Local Business

More than 200 times a month, graffiti appears on downtown walls, buildings and signs. City officials say they scrub the surfaces clean, only to see them tagged again the next day. But businesses and hotels are fighting back, sending the message that downtown Kansas City is a welcoming, thriving and safe place.

Even as electric vehicle sales decrease, the mayor of De Soto, Kansas, says the investment already made in the Panasonic battery plant has already benefited local residents and is helping the town as a whole grow. The plant opened earlier this year and is employing about 1,500 people.

Fairway’s independent bookstore Rainy Day Books has been going strong for 50 years, thanks to the large community it’s built. To celebrate, Rainy Day’s founder will share highlights and stories of the big name authors who have helped propel the small Kansas shop to the national stage.

The Main Street extension of the Kansas City streetcar line is finally open for riders after years of disruptive construction. The owners of Crows Coffee and Ragazza say they're trying to capitalize on the increased foot traffic.

More than a dozen bars that promise to air women's sports on TV have popped up across the country over the last few years. After more than a year of renovations and setup, The Dub is ready to bring the movement to downtown Kansas City.

The KC Streetcar expansion will bring more people in walking distance to Kansas City's Westport and midtown neighborhoods, which are home to some of the metro's best restaurants, bars, nightlife and shops. Hop off the streetcar and head to these great spots.

Kansas City is one of just three cities on the U.S. leg of Chappell Roan’s “Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things” tour — and it's something of a homecoming for the Missouri-born pop star. Ahead of this weekend’s shows, local businesses are celebrating with parties, special drinks and menus, and a “Pink Pony Express" streetcar.

Some of Kansas City's best restaurants, cafes, vintage shops and cocktails can be found in the Union Hill and Martini Corner neighborhoods. With both nightlife hotspots and connections to the city's past, this midtown corner has plenty to discover.

Changes to regulations governing Beyond Visual Line of Sight flights will allow approved operators to fly autonomously over longer distances. Kansas City is already expected to host two Prime Air fulfillment sites, each with a fleet of 12 drones.

The food hall, just up the hill from the Plaza, is set to open Monday in the Cascade Hotel, 4600 Wornall Rd. Plaza Provisions takes the place of the Strang Chef Collective, which closed in December after just a year.

Betty Bremser has been running Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard for nearly 30 years, turning the Brookside locale into a dessert destination and the start of many local teens' careers. But Bremser is hanging up her scoop at the end of the month.

Grocery stores accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in 12 states will soon have to accommodate new exclusions to the program. Industry advocates say the changes will be expensive, especially for smaller retailers.