Mid Coast Modern closing Westport shop, relocating Bear Soap brand to west coast
May 28, 2024 | Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
After nearly a decade as a local retail staple, Mid Coast Modern is closing, founder Matt Bramlette confirmed.
The Westport Road gift shop — which opened in 2015 and supports makers/artists and indie businesses — is expected to shut its doors at the end of the month.
Matt Bramlette, founder of Mid Coast Modern, Bear Soap Company, Soap Bar, in June 2020; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Sales have declined since the pandemic — especially after losing foot traffic from nearby restaurant The Corner closing in March 2020, said Bramlette, who also owns Bear Soap Company. That brand’s popular products — from body soaps and bath bombs to beard balms and toilet bombs — are crafted in-house and sold online, in Made in KC stores, and other retail locations.
“It was definitely a battle to keep income with so many external factors that we had no control over,” he explained.
Bramlette’s Bear Soap Company will continue on, moving with the founder to California in the coming months. His venture Soap Bar, which heavily featured the Bear Soap brand, closed in June 2022 when Bramlette consolidated his Westport storefronts into Mid Coast Modern.
Bramlette loved creating the Mid Coast Modern space — its soon-to-close storefront is also dealing with window damage from a deadly shooting in Westport over the weekend — and making it a unique destination for shoppers, he said.
Mid Coast Modern, May 2024; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
“I liked the hunt for interesting products and helping small brands flourish,” Bramlette noted.
He’ll miss the employees and customers who have become like an extended family, he said.
“We made lots of friends with customers and it was a joy when people would say it was their favorite shop,” he added. “I’ve lived in KC my whole life and have great connections and many good friends and family here.”
On Instagram, Bramlette also noted he’ll miss working with local makers.
“KC has a lot of creative spirit and we wish success to all of you,” he posted. “Please keep supporting local and keep small businesses alive. It’s where the personality of a city lives.”
Upon moving to California, Bramlette plans to operate production spaces in both Kansas City and California.
“I expect new opportunities to arise out West,” he said.
Featured Business
2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
For the loaf of the grain: Jonny Bakes bread, expands to keep community nourishment rising
Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. Brookside bread baker works to reestablish the local grain shed Jon Szajnuk’s sourdough…
Thai Orchid opening in Northland: How this family business is getting out of its comfort zone with street food focus
A second location for a longtime Johnson County restaurant is expected to honor the origin story of the family business — building on its menu with a new emphasis on casual Thai street food items and small plates. Thai Orchid — a Mission, Kansas, restaurant that has been in the Rojjanasrirat family for 26 years…
mySidewalk teases Sidekick — a data assistant at the forefront of AI’s difficult-to-simple transformation
A new purpose-built community data and visualization tool from mySidewalk is designed to revolutionize decision making and empower those willing to embrace change when supplied with accessible and reliable data. The Kansas City-based govtech company this month announced the beta launch of Sidekick, an AI-powered data assistant meant to drive meaningful progress through insights gleaned…
Gold-plated: Serial entrepreneur mints new new venue in former bank — cashing in on built-in vault, history
A refurbished events space in Lenexa not only deposits new life into a former structure along a busy Johnson County thoroughfare, said Steve Beaumont; the project near 95th Street and I-35 represents a fusion of history and innovation. “For 50 years, this corner has been a cornerstone of financial activity,” said Beaumont, the owner-developer behind…