Joyce Smith

Chef Jonathan Justus and his wife Camille Eklof were widely known for their Smithville eatery, which won national acclaim. For the last few years, they've been hosting intimate pop-up dinners and consulting while dreaming up their next Kansas City restaurant.

Marwan Chebaro is no stranger to 39th Street's restaurant row. With a new space at Park 39 in midtown, Chebaro set a June opening for a new concept named after his daughter Nour. The restaurant has a small shrine to her in its corner, and encourages patrons to bring in mementos of their own loved ones.

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.