Minority-Led

Small Biz to Watch: Someday Sunday opens the door to me-time without guilt (or toxins)

By Tommy Felts / July 8, 2025

Editor’s note: Startland News is showcasing five Kansas City small businesses this week through the newsroom’s first-ever Small Biz to Watch series, presented by Bank of America. The following highlights one of the 2025 honorees, curated by editors from Kansas City’s wide array of hard-working entrepreneurs and business owners. Selection criteria is based on factors…

Cosmo Burger brings its mouth-watering tots, boozy milkshakes to East Crossroads’ bustling streets of eats

By Tommy Felts / July 3, 2025

Bringing Cosmo Burger to the Crossroads required cousins Atit and Jugal Patel to cook their plans to perfection, serving up the brand’s first full-service brick-and-mortar location after years of trial by griddle. The result: a beefed up version of the owners’ original concept in one of the city’s most popular dining and entertainment districts. “This…

Independence day: Flipping from side-hustle to full-time requires grind behind glory 

By Tommy Felts / July 3, 2025

Founders found freedom in the journey (but they’re grateful for what they didn’t know was ahead) Jason Taylor walked away from big tech for good in January — leaving behind a dream résumé that included a long engineering career at Microsoft, then Google, for the freedom to pursue what had once been just a passion…

Inspiration took him to a dark space; why ‘Macbeth KC’ creator wants to trap audiences in a world with no heroes

By Tommy Felts / July 1, 2025

An immersive experience set in a post-apocalyptic world — the brainchild of Kansas City artist and designer Keyon Monte — transforms an iconic Shakespearean tragedy into a warped, high-fashion human drama staged within a downtown coworking space. “Macbeth KC” removes the polish and distance often seen in adaptations of William Shakespeare’s works, said Monte, describing…

Dos Lokos trio bringing family recipes, culture to former Fountain Haus spot in Westport

By Tommy Felts / June 27, 2025

This immense venue — on the corner of bustling Westport Road and Broadway — has been dark for nearly a year and a half. A new tenant expects to have a new, family-run restaurant in the space by fall. Dos Lokos Sports Cantina plans a September opening at 401 Westport Road (the former Fountain Haus).…