Closing KCK’s Black-owned coffee shop opens opportunity for Kinship to brew bigger, owner says
February 1, 2025 | Taylor Wilmore
When TJ Roberts posted on social media about closing Kinship Cafe, a Black-owned coffee shop in Kansas City’s Strawberry Hill neighborhood, he was surprised by the outpouring of support — a morale boost that not only gives him the spirit to keep fighting for the business, but expand it, he said.
“When we posted about shutting down, I didn’t expect the responses. People are still reaching out,” said Roberts, who opened Kinship Cafe in 2021.
Despite the logistical challenges of running the Strawberry Hill coffee shop — not to mention break-ins as part of the citywide crime wave hitting small businesses, along with an inability to reach a long term lease deal with the property owner that would provide needed stability, Roberts said — he’s pushing forward with plans to open two new locations in 2025.
A shop in Independence, Missouri, is set to open in late February, he said, followed by an in-the-works Overland Park, Kansas, location, pending health department approval.
Roberts has not yet announced a closing date for the business in Kansas City, Kansas.
Kinship Cafe in Kansas City, Kansas; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Overcoming early struggles
Opening Kinship Cafe in 2021 was no easy feat, said Roberts, who launched the venture at 719 N. 6th St., KCK, in a former KC Cupcake Factory spot.
TJ Roberts, Kinship Cafe, in August 2021; photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News
“Our bar wasn’t even finished yet,” he recalled. “The health department allowed me to move in early and serve out of the garage.”
Without essential equipment like water machines or coffee grinders, Roberts found creative ways to keep the business running.
“I would brew coffee manually, and then serve customers while working behind the bar,” he said. “That was my life for like a month.”
Those early obstacles helped reinforce Roberts’ commitment to building Kinship organically, he said.
“We do this because we believe in it,” Roberts said. “Even If that means I’m not getting paid or I don’t have a place to live, it’s not the end of the world.”
Kinship Cafe in Kansas City, Kansas; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Staying true to the mission
Kinship Cafe was founded with a clear mission: to support and validate Black-owned businesses and communities. That core value remains central to Roberts’ expansion plans, he said.
TJ Roberts, Kinship Cafe, speaks at BlendWell Community Cafe, during a Black History Month event in 2023; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News
For Kinship, Roberts prioritized sourcing coffee from BIPOC farmers in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Kenya, ensuring that economic impact reaches marginalized communities.
“When we create relationships with coffee farmers, it’s all about seasons and helping them grow sustainably,” Roberts said.
With the two new locations, Roberts hopes to expand Kinship Cafe’s impact, he said.
“We’re not in this to get rich off of other people’s backs,” Roberts said. “We want to create a space where people feel valued, both the farmers and the customers.”
Kinship Cafe showcases and sells art and home-good products from Black creators to support underrepresented entrepreneurs and makers in Kansas City.
This commitment of support also extends to his hiring practices as well, he said.
“All of our team has never worked in coffee before. They’re all BIPOC people who applied to coffee shops but never got the opportunity,” Roberts shared.
TJ Roberts, Kinship Cafe; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Raising support for the transition
The upcoming Independence location will be a physically larger footprint for Kinship, boasting 3,000 square feet, he said. It will include a drive-thru, outdoor patio space, a chef-led food program, and an event space.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to bring in more Black brands and more events,” Roberts said.
To help fund the transition and cover expenses, Roberts has launched a GoFundMe campaign.
“Moving is not going to be cheap,” he said. “We want to make sure our team is paid and working while we’re continuing to do this.”
While closing Kinship Cafe’s original location is bittersweet, Roberts remains optimistic, he said.
“We’ve already had people asking, ‘Where’s Kinship Cafe?’” he said. “There’s a lot of eyes on us now, and that’s a good thing. It means we’re doing something right.”
View this post on Instagram
Taylor Wilmore
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Thrive Homes builds ‘life-changing’ independence for those struggling with mobility, aging in place
The impact of Thrive Homes is as simple as it is profound, said Christian Hill, whose startup taps into state and federal health funds to provide timely home modifications for residents with disabilities and accessibility issues. The Overland Park-based company makes it possible for people with certain health conditions — and those who are experiencing…
She started by getting Black art into Black spaces; now Natasha Ria El-Scari wants all of KC to know what they’ve been missing
A Renaissance woman, Natasha Ria El-Scari — gallerist, curator, poet, spoken word performer, educator, and life coach — has surrounded herself with art throughout her life. However, as the Kansas City native watched her hometown’s art scene flourish and thrive, she noticed not everyone was included. “As the city started to change, and the Crossroads…
Travel on tap: How a KC couple built a self-serve port for international wine lovers north of the river
Grab your wine passport, Russ Johnson said, because this self-serve wine bar allows customers to taste the world one sip at a time. And the technology that makes the business possible? Johnson — a software developer-turned-entrepreneur — built it himself. “Our brand is really focused on going on a vacation and having this world experience —…
Don’t like cookies? Your new favorite weirdough baker hungrily accepts the challenge
Tierney Larson is on a mission to bake the perfect cookies for those like herself with a not-so-sweet tooth, the Outliers Baked Goods owner shared. Each month, the self-taught baker and New York native experiments, developing four new adventurous flavors to please the taste buds of the outliers or weirdoughs of the dessert community —…