2018 Startups to Watch: Made in KC hometown goods hub expands

Editor’s note: Startland News selected the top Kansas City firms to spotlight for its annual Startups to Watch list. The following is one of 2018’s companies. To view the full, ranked list of Startups to Watch, click here.

Made in KC Cafe wants customers to sip a Kansas City brew, then peruse what local artisans have to offer.

The coffee-and-browse experience awaits at the latest venture from Made in KC. The one-stop shop debuted its 1114 Baltimore Ave. hybrid store in December, introducing a concept of fresh-brewed, inviting java and locally produced wares.

The company also launched the online Made in Kansas City Marketplace, expanding the availability of items already found in Made in KC shops and partner Hallmark stores, as well as including other vendors not previously stocked in brick-and-mortar locations.

“It’s a resource and it’s like Etsy, only with Kansas City products,” said Tyler Enders, Made in KC co-founder.

Outreach also comes in the form of Made in KC Explore, a component of the company’s website that offers lists and featured attractions from throughout the metro. Postings include “Menu of the Month” and “Drinking Coffee in Kansas City,” as well as the popular feature “Living in Cinn,” which spotlights the quest for cinnamon rolls across town.

“It’s another way to serve our clientele,” Enders said of the online venture, which began in spring 2017. “We added two or three articles a week last year.”

Still, Made in KC Cafe was the year’s biggest attention-grabber, he said.

“We got an amazing reception and hadn’t done any advertising,” Enders said.

Ten Kansas City-based roasters will be on a rotation at the shop to provide customers with a taste of local coffee blends, including varieties like cold brew and nitro cold brew. The cafe is slated to open a bar in the back this spring that will offer local beer on tap.

“We have laid our groundwork for the year,” Enders said, adding that among other changes, Made in KC has added administrative space in the Crossroads to accommodate its growth. He is keeping quiet, however, on a few of concepts he said will be announced later this year.