greenville” Avenue, and another in East Austin’s Mueller.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
From the highest perspective, yes it has been a relatively smooth and methodical growth. That said, there are always growing pains for a business moving to multiple locations and multiple cities that revolve largely around keeping true to the brand while still evolving it to stay on trend and adapting it to its neighborhood.
I’d say the biggest changes have been with the coffee side of the business, which as a culture, has grown from Folger’s crystals or Starbucks in the early 2000’s (when we started) to the dedicated and dynamic offerings of “Third Wave of Coffee”. There is a ton of knowledge and skill required to be a barista in this environment (and therefore a coffee bar) and behind that goes a lot of training which is all the more challenging with multiple locations that are several hours apart.
Apart from upping our coffee game along the way, we also expanded from basic food offerings (think: toaster oven and microwave) to a full cook-to-order kitchen. Learning how to run a profitable kitchen is no small feat much less one that turns out cravable food rather than side-notes. Our current struggle is how to build a bar business in locations that are more known for breakfast and coffee. The original Halcyon remains more of an evening place where people go to meet up for drinks and snacks in between or after other night adventures.
Our Long Island Iced Coffee and Chocolate Espresso Martini are the perfect foils for the conflicting biology of drinking (and sleeping) but wanting to stay awake and find the party. Lastly, aside from these brand-related struggles, there is always the very cliche challenge of systems, processes, and people required to grow successfully. There is not much fun in talking about implementing an inventory system though so I won’t.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Halcyon story. Tell us more about the business.
Halcyon is a unique urban concept that walks the line between both “coffee” and “bar” or “cafe” and “lounge” and “morning” to “night”. Our slogan is “Coffee for the things you CAN change and cocktails for the things you CAN’T”. Or “Coffee ’til cocktails for a pithier soundbite. We are not defined by what we offer as much as the experience you can find here. That said, we offer a lot.
There is fast-casual gourmet food for breakfast, lunch, brunch and evening snacks alongside an obsessive coffee program and inspired cocktail/beer/wine menu. There are no other places that go as deep as we do into each of these areas. There are coffee places that have a couple beer taps, restaurants with espresso machines, and bars with good food, but nowhere where they are all combined so completely as at Halcyon.
Our mission is to provide a happy respite for people any time of day. It almost defies explanation, but to quote some of our customer’s, “The place is so inviting… If you are looking for a place to chill and read a book or catch up with friends, this would be the place to go hands down.” Halcyon is “Effortlessly low-key.
Refreshing and relaxing. A great place to hang out with your friends.”
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’ve always believed in the sentiment that “luck shines on the well-prepared”. It was luck that won us our first lease in Austin’s bar epicenter in 2002 but preparation that got to those conversations. And it was chance that our best employees were looking for a job when we were hiring but lots of work on our part since then to keep them on our team so they can make Halcyon what it is every day.
Similarly, it was luck when our lower Greenville location came available and was offered to us, yet it was over a decade of experience that made it possible. There is always serendipity or fate, depending on which end of the straw you draw. Perseverance and teamwork are what has taken us to and through each of those moments.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2900 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206 - Website: HalcyonCoffeebar.com
- Phone: (469) 547-2265
- Email: Operations@zebollc.com
- Instagram: HalcyonDallas
- Facebook: HalcyonDallas
- Yelp: Halcyon-Dallas
Image Credit:
Sam Wells
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