rOOTS KC grows into third location, planting shop in River Market ahead of World Cup
November 4, 2025 | Jocelyn Heckman
Initially setting its roots as a pop-up plant shop in 2020, Dee Ferguson’s leafy business has grown to three Kansas City locations. The secret is in the soil, she said, describing a strategy for cultivating customers through free, evergreen plant care support and “community-rooted spirit.”
The name rOOTS comes from Dee Ferguson’s surname: Oots.
Born and raised in Kansas City, she earned an appreciation of plants at a young age alongside her grandparents. Branding for the business allows her to honor their contribution to her life.
“2025 has been a difficult year for all of retail,” said Ferguson, who first launched rOOTS KC as a brick-and-mortar storefront in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood before expanding to both Zona Rosa and The River Market. “So we’re rolling with the punches and ensuring we are always customer experience focused. That’s really been our success story.”
The stores specialize in matching each customer with the right plant for their lifestyle, she said, noting the team offers free in-store potting, professional repotting help, plant health checks, and expert advice so plants can thrive in their new homes.
They even make their own special soil — Plant Bimbo Potting Soil — using compost sourced in Kansas City.
Click here to shop rOOTS KC.
Place also is important to the woman-owned venture, Ferguson said, describing an intentional push to create space for neighborhood engagement in each store. The Westside location, for example, doubles as an art gallery, featuring work from local artists, which rotate each month. The stores also host workshops and seasonal events like terrarium-building nights and holiday crafts.
Such gatherings bring people together physically, but also show how plants can help plug people into their communities in a deeper and more meaningful way, Ferguson said, noting the most difficult element of expanding into more stores is balancing growth and maintaining the personal and neighborhood focus that makes the brand successful.
“Even though we’ve grown into storefronts, we’ve never stopped being a pop-up at heart,” she said. “It’s always been about people helping them find a plant that fits their life and bringing Kansas City together.”
The rOOTS KC store in River Market at 412 Delaware St.; photo by Jocelyn Heckman, Startland News
The brand’s newest store in River Market is growing squarely within the shadow of the the coming FIFA World Cup, a region-redefining moment that’s set to bring as many as 650,000 visitors to Kansas City in June and July 2026.
RELATED: Here’s how KCMO plans to turn empty storefronts into a World Cup stage for local talent
“As Kansas City works to revitalize retail spaces ahead of the World Cup, rOOTS KC stands as a proud example of local resilience, reinvestment, and helping KC grow — in every sense of the word,” Ferguson said.
Click here to follow rOOTS KC on Instagram.
Jocelyn Heckman is a Park Hill South High School journalism student and an intern for Startland News.
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Boddle raises $1.35M with KCRise Fund on board, reaches 450,000+ students, expands team
Editor’s note: KCRise Fund is a financial supporter of Startland News. This report was produced independently of that relationship. TULSA — As schools across the country navigate in-person and remote learning models, Boddle Learning, a math gaming platform that was founded in Kansas City continues to grow, raising another round of more than $1 million…
KC social entrepreneur Wesley Hamilton surprised with $1M on Good Morning America
Wesley Hamilton experienced a roller coaster of emotions Wednesday morning, with a grand finale surprise of a $1 million donation from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation. “Thank you, everyone, for believing and watching the journey. It’s always been about the people we’ve been serving. I’m just grateful,” Hamilton said through joyful tears on Good Morning…
KC’s housing market makes young professionals’ first homes more elusive; here’s how four of them are making it work
As newcomers to Kansas City in 2019, Ria Rao and Morgan Bannerman found community co-living with other young professionals under the same roof. Now they’re hoping to replicate that environment — this time as homeowners. The move comes in large part out of necessity. Amid a highly competitive housing market, locating an on-budget home — and…
Meet 10 finalists for AltCap Your Biz pitch payout; competition returns during GEW KC
A diverse group of nearly a dozen small businesses are advancing to the next round of the annual AltCap Your Biz: Pitch Competition with finalists ranging from a mobile vegan soul food service to a Northland selfie experience. The “Closing the Deal” live pitch event showcases the 10 best concepts from a pool of 43…