CALLING KANSAS CITY SMALL BUSINESSES

Kansas City is hosting the World Cup, and visitors from around the world are coming with one big question:

“What should we do while we’re here?”

We’re building a Kansas City World Cup Guide that highlights the best local spots to eat, drink, shop, explore, and experience while fans are in town, and we want local businesses front and center.

If you’re a Kansas City small business and want to be featured in the guide, fill out the form below. This guide will be shared with out-of-town visitors, relocating families, and locals hosting friends during the World Cup.

Who this is for

Homegrown restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shops, attractions, event spaces, creatives, experiences, and anything that makes KC feel like KC.

What to expect

Selected businesses will be featured in our World Cup content and guide. Submission does not guarantee placement, but every entry will be reviewed with care.

Kansas City is about to be on a global stage. Let’s make sure visitors experience the real city, not just the stadium.

👀 This Week Around KC

• 🏟️ JACKSON COUNTY APPEARS TO BE THE ROYALS’ LAST OPTION TO STAY IN KC​​
  The Kansas City Royals have ruled out building a new stadium at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. The Clay County Commission also confirmed the team did not accept its stadium proposal by a Jan. 8 deadline, leaving Jackson County as the team’s only remaining viable option to keep the Royals in the Kansas City area.​
• 🎭 TED LASSO SEASON RELEASING THIS SUMMER​​
  Apple TV+ announced that its hit comedy Ted Lasso will return for a fourth season in summer 2026. Star Jason Sudeikis (an Overland Park native) and the crew even filmed scenes in Kansas City for the new season, which follows Ted as he begins coaching a women’s soccer team.
• 🎬 CINEMORPHIA ANIMATED FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY KANSAS CITY’S ATLAS9​
  Atlas9, an immersive art space in Kansas City, Kansas, is launching “Cinemorphia ’26,” a new animated film festival spotlighting student and emerging filmmakers. The one-night event on Feb. 21 will screen selected animated shorts on Atlas9’s unique HOLOMAX projection system.
• 🏡 KANSAS CITY RANKS NO. 20 AMONG BUYER-FRIENDLY HOUSING MARKETS​​
  Zillow’s latest ranking of the 50 largest U.S. metros put Kansas City at No. 20 for most buyer-friendly housing conditions. The analysis points to KC’s combination of affordable home prices, growing inventory and lower competition—factors giving local homebuyers more negotiating power and breathing room.
• 🍺 KANSAS BILL WOULD ALLOW 24/7 ALCOHOL SALES DURING 2026 WORLD CUP​​
  A Kansas state senator is introducing a bill to let bars and hotels serve alcohol 24 hours a day during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The proposal aims to boost hospitality business for the June–July tournament and mirrors Missouri’s already-approved plan to extend bar hours for World Cup visitors.
• 🍫 BOULEVARD DEBUTS LIMITED ‘DUBAI-STYLE’ CHOCOLATE ALE AT TOURS & REC CENTER​​
  Boulevard Brewing Co. has unveiled a limited-run “Dubai-Style Chocolate Ale,” an imperial stout brewed with pistachios, cacao nibs and brown sugar. Inspired by a popular pistachio-filled Middle Eastern dessert chocolate, the 13.5% ABV brew will be available starting Jan. 30 exclusively on draft and in 4-packs at Boulevard’s Tours & Rec Center.

What you might have missed last week

• Blue Springs is launching a major downtown transformation, with a $40 million bond funding a full Main Street rebuild and multiple redevelopment projects aimed at creating a more walkable, vibrant city core for decades to come.
• ​Midtown’s Costco could be in line for a major change. The Linwood location has been discussed as a possible conversion to a Costco Business Center, which would mean no food court, bakery, pharmacy, or tire center.

🏢 DEVELOPMENT SCENE

Drake Development Moves Forward with Merriam Apartment Project

Drake Development is advancing its $102 million Merriam Grand Station Marketplace project with plans for 215 Class A apartments and a 300-space underground parking garage at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Ikea Way. The Merriam City Council approved up to $14.1 million in industrial revenue bonds for the garage and is considering $55.9 million in bonds for the apartments, which could provide a 10-year, full property tax abatement. The apartment complex will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom units with rents ranging from $1,100 to $2,000, while the larger development also includes a new 12,500-square-foot Trader Joe’s opening later this year and a 4,000-square-foot restaurant space. The project continues to reshape the rapidly growing Merriam Grand Station area.

🧊 HOW KC BUSINESSES ARE RESPONDING TO ICE RIGHT NOW

Today, Friday, January 30, Kansas City businesses are responding to the ICE Out National Day of Action in different ways, closing, donating, adjusting hours, and creating space for community care.

Here’s how local businesses are showing up.
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Free Classes, Art, and Community Care

• Darling Yoga, free classes all day
• Inner Space Yoga, donation-based classes
• Magpie Creative Reuse Collective, poster making, closed at 3 pm
• Heirloom Bakery, donated pastries to protest spaces
• The Dub KC, Knitting Loudly event, 10% of sales donated
• West Bottoms Plant Company (12th Street Post), free protest posters, 10% of Jan 30 sales to AIRR
• Creative Studio Maypop, open as a gathering space, no commerce
• The Fix, free Mexican hot chocolate, sign-making supplies, open for community support

Closed or Closing Early

Closed all day

• Westside Local
• Disco Burger
• Lily Floral Collective
• URSA

Closing early

• Scout Coffee, open 6 am to 1 pm, free drip coffee
• Blip Roasters, closed at 1 pm
• Oddly Correct, open 7 am to 1 pm

Donations Through Food, Drink, and Retail

• Seven Swans Crêperie, 10% of sales to AIRR
• Pitchside Coffee, 10% of Jan 30 sales to AIRR
• PH Coffee, 50% of drip coffee proceeds to AIRR
• Post Coffee Co. and Goat Hill Coffee, 20% of hot beverage proceeds to AIRR
• Messenger Coffee, $1 from each seasonal drink to Advocates for Human Rights
• Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen, 10% of wine proceeds to AIRR
• Dodson’s Bar Waldo + Cosmo Burger, 10% of liquor sales donated
• Shop Local KC (Brookside), Hemma Hemma, Retro Vixen Boutique, 10% of proceeds to AIRR
• Browgirl KC, 20% of each service to AIRR

Want to Support Directly?

