Tag: kansas city

How two, decades-apart military pairings landed a 130-year-old Greek liqueur brand in KC stores

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:51:03 +0000

Just one sip of this cinnamon clove-infused Greek liqueur and Glen Shilland was won over. But he wasn’t just enjoying Zamoura; he was immediately envisioning an import business so others in the U.S. could enjoy it too.

Produced in Patras, Greece, since 1895, Zamoura is made with a secret family recipe and all-natural ingredients.

“It just tastes delicious,” said Glen, a U.S. Air Force veteran-turned-KC-based importer. “Smooth, like nothing I had ever tasted before. Or since.”

Here’s how three UMKC student teams are prepping for the RooLink Digital Healthcare Sprint

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:44:54 +0000

Editor’s note: This story was first published by Tech Venture Studio at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Click here to read the original story.

From Colombia to Columbia: Family starts from scratch with mid-Missouri bakery

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:11:07 +0000

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon.

Bin believer: Teen thrifting founder finds value, sorted by aesthetic (not sizes)

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:31:42 +0000

Rags Restyled 4u is selling more than just thrifted clothes, its 19-year-old founder shared; it’s using apparel stitched with self expression to give clothes a second life.

“The end goal is really just to have a brand that makes a difference and makes people feel safe and comfortable and like they can fully be themselves,” Maci Shaw explained.

Stockyards Brewing ferments opening day for its new suburban Overland Park taproom

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 22:35:55 +0000

Johnson County craft beer fans have been eagerly awaiting this day for four long years — a delay caused, in part, by one founder’s refusal to compromise on his vision for his latest brewhouse.

But now Stockyards Brewing Co.’s Overland Park taproom has set a Jan. 30 opening at 10310 Mastin St. — the site of a former Piggly Wiggly and, more recently, a National American University campus. (Brewing equipment is in place, with the production portion of the facility expected to come online later this year.)

Translating Sisterbot: KC’s cello-playing sci-fi heroine has arrived (at the speed of sound)

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:50:47 +0000

Sisterbot takes the cello out of the orchestra pit and puts it on the stage to rock out. Created by Kansas City musician and composer Adee Dancy, the project offers an ever-changing blend of classical strings, rock, theater and experimental sound.

The only constants: Sisterbot is built upon cello and voice, reflecting Dancy’s conservatory training and her interest in crossing genres.

These 5 Kansas City area restaurants and bars are 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:28:05 +0000

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.

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Paramedic by day (and night), this Scream Queen fights fire with vegan ice cream

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:30:36 +0000

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert.

Click here to read the original story.
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Rescuing a dream: Why Lizz Whitacre sees a future for shelter pets in Pawlytics

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:06:59 +0000

Lizz Whitacre grew up allergic to pets; the Midwest founder wasn’t even allowed to have dogs or cats as a child.

But that didn’t stop her from fostering a deep-seated need to save them all; her Nebraska-built startup is now wagging momentum in Kansas City to help mom-and-pop boutique animal shelters streamline operations to boost adoptions.
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Hawaiian Bros adds C-suite storyteller to shape how the brand scales its island-inspired restaurant concept

admin — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:51:53 +0000

As Hawaiian Bros expands into new regions and scales its franchising program, the pineapple-topped, Kansas City-built brand is adding a scoop of marketing expertise to its executive leadership menu.
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Serve good karma, get good karma: How Brian Roberts is keeping coffee shop’s flavor in Year 2

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:51:45 +0000

After a caffeinated burst of early word-of-mouth support, Brian Roberts’ new coffee and wine space near Tower East got a months-long jolt of good karma, he said — but as its newness cooled on the counter, the fledgling business began to lose its grip on thirsty customers.
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‘Feel through it’: Danny Soriano mixes Renaissance mindset with genre-hopping setlist

admin — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:47:55 +0000

Music provides more than a safe place to escape, said Kansas City-based artist and entrepreneur Danny Soriano; it’s simultaneously the space between people, and a connection that can tie them together.

“It’s really important for my music to spark conversations — or create an atmosphere where people feel safe enough at my concerts to start their own — even if it’s just about feeling safe within their emotions while listening to my music,” he said.
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Techstars returning to KC for one-night-only meetup; teasing what’s next for the global accelerator

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:55:12 +0000

It’s easy to take for granted just how far the Kansas City entrepreneurial ecosystem has come, John Fein shared.

Kansas City-based Firebrand Ventures is teaming up with the global startup accelerator Techstars for a Community Meetup 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 26 at Grand Cafe on the Plaza. The event is free but space is limited.
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NXTUS is helping five emerging KC innovators gain customer traction; ‘Timing is right,’ startup founders say

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:05:32 +0000

A handful of Kansas City startups were among 22 early stage companies gathered in Wichita this week for the opening session of a program aimed at growing strong, sustainable businesses that uplift innovation and opportunity throughout the Heartland.
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Inside the MNDSHFT: Raw conversations stare into the entrepreneur struggle; strength stares back

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:22:11 +0000

A new video series from an acclaimed Kansas City creator dives into the daily routines, mental shifts, and no-BS strategies behind building businesses and lives that matter, said Quincy Lee, emphasizing episodes built to redefine the hustle mindset.
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