Summary
In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Mark Bray, Owner and Founder of Airship Coffee. This independently owned, specialty coffee company boasts four unique cafes and a roastery, all located in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since its inception in 2008, Airship has consistently strived to exceed the ordinary in all its endeavors, with a strong commitment to enhancing the coffee experience for everyone involved. This commitment is underpinned by a dedication to excellence, fueled by the belief that its cafes are not just places to enjoy coffee, but vibrant hubs where genuine community connections flourish. Throughout the episode, James and Mark explore how Airship’s cafes are designed as destinations for adventure and why Bentonville’s community-focused ethos makes it the perfect setting for Airship’s distinctive locations.
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Show Notes
Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.
(0:52) Introduction to Mark Bray
(5:54) Airship’s Bentonville Locations
(13:57) How Bentonville’s Characteristics Influence Airship
(16:06) Airship’s Local Initiatives and Partnerships
(20:19) Mark’s #BecauseBentonville Story
(33:40) Advice to Business Owners That Are Community Driven
(39:07) What’s on the Horizon for Airship
(43:22) Closing Question
Links
Bentonville Economic Development
Quotes
“Our idea around cafes is it’s not just a product that we’re designing, it’s an experience, and it’s a place. And so there’s the product that we associate with each one of our locations, and each one has a unique offering as well, but then there’s the identity of the place. And the Fifth Street location was a tasting room off the end of our roastery. So it’s become a place to get your canister filled, or buy a bag, and that is the identity of the place. We sell a tremendous amount of whole bean coffee to people that want to brew quality coffee at home.” – Mark Bray, (7:29)
“There’s an element of our culture at Airship that’s based on the identity of all the individuals that make up our community there internally. And I really believe that innovation only occurs when people are really hitting the sweet spot when they’re doing the thing that they were meant to do…And so my job in the business is to understand what that is for each person. And we’re trying to create a culture where that can come to life in the business. And then people are able to contribute to the community in that way.” – Mark Bray, (14:09)
“That’s what we’re here trying to do, is make Bentonville a better place to live. And to me, that really captures something very unique to Bentonville, there’s not a big us-versus-them mentality. There’s support coming from all angles.” – Mark Bray, (24:39)
“We chose Bentonville because we live here, raise our family here, and this is home. And it happens to have amazing potential for growth at the same time.” – Mark Bray, (44:57)
Coffee and Community: Exploring Airship’s Unique Destinations with Mark Bray
In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Mark Bray, Owner and Founder of Airship Coffee. This independently owned, specialty coffee company boasts four unique cafes and a roastery, all located in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since its inception in 2008, Airship has consistently strived to exceed the ordinary in all its endeavors, with a strong commitment to enhancing the coffee experience for everyone involved. This commitment is underpinned by a dedication to excellence, fueled by the belief that its cafes are not just places to enjoy coffee, but vibrant hubs where genuine community connections flourish. Throughout the episode, James and Mark explore how Airship’s cafes are designed as destinations for adventure and why Bentonville’s community-focused ethos makes it the perfect setting for Airship’s distinctive locations.
Helping Authentic Community Thrive
Airship’s mission is to improve the local community through genuine human connection within a meaningful coffee experience. Its intention is to help community members feel welcome and foster authentic interactions so that genuine relationships can flourish. To Airship, hospitality means to create a place where a community can thrive, because when you’re in a good place, you can feel it.
Every Airship location is intentionally designed with a unique offering and acts as a neighborhood spot tailored to the micro-community surrounding it. Airship’s cafes are located at Fifth Street where whole bean coffee sales thrive, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve where patrons enjoy coffee in the woods, Ledger where people fuel their workdays with brews, and the Pumphouse where history nestles seamlessly into the neighborhood.
“Our idea around cafes is it’s not just a product that we’re designing, it’s an experience, and it’s a place. And so there’s the product that we associate with each one of our locations, and each one has a unique offering as well, but then there’s the identity of the place. And the Fifth Street location was a tasting room off the end of our roastery. So it’s become a place to get your canister filled, or buy a bag, and that is the identity of the place. We sell a tremendous amount of whole bean coffee to people that want to brew quality coffee at home.” – Mark Bray, (7:29)
Airship’s Innovation Initiatives
Airship meticulously sources the finest beans by fostering fair relationships with farmers who share its passion for quality coffee. And in an effort to continue to innovate at the farm level, Mark has plans to utilize his background in sustainable agriculture to work hand-in-hand with coffee producers to develop remarkable taste profiles. Additionally, Airship has become heavily involved with the Bentonville Moves Coalition, where Mark chairs the local business committee.
The Bentonville Moves Coalition is making a push to create the safest city by having protected bike lanes and the ability to travel easily without a vehicle. This movement is particularly important to Airship, as it has a philosophy based on cultural management within proximity. This means that if its cafes are close to one another, it can have cultural influence over each one of them more easily than if they were spread out. As a result, Airship maintains that it will not have new locations further than a ten minute bike ride from its other cafes.
“There’s an element of our culture at Airship that’s based on the identity of all the individuals that make up our community there internally. And I really believe that innovation only occurs when people are really hitting the sweet spot when they’re doing the thing that they were meant to do…And so my job in the business is to understand what that is for each person. And we’re trying to create a culture where that can come to life in the business. And then people are able to contribute to the community in that way.” – Mark Bray, (14:09)
Get Connected!
Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of the Greater Bentonville Area. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Greater Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.
Links for Additional Mentions
Pedal-Powered Tales with Scott Fitzgerald of Buddy Pegs (Bentonville Beacon Podcast)
Mountain Biking Capital of the World
Bentonville Planning Department
