West Bottoms developer signs NYC-based Australian cafe concept as first retail tenant in planned cultural hub

Kansas City’s historic West Bottoms is expected to gain a nationally recognized restaurant brand as  SomeraRoad works to reestablish the riverside neighborhood as a cultural, culinary, and community destination, the developer said.

Dishes from Two Hands; photo courtesy of Two Hands

Two Hands Hospitality, a popular all-day Australian café concept with outposts in New York, Texas, Tennessee, and Colorado, has signed a lease to open its first Kansas City cafe, SomeraRoad officials said Tuesday. It marks the developer’s first retail tenant within its West Bottoms redevelopment.

The 3,425-square-foot full-service Two Hands restaurant and bar is set to open on the ground floor of the reimagined Moline Plow Building in the first quarter of 2027. (The project is part of SomeraRoad’s phased $500M public-private neighborhood development project in the West Bottoms.)

Founded in New York City in 2014, Two Hands has become known for its community-oriented approach to hospitality, design-forward spaces, and Australian-inspired menu, SomeraRoad said.

“When we first walked the West Bottoms, it just felt right,” said Henry Roberts, founder and CEO of Two Hands. “The history, the buildings, the people, and the sense of momentum reminded us of the kinds of neighborhoods we’ve always loved being part of. I personally felt an instant connection to the city. We’re incredibly excited to bring Two Hands hospitality to Kansas City and work alongside the SomeraRoad team again.”

Inside Two Hands’ Nashville restaurant; photo by Brecken Hobbs

Part of Two Hands’ broader expansion across the United States, the West Bottoms location marks the brand’s second restaurant within a SomeraRoad development, following its opening at Paseo South Gulch in Nashville.

Dishes from Two Hands; photo courtesy of Two Hands

The Kansas City announcement comes as SomeraRoad advances the first phase of its transformative West Bottoms redevelopment, with the historic Moline Plow Building slated to open later this year. Built more than 120 years ago, the restored landmark is set to introduce 121 loft-style residences and approximately 23,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. 

SomeraRoad has curated a dynamic mix of restaurants, shops, and wellness offerings to round out the day-to-night retail experience. Next up: the spring 2027 opening of The Depot, a public gathering space including a food-and-beverage kiosk designed to foster community and serve as a central hub for residents and visitors alike.

“The revitalization of the West Bottoms is one of the most transformative projects in Kansas City, and we take great pride in helping shape the neighborhood’s future,” said Grant Hromas, vice president of SomeraRoad. “Every partner involved in the neighborhood has been carefully selected to honor the West Bottoms’ rich history while meaningfully contributing to its next chapter.”

Two Hands Tennyson in Denver; photo courtesy of Two Hands

A mural by Kansas City artist Jason “Rif Raf Giraffe” Harrington adorns a West Bottoms building near 1209 Union Ave.; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Signing Two Hands — which Hromas called “a meaningful catalyst for the continued growth throughout the West Bottoms” — comes as the West Bottoms is gaining renewed visibility citywide, he added, noting recent murals completed in collaboration with SpraySeeMO to coincide with the FIFA World Cup. 

ICYMI: Mural festival teams with West Bottoms developer for World Cup-inspired transformations

“Together, these moments point to a broader shift underway in the district — one where restaurants, public art, fitness, music, and local programming are breathing new life into the neighborhood, encouraging locals and travelers alike to experience the new wave of revitalization that is the West Bottoms,” SomeraRoad said in a statement.