Five gift ideas under one roof: Snag the KC-made best-sellers inside 811 Retail

Editor’s note: The following holiday feature is presented by The Porter House KC — built to bridge the gap between underrepresented small business owners and access to community-driven entrepreneurial support, education, and resources.

Nearly 18 months after opening its doors, the 811 Retail incubation space in Midtown has boosted sales for the entrepreneurs inside — creating a destination shopping experience alongside a tight-knit community of business builders.

811 Retail at 811 E 31st St, Kansas City; Google image

The retail concept at 811 E 31st St. is home to five brands, along with the headquarters of The Porter House KC. Among the first ventures found inside, Clarke Roosevellte’s Clvr. World, a streetwear brand with sustainability and self-reflection twists.

“Our brand — like this space — is about encouraging people to walk together and understand that we have not only a purpose, but a task to be committed to the people around us; to live in this universe together and get along,” said Roosevellte.

For some featured entrepreneurs, 811 Retail has become a helping hand as they’ve navigated the perils of brick-and-mortar retail. LaDonna Adams, owner of Tresses Au Naturale, relocated to the space after her custom wig company — which specializes in offering dignity and confidence through stylish, comfortable options — was forced to move from its longtime home at 18th and Vine after 16 years because of damage to the aging building.

LaDonna Adams, Tresses Au Naturale, right, listens during a panel conversation hosted in February 2025 by The Porter House KC at UMKC, alongside fellow 811 Retail entrepreneur Ieisha Justice, Weirdo Nailz; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

“I’m revamping now,” said Adams. “I was able to come over here to re-establish myself. I love it here. The camaraderie is great; the women are very supportive. I love young people. They give me great ideas and they inspire me.”

She credited The Porter House KC’s co-founders, Dan Smith and Charon Thompson, along with Miranda Schultz, director of operations, with stocking community and impact at the same address.

“When Dan, Miranda and Charon opened the doors, I really found my new place,” said Adams. “I’m with my people here.”

Hours for the 811 Retail space are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Check out these gift ideas — detailed by the entrepreneurs themselves — found inside the 811 Retail storefront at 811 E 31st Street, The Porter House KC’s innovative incubation space:

Luxury Skincare Gift Sets — starting at $50.60

Someday Sunday, LaToya Ebony-Sirls

With our trio gift sets, you can build your own bundle — with any of our scents and flavors — selecting any size body cream, lip butter jar, and lip butter stick. It’s a whole skincare routine in one. We also have pre-made options available and ready to go: Jasmine Lullaby trio, Vanilla Embrace trio, Cedar Sanctuary trio, and more.

LaToya Ebony-Sirls, Someday Sunday, inside 811 Retail; photo by Tommy Felts

Unwrapping the brand:

We’re a luxurious skincare brand offering plant-based, thoughtfully formulated bodycare products centered around rest and self-care without guilt. Our products are vegan, nut-free and infused with aromatherapy for calming, and handcrafted with science-backed benefits that nurture both skin health and emotional wellbeing.

Gifting a shoutout for support:

Can I say my husband? He’s a fellow entrepreneur and we’re doing this whole crazy thing together — with a 7 year old son. My husband is several steps ahead of me, and it has been such a blessing to turn to him in difficult times and ask questions about challenges that I’m having; or even just have someone to help celebrate wins, someone who as an entrepreneur really gets it. He’s not just supporting me from afar, he’s like ‘I’ve been through this too, and I know exactly what you’re going through.’ It’s been really special.

Click here to follow Someday Sunday on Instagram.

Reusable Ready Nails, Chiefs Set — $95

Weirdo Nailz, Ieisha Justice

My team of artists has hand-painted a collection of nails in popular styles, but customers can also get them customized.

Another popular option is our new nail bundles. It’s our supply line — the high-quality products we use to build our own collections, now available to shoppers to use themselves.

Ieisha Justice, Weirdo Nailz, inside 811 Retail; photo by Tommy Felts

Unwrapping the brand:

Launched originally in 2020 during the pandemic, Weirdo Nailz is an avant-garde nail art studio specializing in custom, hand-painted nail designs that transform traditional manicures into wearable art pieces for the boldly fashionable client.

My business has expanded from shipping press-on nails to in-person sales, do-it-yourself workshops, and options where you can create your own set of nails and take them on the go with you.

Gifting a shoutout for support:

My assistant, Rica (Makeda Meraki) — the artist behind some of our most popular sellers — has been with me since I first started this business. She began as a model, wearing my work; now she’s one of my pro nail artists and she’s really supported me through every moment — events, business meetings, every day.

