👀 This Week Around KC

💳 KANSAS CITY LED U.S. WORLD CUP HOST CITIES IN SPENDING GROWTH​
Kansas City recorded the largest year-over-year credit and debit card spending growth of the 11 U.S. World Cup host cities across the Round of 32 and Round of 16, according to a Bank of America Institute graphic Mayor Quinton Lucas shared July 9. Bank of America's broader data shows card spending across all 16 host cities rose 6.3% year-over-year, driven by a 16.7% jump in non-local visitor spending. The bank grouped Kansas City with Los Angeles and Miami as the top spending-growth cities, though it notes the lift is largely visitor-driven, and some KC small-business owners have said the tournament hurt their sales rather than helped.

🏊 LENEXA'S AD ASTRA POOL IS BACK AFTER A $10 MILLION REBUILD​
Lenexa's Ad Astra Pool reopened July 4 after nearly two years closed for a full demolition and rebuild. The $8 million pool, part of a larger project topping $10 million with park upgrades and funded by the city's 3/8-cent sales tax, added a zero-depth entry, three 25-yard lap lanes, a deepwater diving area, a 180-foot current channel, and a new bathhouse. Spring rains pushed the opening past its planned Memorial Day debut, and regular hours now run noon to 7:30 p.m. through the summer.

🌻 SUNFLOWER SUMMER IS BACK WITH FREE ADMISSION TO 230-PLUS KANSAS ATTRACTIONS​
Kansas Tourism's Sunflower Summer program returned July 9 and runs through August 2, offering free admission to more than 230 attractions across Kansas, from zoos and museums to family destinations on the KS side of the metro. Kansas families redeem the free tickets through the Sunflower Summer app. It is a state-run program aimed at Kansas residents, so check eligibility in the app before heading out.

🚀 TECHSTARS IS RETURNING TO THE KC REGION THROUGH A THREE-YEAR KU PARTNERSHIP​
KU announced on July 6 a three-year partnership with the accelerator, branded Techstars University of Kansas: Powered by the KU School of Business, five years after Techstars shut down its Kansas City program in 2021. A rebooted Techstars Startup Weekend is expected to launch the program in November 2026, with five KU ventures then earning spots in the 10-week Founder Catalyst accelerator. The program will eventually be housed in The Hub, KU's 29,608-square-foot student-founder building opening fall 2027 in Lawrence.

🏢 KANSAS CITY WANTS TO TURN EMPTY DOWNTOWN OFFICES INTO APARTMENTS​
Kansas City is floating a new affordable housing strategy that targets downtown office buildings at least 25 years old for conversion into apartments, aimed at a gap the city pegs at 64,000 affordable units for its roughly 521,000 residents. The plan leans on Missouri's newly passed HB 3231, which creates Innovation Zones and a tax credit covering up to 25% of office-to-residential conversion costs. To qualify, new residential space must make up at least 50% of a building's gross square footage, though the state credit does not require any of the units be set aside as affordable.

🛒 WORLD FRESH MARKET IS FILLING THE OLD SUN FRESH IN THE NORTHLAND WITH AN INTERNATIONAL GROCERY​

World Fresh Market is opening its second Kansas City-area store at 4357 N. Chouteau Trafficway, taking over the vacant former Sun Fresh Market site in the Northland. Owner Eddie Musallet's international grocery, which opened its first metro location at 103rd and Metcalf in Overland Park in 2024, will stock Mediterranean, Hispanic, Asian, and Indian foods plus a prepared-foods department. The City of Kansas City approved a Community Improvement District to fund parking lot, driveway, and building fixes at the site, and the store is set to open in late summer 2026.

What you might have missed last week

• Kansas City is commissioning a permanent public art landmark for the historic Martin City neighborhood, and the One Percent for Art Program is looking for the artist to create it.
• Jackson County lawmakers have unanimously approved a three-year property tax credit program designed to address assessment errors from 2023 and 2024, making the tax relief plan official after County Executive Phil LeVota signed an executive order last week.

🏢 DEVELOPMENT SCENE

INDEPENDENCE APPROVES 180-DAY PAUSE ON NEW DATA CENTERS

Independence is hitting pause on data centers. On July 6 the City Council approved a 180-day moratorium on accepting, processing or issuing permits and applications for new data centers and battery energy storage facilities. The city says the pause gives it time to review its zoning, fire, building and infrastructure rules, along with state regulations, before more of these projects move forward. The moratorium can be extended if the city needs more time.

There is one important limit. The pause only applies to new projects that have not already been submitted or approved. It does not affect the Nebius data center, the large project already working its way through the city's process. In a public FAQ, the city spelled that out directly, confirming Nebius and any other previously approved work can continue. Officials framed the moratorium as a chance to decide whether new regulations are needed to protect public health, safety and general welfare as interest in data centers grows across the metro.

