Small businesses count on your support. There is so much to be found among the shelves and racks lining Kansas City shops. Here are 88 spots with our favorite shopping right now.
Amelia’s
6776 W. 135th St., Overland Park
Sometimes the best way to top off an outfit is with a wild pattern—leopard mules, snakeskin boots or that statement free-spirit blouse. If you’re looking for something a little bit more eccentric, Amelia’s is the place to go. This boutique combines a classy Western style with fun urban elegance, offering many lines of clothing, accessories and even some home goods. You might try going for a more wild business attire look with some of their unique patterns and colors. —Lauren Underwood
Birdies
Almost eighteen years ago, Peregrine Honig and Alexis Burggrabe opened lingerie and swimwear boutique Birdies in the Crossroads. At the time, there was virtually nothing around with the exception of a leather store across the street. Since then, Birdies (116 W. 18th St., KCMO) has become an anchor for many surrounding boutiques that have made the West 18th Street territory a style hub.
Honig uses her internationally renowned art background to fuel her ideas for the store and its campaigns. Most recently, she wrote a feature-length film, Summer in Hindsight, which premiered at the West 18th Street Fashion Show event in mid-October at Boulevard Drive-In. The film was set at multiple area museums, such as the Kansas City Museum and the Nelson-Atkins, and Honig hopes to eventually host viewings of the film at these spots.
Meanwhile, Honig hopes that this upcoming holiday season will give people a reason to shop locally.
“Let’s be honest, it’s more of a challenge to shop locally,” Honig says. “But it’s so worth it. The money goes directly back into your community, and with that it goes back to you.”
After learning that a close family member had dealt with domestic violence, Hayley Santell was inspired to open local underwear and lingerie brand MADI Apparel (1659 Summit St., KCMO). For every item purchased, MADI donates a pair of underwear to a local woman in need. Clair de Lune (5053 W. 119th St., Overland Park) takes a French approach to lingerie styling—in America, bras are meant for coverage and support, not necessarily to be seen. In France, lingerie is considered to be a part of a look. After hearing frustrations from boudoir clients not liking the way pieces were photographed on them, Traci Bartshe opened Indium Intimates (1107 Hickory St., KCMO), a lingerie shop where body positivity and affirmation is top priority.
Black Lemon Boutique
211 W. Maple Ave., Independence
Brandy Spearman has many roles. First and foremost, she’s a loving mom and wife. She’s also a full-time government employee. Lastly, she is a shop owner—the only Black-owned business owner in quaint Independence Square, for that matter.
Spearman opened women’s clothing shop Black Lemon Boutique in August of last year, and she says it’s been a wild ride since—from starting off the business strong with a bustling holiday season to having her son during the pandemic to Black Lemon’s economic bounceback in recent months.
She’s not shy about giving her husband, Brandon, credit for her shop’s success. He helped transform the once-blank slate on Maple Avenue into the charming and welcoming space that it is today. Every fixture in the store was handmade by him, from the ornate white-painted wooden cashier booth to the dressing rooms to the industrial-pipe shelving.
Shop Name Meaning: Black lemon is actually a seasoning. And it doesn’t even use lemons—it uses charred limes and it’s black. But I named my boutique Black Lemon because it’s meant to put flavor in your closet.
She Can’t Live Without: My Vans collection. I have so many pairs, basically one to match every outfit. They’re so comfortable and you can wear them anywhere—you can find ways to dress up or dress down with them.
