Open Doors

Daiquiri District chills fresh-squeezed spot for hot chicken, cold drinks near Martini Corner

James Thomas spent years taking his mobile daiquiri shop to wherever the party popped up — hauling rented machines and setting up a mobile operation that gave customers around Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka a place to grab one of his frozen drinks. Now he’s letting thirsty customers come to him.

Sisterhood of entrepreneurs: World Cup small biz effort forged unexpected bonds between founders

Business owners backed by the City of Entrepreneurs initiative are getting more than they bargained for, said Jackie Nguyen, describing the scene during the FIFA World Cup when she looked around Union Station and found herself surrounded by a freshly connected sisterhood — a family — of entrepreneurs.

His work welcomed tens of thousands to KC: Meet the designer behind City of Entrepreneurs’ bold look

A small business takeover inside Union Station — transforming its historic Grand Hall into a marketplace tapestry of brightly-colored, bodega-style storefronts — is just one piece of a sprawling campaign to rebrand Kansas City as the City of Entrepreneurs, said Max Ayalla.

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.

‘Bubbles and Goo’ adds inclusive play to one of KC’s busiest districts

A newly mixed River Market business opens the doors to a bubbly (and delightfully slimy) space where children of all abilities can play, explore, and make a joyful mess together, said Antoinette Redmond, offering families a gathering space during the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.