Late to Grid - Grassroots Racing · Bill Snow

Late To Grind: Saevar Thordarson from Heritage Coffee in Solon, Ohio

·22 min·2 clips

Bill Snow asks Saivar Thordunson why his car isn't at Atomic Autosports, hinting at a procrastination story.

This episode of Late to Grind features host Chris interviewing Saevar Thordarson, the owner of Heritage Coffee in Solon, Ohio. Thordarson shares his personal journey and the motivations behind opening his coffee shop. The conversation explores the connection between his Icelandic heritage and his business philosophy. Thordarson was born in Iceland and moved to the United States at age seven without speaking English. He explains that the shop's name, Heritage, directly references his Icelandic roots and early memories of coffee at his grandparents' house. His professional path included living in several states, including New York, Illinois, and Arizona, before settling in Ohio. The decision to open a coffee shop stemmed from a desire to recreate a specific communal gathering space he remembered from his childhood. He recalls that in his youth, there was no established place for community members to casually meet and connect. Thordarson describes a tradition where visitors would inevitably come to his house, implying coffee was central to those social interactions. This absence of a dedicated "third place" in his own early experiences in the U.S. influenced his vision for Heritage Coffee. The episode presents his move into small business ownership as a shift from a successful corporate career. The host structures the interview to efficiently cover Thordarson's background due to his busy schedule as a traveling small business owner. Thordarson's narrative ties his multinational upbringing directly to his current entrepreneurial identity. A key insight is how a personal sense of heritage and specific childhood memories can directly shape a modern business concept. The tone is conversational and focused on entrepreneurial origin stories. The style is an informal, direct interview recorded during Thordarson's drive to a business meeting. Listeners interested in small business startups, especially in the food and beverage sector, would enjoy this personal founder story. Those seeking deep technical details about coffee roasting or business operations might find the episode too brief and biographical.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Late to Grid - Grassroots Racing