All Stories

KC apparel brand commandeers Chiefs’ ‘Nobody Likes Us’ spirit for latest wave of designs

By Tommy Felts / February 13, 2024

Back in 2016 — when the Chiefs were still rebuilding from a franchise-worst season — Joe Brynds set sail with Commandeer Brand, aiming to carve a niche in the apparel industry by infusing pride and the rebellious spirit of counter-culture.  “When I started Commandeer, I wanted to create something that was unique to Kansas City,”…

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Why one entrepreneur is Swiftly rolling up the warehouse doors for thirsty Chiefs parade-goers

By Tommy Felts / February 13, 2024

Wednesday’s Chiefs victory parade will be the city’s third in four years, but for East Crossroads-based Wild Way Coffee, the 2024 rolling downtown-to-midtown event hits different, said Christine Clutton. The brand’s iconic mobile coffee camper — stationed in the Wild Way warehouse at 708 E. 19th St. for the winter — will once again open…

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Fit for a champion: 20+ Super Bowl-inspired Chiefs shirts that won’t run out the clock 

By Tommy Felts / February 12, 2024

Repeat play: How hometown merch makers are running it back after another Super Bowl win for Kansas City Taking a cue from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, Kansas City makers pounced on a proven, championship play Sunday night — quickly launching a range of new Kingdom-inspired celebration apparel to capitalize on their hometown team’s latest…

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Will the street car still run? Is Taylor Swift coming? Your guide to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / February 12, 2024

Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. When the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year, close to 1 million flooded the streets of downtown for…

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KC artist featured in ad during SNL, named to global cohort of young social justice leaders

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2024

Being recognized for his work training local artists on the intersection of art and public policy, Logan Stacer said the honor from an global-facing nonprofit highlights Kansas City’s collective effort and passion for using art as a force for positive change. Stacer, an artist, youth pastor, educator and non-profit executive with Heartland Arts KC, this…

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How Chateau Avalon’s owner transformed a former bank into this Mint condition events venue

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2024

A former Bank of America building in Johnson County has been reimagined as an 18,000-square-foot bank-themed venue with a nod to the site’s rich financial history, said Steve Beaumont. “For 50 years, this has been a financial institution on this corner,” said Beaumont, describing the in-the-works setting off 95th Street in Lenexa. “We knew we…

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Crossroads collaboration brings booch on tap, kegs, mocktails to MO’s (new) biggest kombucha taproom

By Tommy Felts / February 9, 2024

Brewer’s Alley in the East Crossroads is getting a new kind of taproom, Kortney Lee and Lisa Bledsoe shared. In a freshly bottled collaboration, Tea-Biotics Kombucha opened Missouri’s largest kombucha taproom Friday in the former home of Community Groceries Crossroads Market. “Beer is brewed; Kombucha is brewed, as well,” said Lee, who owns Community Groceries…

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Crowdfunding platform for small businesses launches local hub for KC entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2024

Editor’s note: KC BizCare is a partner of Startland News. A newly announced partnership with the international non-profit Kiva is expected to boost Kansas City entrepreneurs who have had difficulties securing traditional bank loans — offering access to social underwriting and affordable starting capital. Kiva Kansas City (Kiva KC), a crowdfunded microloan program for small businesses,…

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Jill Meyer, UMKC Innovation Center

Digital Sandbox KC secures $450K to support startups’ prototyping, proof-of-concept needs

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2024

As Digital Sandbox KC marks its 10th year in 2024, the popular funding program — and a key marker of emerging success for young tech startups in Kansas City — has earned a new round of financial backing from the State of Missouri. Spread over three years, a $450,000 MOBEC (Missouri Building Entrepreneurial Capacity) project grant…

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Mayor: ‘KC is on fire’ (and the city needs to keep turning up the heat); Lucas urges investment ahead of World Cup, major events

By Tommy Felts / February 8, 2024

Kansas City, Missouri, is its strongest fiscal position ever, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, emphasizing the city’s potential to capitalize on that economic stability — coupled with headline-grabbing national attention thanks to the Chiefs — to tackle a range of concerns facing entrepreneurs and workers. Opportunities for investment, growth, redevelopment and crime prevention for small businesses are…

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