Midtown

Bubble Wrapp, which has a new location at 3816 Main St., first launched as an online retailer at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's since found success as a brick-and-mortar shop in midtown Kansas City.

For nearly four decades, the KC Clay Guild has been a community center for ceramic artists and hobbyists. After outgrowing its longtime home in Waldo, the nonprofit has nearly quadrupled its footprint in a new facility in midtown Kansas City.

Brian Roberts' Social House, newly opened in midtown, aims to serve nearby residents who want to hang out someplace comfortable. “I really want this to be a neighborhood spot, somewhere to go with no frills," Roberts said.

ReStart Inc., a nonprofit homelessness services provider, converted a vacant midtown Kansas City hotel into short-term furnished apartments for families experiencing homelessness. The Family Lodge is a 45-unit complex with on-site social services to support families in their transition to permanent housing.

Mayor Quinton Lucas has introduced a trio of ordinances he hopes can help save historic buildings from falling into disrepair, and start to replenish the population in those emptying neighborhoods.

The $3 billion stadium development would be in close proximity to residential neighborhoods like Union Hill, Beacon Hill and Longfellow. Neighborhood leaders say their primary concerns include traffic congestion and fans taking up limited street parking.

In the 1950s, approximately 78,000 people lived in Kansas City’s midtown neighborhoods, which span roughly Crown Center to the Plaza and State Line Road to Troost Avenue. Two urban design experts will discuss what’s changing and what it means for residents Wednesday as a part of KC Design Week.

For decades, Kansas City has made it mandatory to provide a minimum amount of parking spaces for restaurants, businesses and apartments. Planners and advocates say that the high price has prevented empty storefronts from being filled and hollowed out the urban core.

Employees at the Costco store on Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City have spoken openly about the wholesale store’s future plans to change into a Costco Business Center, though the company itself has neither confirmed nor denied this information. KCUR’s Up To Date spoke with several shoppers to get their reactions.

INCLŪSIV Wellness at 4142 Main St. offers adaptive fitness, inclusive group training and accessible coworking areas. It was created by Wesley Hamilton, who has used a wheelchair since being shot in 2012.

Made In KC recently closed its midtown shop, but the owners had been eyeing Union Station as a potential location for years. “It makes sense with how iconic Union Station has become that we should be here, representing local goods in Kansas City," co-owner Keith Bradley said.

From downtown to midtown, Brookside and everywhere in between, KCUR put together a list of the best shops, restaurants, cafes and museums to explore along the new KC Streetcar extension.