We had the good fortune of connecting with Stacy Ward Lattin and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Stacy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In 2012, after visiting small microbreweries and taprooms in Colorado, we realized we didn’t have anything like this in Wichita, KS. I call it a coffee shop vibe, but with beer. While we had micro breweries with brew pubs, the small beer-focused taproom did not exist. My husband Torrey was really enjoying home brewing at the time, and rather than moving away to work at an existing brewery, we decided to bring the small taproom vibe home to Wichita.
Neither of us had a background in business, so we worked with organizations like the SBA to create a business plan and secure loans. We opened Wichita’s first taproom in 2015 in the Douglas Design District which is just east of downtown.
It took some time for people to understand our business model. We aren’t just a bar, but because we do not serve food, it took some explaining and training with customers. We partner with food trucks and neighboring restaurants for food options., which was also a new concept at the time. Today, several taproom-style businesses exist and are thriving in our community. By partnering and collaborating with other small businesses, we have been able to create a strong buy-local movement that continues to grow.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Everyone always asks how we got the name. My husband Torrey was inspired by a Kansas City Royals gnome we had sitting on our home bar. Hopping for the hops in beer, and gnomes are known for drinking in folklore. After a local graphic designer created our iconic logo, Hopping Gnome Brewing was born.
Our amazing staff and customers have created the culture in our taproom. Shortly after opening, people started calling it “The Gnome,” and we became a welcoming space where you can walk in alone, sit at the bar, and leave with new friends. We’ve been called the “Cheers” of breweries in Wichita, a beer-focused and unique spot to check out when in downtown Wichita.
While people have loved our small and cozy taproom, with restrictions and adjustments during the pandemic, we’ve realized we need more space, especially outdoor space. We like to have events and activities in our taproom that could be so much better if we just had more space.
We have had seven successful years in our current space with small growth in the brew house in order to produce more beer for the taproom and local distribution, but it’s time for us to grow our taproom!
Our team recently announced that we will be building a new taproom behind our current space that will be double the size indoors, with a covered patio and additional outdoor beer garden! All brewing operations will remain at our current location, so only the taproom will move, We hope to start construction later this summer and plan to open summer 2023.
We are so excited for this next chapter in our story!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It’s hard to pick one or two local restaurants…we have so many amazing local spots, but we would suggest our neighboring businesses, including Piatto Neapolitan Pizzeria, Lava & Tonic Tiki Lounge, The Donut Whole, and Tanya’s Soup Kitchen. Dempsey’s has the best burgers in town, and Public at the Brickyard uses locally sourced ingredients for a unique Wichita experience.
A Wichita Windsurge baseball game at the new Riverfront Stadium and drinks at The Monarch is always a great summer evening, ending with live music at several local bars
For daytime activities, we can visit the Sedgwick County Zoo, Botanica, and Exploration Place, with local shopping at Bungalow 26, Lucinda’s, and The Workroom.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our neighbors Piatto Neapolitan Pizzeria!
Shortly after opening, our regular Robert McMullin wanted to start an authentic Neapolitan style pizzeria in Wichita. He liked our location and wanted to be close to us, but was nervous about taking the leap to start a business, We told him if we can do it, anyone can do it, and encouraged him to go for it!
Robert ended up going in to a vacant space next door, so we immediately started discussing ways we can partner to benefit both of our businesses and our community.
Now, you can order Piatto pizza right from your table and they will deliver to our taproom! We also work together on events like National Pizza Party Day, and holiday specials. In the early days of the pandemic, we were able to offer similar to-go specials, and are always discussing ways we can improve and adapt our relationship and customer experience.
Our partnership is unlike anything else in Wichita, and we think Piatto deserves a shoutout for continuing to work with us all these years! Cheers Pizza Neighbors!
Website: hoppinggnome.com
Instagram: @hoppinggnome
Twitter: @hoppinggnome
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoppingGnome
Other: @hoppinggnome on TikTok
Image Credits
Photos by Jessica Noelle Martin and Timothy Larsen