Small Biz to Watch: Safi Fresh gives resurgent 18th & Vine a new flavor

As new businesses open and foot traffic returns to the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, LaRonda Lanear wants Safi Fresh to be part of what comes next for a neighborhood that has long-awaited revitalization.

The founder of Safi Fresh — known for its smoothies, wraps, grain bowls, and fresh grab-and-go meals — gained a third location at 1512 E. 18th St. through the city’s Open Doors! program.

Part of the broader City of Entrepreneurs strategy led by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC) and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, she joins a growing group of small business owners helping shape the district’s next chapter.

“There’s going to be an influx of people here, so of course I’m going to be involved in it,” Lanear said of participating in Open Doors! “I’m pretty good at being able to realize or recognize when a good opportunity arises.”

That opportunity could be focused on 18th & Vine throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, she added, emphasizing her hope the district will become one of the city’s busiest cultural destinations, making Safi Fresh’s expansion feel especially timely.

“With international visitors here, my brand is getting recognized on a completely different level,” she said.

But opening at 18th & Vine carries significance beyond visibility. Long recognized as a cornerstone of Black culture, music, and entrepreneurship in Kansas City, the district feels deeply personal to Lanear as she prepares to open inside a historic building, she said.

“It feels crazy. It’s almost surreal,” she said. “Not only am I in a Black historical area, I’m also in a Black historical building. It’s surreal being a part of the whole process. I’m definitely grateful.”

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Unlike Safi Fresh’s location inside Kansas City International Airport and its Waldo storefront, which focuses on quick breakfast and lunch service, the 18th & Vine location was designed as a place where customers can stay awhile.

ICYMI: Health-forward Safi Fresh opens in Waldo

Guests can sit down, order from the full menu, watch sports, enjoy drinks from a full bar, and take in a space inspired by Kansas City culture.

Music, local art, and neighborhood history are expected to help define the atmosphere.

“We really want to showcase the history of Kansas City, and artists and all the music and everything, kind of mix that together with the whole experience of Safi Fresh,” she said.

Lanear is also exploring soul food Sunday pop-ups, watch parties, and collaborations with neighboring businesses as the district continues to evolve.

She’s sharing space with entrepreneur Erica Harris, owner of Cupcakin Bakery. Harris’ entertainment-focused concept, Haus 1512, is set to bring additional nightlife and brunch programming to the area.

“It’s been great,” Lanear said of the partnership. “We’ve been working together just to make sure that the space is prepared and that it’s up to par before everybody comes in.”

At the heart of the new location is a desire to create a gathering place where customers feel comfortable lingering, striking up conversations, and returning often. Lanear spent nearly an hour talking with two recent customers, she said, describing an interaction that reinforced the kind of environment she hopes to build.

“I really want to be known as the neighborhood spot,” she said.

Such neighborhood energy is already becoming visible. After the district recently reopened to traffic, Lanear watched locals slowly drive through 18th & Vine simply to see what had changed.

“It’s been packed down here,” she said of the sight-seeing motorists.

For Lanear, that renewed activity is encouraging, especially as fellow entrepreneurs establish themselves throughout the corridor.

“I’m just excited, honestly, for all the small business owners down here to increase the revenue,” she said. “That’s always the name of the game. We all have bills, payroll, all of those things. So I’m just excited for us all to get a piece of the cake.”