Click here to follow Weirdo Nailz on Instagram.

Fashion-Inspired Holiday Bulbs

Thrift The Runway, Ciara Barton

We tend to feature different artisans who specialize in handmade, local products — and this is a special collaboration collection with my mom; she makes these bulbs and with this collection focused on designer-inspired fashion and fun.

Ciara Barton, Thrift The Runway, inside 811 Retail; photo by Tommy Felts

Unwrapping the brand:

Everything you see inside the shop is geared toward fun, fashion-forward, and fabulousness. We curate from the 1950s to modern-day second-hand luxury fashion — all handpicked by me. We make high-end style accessible while promoting sustainable consumption through creative clothing restoration.

We’re in the midst of curating a holiday collection, but you’ll always find razzledazzle, furs, sequins — only things that will make you feel fun and fabulous.

Gifting a shoutout for support:

My husband for more than 20 years has been there with me every step of the way. He has given me the liberty to do what I love to do. He’s supported me financially — but maybe even more importantly — allowed me the time, flexibility and focus to make this work. We are a family of six (four children) and he’s helped me every day to make my heart’s desire come to pass.

Click here to follow Thrift The Runway on Instagram.

LaDonna Adams, Tresses Au Naturale, inside 811 Retail; photo by Tommy Felts

Premium custom Wigs and Extensions — starting at $100

Tresses Au Naturale, LaDonna Adams

Built from premium bundles — straight, kinky, curly to a nature body wave — then styled onto a soft cap — my pieces are hand-stitched to meet a customer’s need, desired look and even preferred color. 

Unwrapping the brand:

I can build whatever a sister or whoever is looking for. A major focus for my work is people who deal with hair loss from cancer, lupus, alopecia, medication, surgery, and stress. But anyone can walk in, any day, try on one of my pieces, get it custom fitted, styled and curled.

Gifting a shoutout for support:

The American Cancer Society has sent me quite a few clients, and I appreciate that connection. I’m also a recipient of a Kansas City G.I.F.T. (Generating Income For Tomorrow) grant, so that has helped me with inventory and recovering from the business disruption on Vine.

E-clients like councilwomen Melissa Robinson and Ryana Parks Shaw, who is running for mayor, have helped me prove a business model where I can either travel to them or provide immediate services or sometimes quick-change services multiple times a day.

Click here to follow Tresses Au Naturale on Instagram.

The Perfect Hat — $80

Clvr. World, Clarke Roosevellte

When I got my dog, she was always laying on my hats; and she’d ruin them. They might pop back, but they’d never be the same again. But these premium hats — and they’re a really good-looking hat that I make with my own hat presses and printing — they bounce back just like new.

When people buy one of these hats and then see someone else wearing one, I encourage them to trade pins and have a conversation. And within that exchange, you can build community. Two timelines have come together, and are now headed in the same direction.

We’re bringing people together in the name of fashion. It’s a privilege, honestly.

Clarke Roosevellte, Clvr. World, inside 811 Retail; photo by Tommy Felts

Unwrapping the brand:

Clvr. World is an innovative lifestyle brand featuring cutting-edge streetwear and urban designs that blend contemporary aesthetics with social messaging, empowering customers through creative self-expression.

We’re known for our tees and hoodies — the original streetwear essentials — as well as our extensive hat selection, but we also upcycle to promote sustainability.

Hats are my favorite article of clothing since I was a kid. Once I got old enough and got a job, I started thrifting. In 2008, I started grabbing all the snapbacks before they were popular. I resold some of them, but kept my favorites at the crib, and I now have probably 200-300 hats.

It’s all about personal growth, perseverance, and community.

Gifting a shoutout for support:

Before I was here, my brand was set up in the parking lot of Ruby Jean’s Juicery on Troost. That was thanks to its founder, Chris Goode. It was what I’d call one lion granting another lion access to his territory. That was an opportunity for me to not just make some money and build my brand — but to rebuild myself at a time when I’d been recovering from a lot, including losing my best friend and business partner to COVID. Chris didn’t have to help me, but it was magical; that’s the best way I can describe it.

Epitome — Glen Robinson of Hood Dude Food Reviews — is another person who has been there; pushing me, encouraging me. We’ve been homies forever and he’s honestly one of those catalysts that helps to get me out of bed — helped the brand to stay alive and keep moving as a brand ambassador and a friend.

Click here to follow Clvr. World on Instagram.