Storytailor

Recent Articles by Storytailor

Rooted in growth: WallyGro launches à la carte plants after its ‘year of new products’

March 16, 2021

Fulfilling a long-awaited request from customers, WallyGro — a Kansas City company known for its innovative hanging planters — announced Friday it launched its first line of à la carte plants, said Callie England. “This past year the demand was: Could you supply us with more? Customers already trusted [WallyGro] because of our planters, so…

Can a KC tech duo travel the world without leaving a trace? Follow their journey on YouTube

March 16, 2021

What started as a duo’s journey for purposeful adventure quickly turned into a mission to educate and advocate for sustainable travel, Dimarco Barea and Scott Hanson shared. “In 2020, Scott [Hanson] and I were both in this really interesting space where we were looking at how we wanted to contribute and dedicate our lives to…

Expanded Techstars role means more eyes on KC, Lesa Mitchell says; accelerator returns in June

March 16, 2021

Lesa Mitchell’s promotion within Techstars — a Boulder, Colorado-based accelerator network with global reach — is a value-add for Kansas City, she said Monday. The outgoing managing director of Techstars’ local program also teased the popular accelerator’s summer return. “My new role simply means we have more Techstars staff in KC,” said Mitchell, Techstars’ newly announced…

Boulevardia cancels 2021 music, maker festival; awaiting full COVID comeback before summer party’s return

March 16, 2021

One of Kansas City’s premier summertime events — and the first major local festival canceled because of the pandemic in 2020 — won’t be back this June after all, organizers announced Tuesday. “When the decision was made last year to cancel Boulevardia, we said, ‘The comeback is always stronger than the setback.’ This statement has been…

Plaza plus Prairiefire: How a conversation over coffee tripled Messenger’s expansion plans

March 13, 2021

A new, slow-roasted Johnson County location for Messenger Coffee Co. is expected to anchor the Kansas City brand south of I-435 with sprawling windows, copious light, leafy plants, open baking and the familiar wafting scents of coffee and pastries. But for those whose thirst for the roaster’s expansion can’t wait until the new store’s spring…

Is that pothole getting fixed? City launches myKCMO app to connect residents to services, answers faster

March 12, 2021

Kansas City, Missouri, residents have a new tool for reporting potholes, illegal dumping, missed trash pickups and other concerns impacting their neighborhoods — and it’s likely already in their pockets, city officials said this week, announcing the debut of the myKCMO app. “This cutting edge new app will enable residents and visitors to more conveniently…

KC Cajun chef brings plans for east side restaurant to a boil with help of $22K grant

March 11, 2021

Opening a restaurant doesn’t happen overnight; it takes planning, hours of hard work, a good team, and solid funding, said Esra England — the head chef and founder of KC Cajun.  “I knew opening a restaurant was a strategic move, and everything needed to be calculated,” explained England, who increased his business’ sales by 500…

We Got It Covered: LaRonda LaNear feeds her soul (and yours) in a world catered to men

March 11, 2021

LaRonda LaNear was tired of the working world’s status quo.  “I’ve always hated authority and it’s always been men in power, telling me what to do — and it never made sense,” she joked, shedding light on a real problem that robbed her of joy nearly every shift at every job she held.  “I took that…

Kauffman Foundation: $1.9T relief plan signed by Biden a ‘significant step,’ but challenges linger beyond bill’s scope

March 11, 2021

Editor’s note: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a financial sponsor of Startland News. One of the nation’s premier advocates for entrepreneurs and small businesses on Thursday lauded the passage and signing of a massive COVID relief bill — which it said signals a step toward closing gaps in access to a more prosperous life.…

Why Betty Rae’s new owner traded a finance career for waffle cones; ice cream shop reopens Monday

March 11, 2021

Reopening Betty Rae’s Ice Cream could prove as risky for Alec Rodgers’ waistline as his wallet, the 23-year-old employee-turned-owner jokingly suggested — smiling as he looked across the River Market shop with a mix of nostalgia and youthful exuberance. His eyes lit up as he recalled the rich memory of discovering his own favorite flavor:…