Food & Drink
Downtown Food Drive Launched to Help During Covid Crisis
The Downtown Council Community Improvement District is collecting food donations throughout May to help replenish smaller food pantries serving families and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The FEED KC program allows donors, either downtown businesses or residents, to text the Ambassadors of the Downtown CID who’ll then come to their location and pick up…
Downtown Microbrew Scene Stays Healthy Despite Covid Clampdown
By Kevin Collison The downtown microbrewery scene is growling, crowling and canning its way through the current covid-19 restrictions and appears ready to emerge intact once the public health crisis is behind us. “Kansas City has such a strong commitment to local,” said Greg Bland, owner of Stockyards Brewery. “People are doing great giving us…
Webster House Closing, but Helzberg has No Plans to Walk Away
By Kevin Collison Faced with a pandemic shut-down and the likelihood its important patron, the Kauffman Center, may remain dark until at least fall, Shirley Helzberg had no choice but to close her labor of love, the Webster House, permanently. “The Kauffman Center isn’t opening until at least fall and the symphony and other arts…
Crossroads Community Kitchen aka The Rieger Serves Big Helpings
By Kevin Collison There has been a lot of generous community response to the Covid-19 pandemic locally, but it would be hard to top the The Regier when it comes to an industrial-strength outpouring of good will–and free food. Since mid-March, the fine dining restaurant at 1924 Main has transformed itself into the Crossroads Community…
New Fundraiser Launched to Help Hard-Hit Restaurant, Bar Workers
The organizers of Curbside KC have added a new item to their menu for helping restaurant and other hospitality workers hit hard by the business restrictions forced by the Covid-19 crisis. Kansas City Runs on Hospitality is a fundraising effort that hopes to raise $100,000 to help out-of-work and/or underemployed restaurant and bar workers by…
Key East Crossroads Corner Paved for Brewery Parking, Other Uses
By Kevin Collison After decades of scraggly existence, the northwest corner of 18th and Locust has been transformed into a 225-space controlled and paved public parking lot in the heart of the burgeoning food and microbrewery scene in the East Crossroads. What’s being called Brewers Alley Parking opened about a month ago, but its arrival…
East Crossroads Corner Being Rebuilt, Deli and Bar Planned
By Kevin Collison A building that collapsed at the corner of 18th and Locust in the East Crossroads in October 2018 is being replaced with a new structure that is expected to house a bar and delicatessen. It’s being built by Matt Abbott, a developer and entrepreneur with extensive property holdings in the Crossroads. Abbott…
Downtown Homeless Agencies Team to Serve Meals Despite Flooding and Virus Woes
By Kevin Collison First, a broken water pipe in early February forced NourishKC out of its dining room where it served lunch for up to 425 homeless and poor people daily. The agency found temporary refuge with Morning Glory Ministries, which provides breakfast to about 150 homeless each morning at the community center of Cathedral…
Sinkers Lounge Putting Soon in P&L District
By Kevin Collison The founder of Blade & Timber has aimed his axe at the space next door in the Power & Light District and plans to open Sinker’s Lounge, a new mini-golf meets cocktail lounge concept, this summer. Matt Baysinger said his new Sinkers Lounge is a continuation of the entertainment formula that’s made…
Five-Chef Food Hall in the Works for Lightwell Lobby
A food hall featuring five chef-concepts is in the works for the lightwell office tower lobby by the developer of a similar project in the new Edison District building in downtown Overland Park. Tim Barton of Menlo Food Labs is in late-stage negotiations with SomeraRoad, the firm that purchased the former City Center Square building…