Local Business

Hydrangea House will take over the two-story Tudor-style brick building on 63rd Street, and plans a soft opening the night of Thursday, Nov. 12. The luxury antique and homegoods store is owned by longtime interior designer Jessica Carpenter and her daughter, Abigail Gaughan.

The World Cup brought new investments, infrastructure improvements and business opportunities to Kansas City. Months after the tournament ended, some of those changes are here to stay, while others have already disappeared.

The former Price Chopper at Blue Ridge Cutoff near Raytown has opened a no-frills grocery store. The company claims it's offering quality products at lower prices by cutting advertising and other expenses.

Kansas City and the business community are working together to reduce the number of chronically unhoused people by providing vouchers and connecting them with resources. The Housing Gateway Program has proven effective in other cities around the U.S, and advocates say Kansas City is “well positioned” to succeed.

“Think And Drink” talks are hosted by experts who have covered everything from the Red Scare to the history of Santa Claus. The series is a collaboration between the popular Crossroads brewery and several other local partners, including Linda Hall Library and UMKC.

Kansas City, Missouri, continues to sit at No. 11 in the latest ranking of best startup cities in the Midwest, a place it's held since 2022. Columbia, Missouri, jumped five spots to No. 17. Wichita, Springfield, Manhattan and Topeka all landed in the top 50.

It'll be a while before we get a complete picture of how the 2026 FIFA World Cup benefits Kansas City long-term. But if this truly is Soccer Capital of the U.S., now is the moment to prove it: Both Sporting KC and the KC Current are resuming their regular seasons with home games in the next week.

Not every business saw a boost from visiting fans, but some leveraged a prime location, ingenuity in planning, or a personal connection to get a boost from the FIFA World Cup's stint in Kansas City.

On top of organizing a Union Station marketplace that drew more than 120,000 visitors, City of Entrepreneurs’ Open Doors! program led to unexpected collaboration opportunities between cohort members.

Kansas City’s role as a World Cup host involved a significant investment from federal, state and city coffers — but the event paid little economic dividends to businesses along Troost Avenue. Owners say city leaders should have set more realistic expectations.

Bright pedicabs are zipping across Kansas City during the World Cup and they're here to stay. Plus: Organizers of a new music venue in Kansas City say it’s a place where the listening comes first. 515 Music Hub was a result of the city's Open Doors program for the World Cup, but wants to keep going after.

EZ Pedicabs will take you from the West Bottoms to 18th and Vine, or from CPKC Stadium to the Plaza — and anywhere in between. Owners want the company’s electric trishaws to become an essential part of getting around Kansas City, long after the World Cup.