KC's Business Scene

🧇HUDDLE HOUSE IS BACK IN KC — INSIDE A LEE'S SUMMIT GAS STATION​

The Southern 24/7 diner and longtime Waffle House rival that once left the metro has returned, opening its first KC-area location in Lee's Summit at 26550 NE Colbern Road — tucked inside a TempStop convenience store off MO-7. It's Missouri's 12th Huddle House. Any meal, any time, now on this side of the state line.

🎷THE WORLD CUP LEFT KC A NEW LIVE-MUSIC VENUE​

515 Music Hub has opened in the Crossroads on Southwest Boulevard, a former pedicab garage reborn as an intimate, music-first room where the performance comes before the chatter. Built through the city's "Open Doors!" storefront program with KC Jazz Alive and Music Across Borders, it's proof the tournament is leaving KC permanent stuff, not just crowds. Programming runs through October.

🍽️TELIA IS BRINGING A THREE-STORY RESTAURANT + SPEAKEASY TO DOWNTOWN OVERLAND PARK​

The team behind Scratch is turning the long-vacant Buffalo State Pizza space into Telia Bar & Kitchen, a three-story concept with a main-floor New American restaurant (brunch, lunch, dinner), a rooftop bar, and a basement speakeasy called "Night Owl" with its own separate entrance. Targeting a fall open.

🌮TIKI TACO FINALLY CROSSED THE RIVER​

The KC-founded taco favorite opened its sixth metro location — and its first ever in the Northland — on the Liberty border at 9711 N. Ash Ave., next to Betty Rae's, Red Door Grill and Swig. Northland fans who used to drive south for their fix are done driving. The brand recently landed on a national fast-casual Top 100 list alongside Chipotle.

🛍️URBAN PLANET IS TAKING OVER ZONA ROSA'S OLD FOREVER 21​

The Canadian fast-fashion chain — 100-plus stores, same parent as Forever 21 — is opening at Zona Rosa (7121 NW 86th Terrace) this September, filling the former Forever 21 space. Affordable clothing, shoes and accessories aimed at the 16–24 crowd, joining recent adds like Culver's and an incoming Burlington.

🍸A NEW 25-AND-UP BAR TOOK OVER LUDO'S OLD SHUFFLEBOARD SPACE​

Social House has opened in Martini Corner in the former Ludo's space — cashless, 25-and-up only, and built around a "phones down, actually talk to people" concept. It comes from the teams behind Good Karma Coffee and Orange by Devoured, so there's a familiar-name pedigree for the food-and-coffee crowd.

🎨 ART SCENE

A 15,000-BRICK LEGO CPKC STADIUM JUST LANDED AT CROWN CENTER

There's a new tiny landmark downtown: a LEGO replica of CPKC Stadium, home of the KC Current, the world's first stadium built for a pro women's team.

Built from about 15,000 bricks over roughly 80 hours by LEGOLAND Discovery Center KC's master builder.

At the unveiling, Teal Rising Alliance youth players added personalized minifigures to the stands.

On display at Crown Center for one month only before moving permanently to LEGOLAND Discovery Center KC.

Free, photogenic, a fitting cap to KC's World Cup summer.

🎆 NIGHTLIFE

TED LASSO NIGHT AT CPKC STADIUM

Believe in Kansas City. The KC Current are turning CPKC Stadium into a slice of Richmond for one night, with Ted Lasso Night landing on the riverfront Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m.
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Tickets are free to reserve, and the night includes special appearances, giveaways, and limited-edition merch for sale, all leading into an international soccer watch party under the lights. The timing is no accident, with the new season of Ted Lasso streaming August 5, so consider it an early reason to dust off the BELIEVE sign.
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It is a laid-back, family-friendly way to spend a summer evening at one of the best stadiums in the country. Grab free tickets through the KC Current.
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🏐 SPORTS SCENE

ARROWHEAD HOSTS ITS FIRST-EVER WORLD CUP QUARTERFINAL
​(MESSI & ARGENTINA ARE BACK)

Kansas City's World Cup run ends with its biggest match yet. On Saturday, July 11, Arrowhead hosts its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal, and Lionel Messi and Argentina are back in town for it. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. It is the sixth and final World Cup match KC landed, and the deepest round the tournament brought to the city.
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After two years of buildout, watch parties, and a downtown that reorganized itself around the tournament, this is the send-off: a global superstar, a knockout stage, and a packed house under the lights. If you are not in the building, expect watch parties across the metro.

🎯 REAL ESTATE SCENE

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🌆 This Weekend in Kansas City!

🏆 SUMMER GUIDE

Your KC Summer, All in One Place

We put together a 21-page Kansas City Ultimate Summer Guide covering everything you need for summer 2026.
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From World Cup match days and Pride to the best BBQ patios, hidden gems, day trips, free outdoor movies, pet-friendly markets, and a full neighborhood Saturday itinerary.
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Whether you've lived here 20 years or just moved in, there's something in here you haven't tried yet.