Food & Drink
Blip Coffee Shifts Gears to New West Bottoms Location
By Kevin Collison Ian Davis knew his Blip coffee shop and roasterie in the West Bottoms was in for a bumpy business road when his connections on the West Coast warned him of the looming Covid-19 crisis in early March. “We were one of the first to close up because of Covid,” he said. “My…
Grand Place, Historic KC Star Redevelopment, Tweaks Design, Opening Fall 2021
(Updated Aug. 27, 2020. Editor’s note: Tria Health will be the first office tenant at Grand Place. The firm, currently based in Overland Park, will relocate its headquarters and occupy 17,586 square-feet in the east building. It’s expected to make the move in September 2021. “Tria Health provides one-on-one consultations with pharmacists, supported by advanced health care…
Soulcentricitea Brewing Tea and Natural Goodness on Troost
By Kevin Collison Nika Renee is bringing her blend of tea, pastries and serenity to the Wonder Shops + Flats development at 30th and Troost, opening her Soulcentrictea shop in the former Blip coffee space. “I love tea and I’ve always been a tea fanatic,” she said. “Our theme is earth-based, crafted, soul-centered natural products.”…
Flying Saucer Spins Out of Power & Light District
The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, one of the earliest tenants at the Power & Light District, has closed its doors permanently, according to a company official in Dallas. The establishment at the southeast corner of 13th and Walnut opened in 2008 and featured more than 240 beers along with pub food. While its name evokes…
Starbucks Opens at Crown Center, Third Downtown Location
Crown Center has opened its first full-service Starbucks, answering a question that’s been on the minds of many patrons to downtown’s only shopping center over the years. “This is a brand that a lot of our visitors both national and local ask for a lot,” said Anne Deuschle, Crown Center marketing manager. “We’re excited to…
New Hotel Kansas City Looking for Love to Prosper
By Kevin Collison Officials at the new Hotel Kansas City scheduled to open in the historic Kansas City Club building this August believe love will show the way to prosperity following the hospitality industry crash caused by Covid-19. “The interest in weddings is how the industry will come back,” said Sarah Beck, director of sales…
KC Live! Reopening Soon; P&L District Covid Losses Total ‘Tens of Millions’
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City Live! Block is returning to life next week after being dormant since mid-March, but with a more low-key vibe compared to the raucous times of the Chief’s Super Bowl run earlier this year. For the time being, the canopied space at the heart of the KC Power & Light…
City Market Gains Bold Icon with Reconnected Walnut
By Kevin Collison Downtown has a great, new photo op, patrons have new places to relax and merchants have improved their visibility courtesy of the return of Walnut Street to the City Market after a 30-year absence. An informal dedication is expected this week for the city project which in addition to reconnecting Walnut between…
Downtown Dish Debuts, Weekly Zoom Event Promotes Food and Drink
By Kevin Collison What started as a way to promote the City Market during construction is expanding via Zoom to boost restaurants and bars throughout greater downtown struggling with Covid restrictions in what’s being billed as Downtown Dish. The 45-minute, weekly virtual conversation beginning today at noon is the creation of the KC Streetcar Authority,…
Nimble Brewing Joins the East Crossroads ‘Neigh-Brew-Hood’
By Kevin Collison For Kevin and Jodie Gittemeier, it’s been a great love story since they met at the University of Kansas in the early 1990s, whether it was his passion for brewing beer or for each other. Now, after full lives as professionals and raising six children, the couple are embarking on a new…