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They closed their restaurant for weeks to prep for World Cup; six months later, that pause is paying off (at least on big game days)
One Crossroads favorite is capturing some of the bursts of travelers city officials and local FIFA World Cup organizers told businesses would come this summer. A freshly painted mural along the KC Streetcar line helped drive traffic, but success isn’t as simple as just hanging a soccer-themed welcome sign.
Founders urge confidence, not Midwest nice: Stop apologizing for thinking bigger, builders say
Kansas City should be a hotbed for talent and startups, said Usman Wajid, lamenting a trend where entrepreneurs allow themselves to be penned in by a mentality that they’re overlooked locally and need to relocate to raise capital. Sometimes the catalyst for funding is confidence, the Block & Mortar AI founder told a crowd gathered…
Missouri notched big wins for entrepreneurs in 2026, but work remains, advocates report
Missouri is finally seeing renewed and sustained political momentum around entrepreneurship, Jason Wiens told town hall attendees gathered for an update on the Show-Me State’s recent wins around entrepreneur support.
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.
Just funded: 8 tech products get Digital Sandbox KC boost to strengthen KC’s innovation economy
Project funding and extended resources are expected to help more than a half-dozen emerging startups — including six in the digital health space — whose innovative technology concepts are forging the future of entrepreneurship in Kansas City, said Maria Meyers.
Here’s how Union Station, small biz marketplace are proving a real-world test for activating KC
Team Netherlands defeated Tunisia Thursday night in high-profile World Cup gameplay, but the day’s Kansas City winner was one of the city’s most iconic hubs of living history, said Union Station officials.
Crowd count: Oranje Army rallied 36,000+ fans for downtown Kansas City fanwalk
A fanwalk midday Thursday saw legions of Netherlands supporters march from downtown Kansas City to Crown Center — likely besting similar “Oranje Army” fan parades this month ahead of earlier World Cup matches in Texas, according to beacon technology from a Kansas City-based crowd-tracking company.
Bootleg Bourbon Balls reveals its secret to World Cup chocolate (and booze) lovers
With its decadent flavors and speakeasy past, Kansas City holds a secret, said Lisa Fitch. And she’s eager to share it this summer — one bourbon ball at a time — as visitors like Netherlands’ Orange Army descend on the region.
Small Biz to Watch: Q39 doubling its footprint, investing in the brand’s pitmaster-forward workforce
It’s one of Q39’s most aggressive periods of expansion yet, said Kelly McGee, describing the barbecue brand’s strategy of opening new locations, investing in team culture, and carrying forward the vision she built alongside her late husband, chef Rob McGee.
Small Biz to Watch: E-Z Pedicabs expands routes with KC, World Cup visitors along for the ride
With an influx of visitors tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a wave of downtown development reshaping how residents navigate the city, a young Kansas City pedicab company sees opportunity in the lane ahead.
