Latest Stories

This beloved family chicken chain is dropping its first new location in decades; Go for its G-Sauce in 2025

Kansas City’s longtime favorite Go Chicken Go is expanding to the Northland — its first new location in nearly 25 years. The hometown staple — a family-owned, third generation business based in Overland Park — is taking over the former Taco Bueno freestanding building at 380 N.E. Vivion Road, for an early 2025 opening. The new…

BLK + BRWN owner calls on funders to co-author bookstore’s story of activism for silenced narratives

A recently launched crowdfunding campaign to help BLK + BRWN make rent could mean the difference between access and censorship for the community served by the indie bookstore, said Cori Smith. “This is my flavor of activism,” Smith said of BLK + BRWN, the 39th Street business she describes as both a passion project and…

Fresh pour at former Ça Va space: Popular chef takes over Westport hotspot with crisp new Champagne concept

Westport Champagne bar and bistro Ça Va closed in March for a quick rebrand. Six months later, a new name, owner and concept are bubbling in the space — with plans to reopen by the holidays.   Chef Amante Domingo — perhaps best known for his Midtown restaurant The Russell — is taking over the spot…

How a $4B Panasonic plant could ‘revolutionize region’s economy’ — starting next year

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly believes the opening of the $4 billion electric car…

Kansas company behind 1-800-GOT-JUNK? integrates home services into one portal (with just one payment)

Lenexa-headquartered Southwind hopes to ease the hassles of home ownership by launching a customizable, comprehensive service program, said Jeffery Anderson. The sprawling home services company — with brands like 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and MVP Heating, Cooling, and Electrical — recently introduced OneOS Home, which is an innovative platform designed to revolutionize how homeowners access and manage essential…

Mom’s ‘modern throwback’ dress collection celebrates girlhood, innocence of times past

Inspired by her five daughters, Joelle Smith created a dress line and online boutique she hopes captures the innocence, beauty, and whimsical spirit of young girls — even though hers are now grown. “When they were little girls, I loved watching them put on a dress and just light up and then twirl and play…

Midwest-made crossover artist charts solo success that eluded him when he was young

Sebastian James assumed until recently that his music career had already peaked, the hometown hit-maker shared. In 2011, the 18-year-old Riverside native and Park Hill South graduate started touring the country as the drummer for the Nigel Dupree Band, opening for bands like Korn and Stone Temple Pilots. But this year, at 30, he launched…

Early childhood isn’t a money maker, but can be a money breaker: ECJC initiative links lack of child care to business’ bottom lines

Access to safe and affordable child care is an issue that should concern everyone, Judy Bumpus acknowledged. Research indicates the current capacity to provide child care within the Kansas City metro is only 45 percent, according to the director of client services for the Kansas City Women’s Business Center, with 80,000 children still needing childcare…

KC Black Owned’s fall summit returns this weekend with corporate backing, tools for Black entrepreneurs

A summit planned for Saturday at the Kansas City Convention Center aims to inspire Black business owners and equip them with the resources, strategies, and connections needed to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.  The Global Strategies Summit for Market Innovators — organized by KC Black Owned — is deeply rooted in its founder’s drive to…

This Midtown pizza shop sliced through challenges, topping years of popup work with grand opening

Orange By: Devoured — the flagship pizza shop from Jhy Coulter — is finally ready for the public, she said, after enduring years of pop-ups to keep the dream alive, renovations, and the closure of business lending platform Mainvest that took founders by surprise.  “I am tired — I’m exhausted,” Coulter said with a laugh,…