Vine Street Brewing co-owner taps fresh opportunities with new craft beer industry role

Vine Street Brewing is firmly rooted in Kansas City’s historic jazz district, but the woman behind this vibrant cultural hub also feels at home taking the popular brewery along with her to the national stage. Growing the brand, she said, requires her to hop beyond the counter.

Annie McGinnis, Vine Street Brewing; photo by Sensei Brands

“There is nothing more important in being an entrepreneur than building relationships,” said Annie McGinnis, co-owner of Vine Street Brewing Co. “There are always new aspects to learn and new opportunities to collaborate. And you can’t do that if you’re staying in your lane.”

McGinnis recently earned a year-long term as president of the board of the National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) — opening the door to greater exposure for the business and leadership development for its operations leader.

“Having a presence in the national industry helps Vine Street,” McGinnis told Startland. “When we’re looking down the road for how we’re going to expand, how we want to do distribution and who we can collaborate with — being able to do collaborations with larger breweries or national musicians, things we’re really passionate about — having more of a national presence will allow us to do some of those bigger projects. It will always be a goal of ours.”

She previously served as secretary of the NB2A board, and Vine Street Brewing Co. has been an active member of the association since the brewery opened in 2023. Founders Woodie Bonds Jr., Kemet Coleman and Elliott Ivory brought McGinnis into the fold before opening because of her extensive front-of-house management background.

“None of the three of us had that kind of experience, and we would have failed miserably,” Coleman said. “We needed somebody to do that, and it was also important to us to find a good cultural fit.”

Annie McGinnis — alongside KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas, Elliott Ivory, Woodie Bonds Jr., Kemet Coleman — cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Vine Street Brewing’s brewery near the 18th and Vine jazz district in June 2023; courtesy photo

With 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry and a knack for building relationships, McGinnis has proven to be a great fit, he added.

With its four co-owners, Vine Street Brewing Co. has flourished. In 2024, the brewery won the NB2A Ted Mack Sr. Black Brewery of the Year award. And last year, it opened Vine Street Chicken Co., partnering with chef Justin Clark of Troost hotspot Urban.

ICYMI: Vine Street chicken and beer: Brewery adds new flavor to its neighborhood hub

Jannae Gammage, Cyphr, presents Annie McGinnis and Elliott Ivory, Vine Street Brewing, with the KC Chamber’s Emerging Small Business Award in June 2025; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Such partnerships have been a goal for the leadership team, Coleman and McGinnis said, and they see collaborations through peers at NB2A as an important part of that growth.

According to NB2A, of about 10,000 craft brewers in the U.S., only about 1% are Black individuals. There are only about 85 Black breweries in the country. Yet craft brewing accounts for almost $29 billion in beer sales each year

NB2A was founded in 2023 to promote the Black brewing community, honor the history of Black brewing, and increase opportunities at all levels of production.

“The National Black Brewers Association is a huge asset for the whole brewing industry,” Coleman said. “It’s a great asset for any brewery that’s looking to spin up in any capacity, whether that’s just a brand or to actually have a taproom or any model in between.”

As president of NB2A, Annie is focusing on education.

A collaboration with Roy Farms in Moxee, Washington, has produced a hop blend. A portion of sales will fund NB2A scholarships and grants. In addition, some association members will get to experience hop harvest. 

“Whether it is business tools, how to get from homebrewing to having your own operations, we’re trying to bridge a lot of those hurdles that can be really difficult,” McGinnis said. “We’re going to utilize all the relationships that we’ve been building.”

NB2A is also partnering with Whole Foods on a beer called Black Is Beautiful. Local breweries brew this recipe, then sell it in their local Whole Foods stores. Vine Street Brewing Co. will have Black Is Beautiful on shelves in Kansas City next year.

“All kinds of incredible things are going to be happening. And we’re excited to be able to help people move on to the next level,” McGinnis said.

“The NB2A is about to make a significant splash because of Annie’s contributions,” Coleman said. “I have zero fear that she will accomplish anything she puts her mind to, because I’ve seen her do it.”