Yard Milkshake Bar set to open Friday in long-vacant BK Whopper Bar at Power & Light
March 12, 2025 | Startland News Staff
Kansas City is gaining a new sweet spot as the acclaimed dessert startup The Yard Milkshake Bar opens its first metro location this week in the Power & Light District — filling a long-standing hunger for the right flavor of business at PNC Plaza.
The Heart of KC Shake, available exclusively at the he Yard Milkshake Bar’s new space in the Power & Light District; courtesy photo
“Our team works hard to curate the District with amenities that enhance the downtown experience so that it is an appealing destination for both residents and visitors alike,” said John Moncke, president of the Kansas City Power & Light District. “This unique concept will be a great addition to our neighborhood, and adding this specialty dessert location will make the lives of our residents, tenants, and visitors a little sweeter.”
The franchise location officially opens Friday, March 14 at 1350 Walnut St., with a grand opening planned for March 21-23. The latter event is expected to feature giveaways, special promotions, and a Build-Your-Own Milkshake Contest, where guests can submit their dream milkshake design. The winning shake will be featured on the location’s secret menu, and the winner will receive a free shake.
The Yard Milkshake Bar’s new space replaces the former Burger King Whopper Bar, which opened in 2011, but later closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alabama-built The Yard Milkshake Bar launched in 2017. After its debut on the reality TV show “Shark Tank,” the brand expanded into franchising and is now open in 30 locations across the country.
The new Power & Light location will offer seasonal milkshakes and a special Kansas City-exclusive shake, the Heart of KC Shake, that can only be found in The District and is crafted to celebrate local flavors. Inspired by the Parade of Hearts annual art installation, the franchise plans to donate a portion of its proceeds to the Love Fund, supporting local children.
The Yard Milkshake Bar will also feature its other famous, over-the-top milkshakes piled high with toppings.
Friday’s opening follows a number of other high-profile debuts near The District’s PNC Plaza, including Modern Market Eatery and Homegrown.
“This exciting new addition only adds to the growing momentum of The District and Downtown Kansas City, in what continues to be one of the most ambitious urban revitalization projects in the country,” the District said in a press release.
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Big Fly Gear takes the field with vintage feel, historic ties to Kansas City baseball
Signing off his live broadcast, Los Angeles Angels broadcaster Victor Rojas receives a phone call. A fresh order of prints — featuring Hank Aaron’s “755” — have just shipped. The Overland Park native’s apparel startup, Big Fly Gear, has been growing steadily since its launch in February, Rojas said. The clothing line, fittingly, celebrates historical…
Tired of waiting at the barber shop? An AI-infused platform grown at UMKC could trim time
Born in the barber’s chair, Kansas City-based ScheduleMe could take more than a little off the top for service-based retailers. The startup plans to use artificial intelligence to groom the haphazard scheduling process entirely, its co-founders said. “We discovered that [our barbershop] was having issues with scheduling. What we wanted to do was try to…
AudreySpirit fashions clothing to help chronically ill child patients feel like themselves again
AudreySpirit is designed to bring dignity to chronically sick children, said Donna Yadrich, detailing a specially created clothing line that doesn’t sacrifice practicality. “When my daughter Audrey was in the [Intensive Care Unit] the last time, I was looking at her arms and she just had so many wires and everything coming out of her…
KCultivator Q&A: Chad Feather ventured to China and back, stayed for KC kindness, community
Editor’s note: KCultivators is a lighthearted profile series to highlight people who are meaningfully enriching Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The KCultivator Series is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. Age doesn’t define entrepreneurial talent and Chad Feather is proof, he said…