Joyce Smith
Contributor, FlatlandFlatland contributor Joyce Smith has covered retail and restaurants for nearly 40 years with The Kansas City Star.
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Tennille Lampe grew up in St. Louis, and started baking as a side hustle in Kansas City. After a few years of pop-ups gained her a following, she opened Oh My Gooey as its own shop in the Northland. -
Holy Brunch KC, which began as a food truck before ending up in Westport, is now scheduled to expand this summer into the Westport Ale House building. The pub closed in 2024, two years after a deadly shooting. -
The first Betty Rae's franchise opened in Omaha, Nebraska, in September. The ice cream brand's Kansas City-based ownership wants to see it expand to Arkansas, Tennessee and Colorado, as well. -
Several new coffee shops are building out spaces in a block that already includes Blackhole Bakery, High Hopes Ice Cream and The Littlest Bake Shop. "Hopefully, the more the merrier," one owner says. -
In Good Company is setting itself apart from nearby Power & Light hot spots. Members will pay a minimum of $50 a month for access, which includes four drink credits and up to four guests per visit. -
At Cake Loft in Olathe, Chrissy Zemencik offers cakes, cupcakes, and a wide variety of gourmet cookies. Baking has been her passion since a "super young age," and she was in culinary programs starting in high school. -
Owner Zach Moores purchased two buildings on Troost Avenue that will be used as a production area and community gathering space. He first opened the coffee shop next to UMKC in 2014. -
Kansas City's Crossroads already is already a hub for craft beer. Brookside-based BKS Artisan Ales, which first launched in 2017 and expects to produce 1,400 barrels this year, is opening a second location to serve existing customers who work downtown. -
Northeast Pizza, which is set to open across the street from PH Coffee, will offer New York-style slices and whole pies. Noah Quillec grew up inside his family's restaurants around Kansas City, but wanted to design a spot for his own neighborhood. -
Roeland Park native Noelia Olivares created Mariscos Mr. Culichi as a food truck after graduating high school. Now a college student at UMKC, Olivares is celebrating the grand opening of her permanent space.