These Kansas City organizations are doing the work every day:

• El Centro | elcentroinc.com​
• Guadalupe Centers | guadalupecenters.org​
• Boots on the Ground Midwest @bootsonthegroundmidwest | bootsonthegroundmidwest.org
• AIRR (Advocates for Immigrant Rights & Reconciliation) @airr_kc | airrkc.org
• EOAI (Eye of an Immigrant) @eyeofanimmigrant | eyeofanimmigrant.org ​
• Hella Good Deeds @hellagooddeeds | hellagooddeeds.org ​
• Asylum Clinic Kansas City @asylumclinickc | asylumclinickc.org ​
• Mattie Rhodes @mattierhodescenter | mattierhodes.org​

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From Us

We stand in solidarity with immigrants, families, and neighbors impacted by ICE.

There is a lot of fear and harm right now. We don’t want to look away from that. At the same time, we believe it matters to shine a light on the care, generosity, and community support showing up across Kansas City today.

Community care is resistance.
And we see it happening here.

🌿COMMUNITY SCENE

What’s Giving Kansas City Hope Right Now?

Lately, it feels harder than ever to write something lighthearted or hopeful. The news is heavy. The noise is loud. And it can feel like everything good gets buried.

So we want to try something different.

We’re collecting stories about people in our city who are creating positive change, big or small. Quiet acts. Community moments. Creative work. Mutual aid. Chosen family. Showing up when it matters. The kind of good that doesn’t always make headlines but absolutely shapes the place we live.

This isn’t about pretending hard things aren’t happening. It’s about making space for hope alongside them.

If you know someone doing something meaningful, or if you’ve witnessed a moment that reminded you why this city matters, we want to hear it.

You can submit a story, a name, or even just a short note. We’ll take it from there.

Because hope doesn’t come from ignoring reality. It comes from seeing what’s still possible within it.

🏐 SPORTS SCENE

Chiefs Narrow Stadium Design to Two Global Architecture Firms

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected MANICA and Populous as the finalists to lead the design of their new $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, set to open for the 2031 NFL season. Both firms bring extensive global experience, with MANICA behind projects like Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and Chase Center in San Francisco, while Populous, headquartered in Kansas City, has designed iconic venues including Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and the Sphere in Las Vegas. The state-of-the-art stadium, featuring a fixed roof and mixed-use development, is projected to create over 20,000 construction jobs and $4.4 billion in economic impact during the build, with more than 3,500 ongoing jobs and $1 billion in annual economic activity thereafter. Chiefs leadership emphasized that the project aims to honor the team’s legacy while offering a modern, immersive game-day experience for fans.

🎯 REAL ESTATE SCENE

​SPONSORED BY MOVING TO KC​

Iconic Westside Home with Breathtaking Views and Artistic Details

Perched on one of the highest points in Kansas City, this distinctive Westside residence offers a blend of privacy, luxury, and custom artistry. Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac with three nearby city parks and no homes to the south, the location provides serene seclusion while keeping you close to the vibrant Westside shops, restaurants, and the Kauffman Performing Arts Center.

Inside, the home features 2 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and over 3,700 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space. Radiant heated floors throughout the home and garage ensure comfort even in the harshest winters, while exquisite custom ironwork from Austin Ironworks, paired with collaborations with local glass artists, creates unique and elegant touches throughout. The second-floor family and game room with bar is perfect for entertaining, and the custom steel-and-glass doors and spiral staircase lead to the "Eagle’s Nest" rooftop deck with unparalleled city views.

The gourmet kitchen, spacious living areas, and artistic details make everyday living a pleasure, while outside, a pergola at the front and a back deck invite morning coffee, evening sunsets, and gatherings with friends. The custom-designed garage and carport provide ample space for a camper, boat, or additional vehicles, complemented by dual garage doors that open to create an impressive entertainment space.

This home combines architectural artistry, luxury amenities, and everyday convenience in one of Kansas City’s most coveted Westside neighborhoods, making it a truly rare find.
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🏡 Property Overview

Address: 1520 Jarboe St, Kansas City, MO 64108

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 3

Square Footage: 3,708 sq ft

Lot Size: 0.25 Acres

📞 Ready to see it in person?
​Take a closer look at the details, and let’s get your tour scheduled!​

Listing Provided by: Nancy Bounds & Jan Pyle | RE/MAX Innovations

At Loans in KC, we understand that every financial situation is unique. That’s why we offer personalized loan solutions designed to meet your specific needs. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing you with fast and reliable service.
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Mortgage rates change constantly, much like the weather, and they vary depending on your unique circumstances. Just like finding the right tool for a job, getting the right mortgage rate is crucial. Let us help you discover the perfect match with a FREE customized quote today! You’re not just another number to us; you’re part of the family.

🌆 This Weekend in Kansas City!