Her Fashion Idol: Rihanna. She can make a sweatsuit look like it’s high fashion just by pairing it with heels, and I love how she does that. And I love that her Fenty lingerie line is size-inclusive. —Nicole Bradley
Clairvaux
New to the Fairway Shops, Clairvaux is a solid catchall of high-end Parisian fashion meets California cool in women’s wear, shoes, handbags and accessories. Owner Joni Johnson has long worked in the Kansas City fashion scene as a buyer and stylist, so you can trust her and her team with your closet needs. —Nicole Bradley
Clothology:135
4800 W. 135th St. , Suite E 260, Leawood
Maybe your ideal wardrobe is a plethora of thick, chunky-knit sweaters. Or maybe it’s a lineup of business casual blouses and pencil skirts. How about a bulk of floral print sundresses? Or, perhaps, a blend of all of the above? The pickings at Clothology:135 fit every style. —Nicole Bradley
COCO
What does it mean to be #COCObeautiful? COCO’s owner Abby Roen Flores describes it as “the raw power of meeting yourself where you are, realizing you are capable of anything and feeling beautiful in your own skin, no matter what.” As the laid-back, trendy little sister of Lady Bye, the store offers cozy loungewear sets (perfect for working from home), colorful graphic tees and an array of jeans that compliment all shapes and sizes. Don’t miss the selection of mugs, cross-stitch sets, stationary and other home goods that pay tribute to Schitt’s Creek, Gilmore Girls and feminist icons. —Anna Kern
EB & Co.
Brookside’s EB & Co. is the accessories shop for the modern sophisticate. It is for the eleven-year-old girl who was obsessed with the jewelry at Claire’s and grew into a fierce woman of discerning taste, someone who recognizes that, hey, maybe you don’t need rainbow metallic butterfly earrings to match the eighteen butterfly clips industriously arranged on top of your head. Founder Emily Bordner has filled her shop with handcrafted minimalist jewelry, fashionable headbands and scrunchies (and face masks, because #2020, y’all) and, of course, her signature leather bags and totes. Bordner’s leather goods are the cornerstone of her business, and these supple, understated items will attract an exhausting amount of compliments.
You can spend all day shopping on this Brookside block: Be sure to swing by Brookside Toy & Science (330 W. 63rd St., KCMO) for your Christmas needs, where cool science kits, dress-up attire and sand toys line the store. Jory (320 W. 63rd St., KCMO), owned by Pamela DiCapo, who also runs baby store Lauren Alexandra (322 W. 63rd St., KCMO) next door, is a hotspot for home goods and gifts like insanely cute throw pillows and personalized vinyl mats. —Natalie Gallagher
Fetch
Don’t know what to get for a gift? Head over to Fetch in the West Bottoms. The vintage shop is home to one of Kansas City’s greatest array of items. Vintage clothes, a collection of records, goofy tissue paper and Lindsay Lohan mugshot magnets are just a few of the things you can find here. If you’re lucky, you can meet the shop’s “manager,” Lucy the dog, on your visit. —Izzy Curry
Finefolk
Formerly a Crossroads resident, Finefolk has recently joined the lineup of charming shops at 45th and State Line. If you’re looking for neutral, durable basics for your capsule wardrobe, this is the place to get them. Finefolk also takes shopping, styling and alterations appointments. —Nicole Bradley
Frankie and Jules
16070 Metcalfave., Overland Park
This Overland Park staple is the perfect mix of girly elegance and chic glam. With new arrivals every day, it’s easy to find that perfect outfit at Frankie and Jules. Whether you’re dressing up or dressing down, there are plenty of options to fill your closet. Marble countertops, pastel colors and a chandelier hanging near the dressing rooms give this boutique the perfect dainty vibe. —Lauren Underwood
Golden & Pine
19 On The Mall, Prairie Village
Stephanie Agne opened Golden & Pine in 2016, and the buzz around the store has never stopped. Stocked with ethically sourced artisan goods such as hand-woven textiles, clay planters and contemporary furniture pieces, the shop is also full service, offering interior design and styling services. Although Agne is originally from the Kansas City area, her store is named for and inspired by her two former homes—“golden” for California and “pine” for New England.
While you’re in the Village Shops, stop by Clique Boutique (6951 Tomahawk Road, Prairie Village) for casual womenswear and scarves galore. — Nicole Bradley
Guevel
One of Guevel’s specialties is denim: The Crossroads shop not only sells upscale denim streetwear but also offers denim repair, hemming and darning, a technique that uses a specialized machine to fix the weave on damaged fabric. It’s like a more sustainable and sturdy alternative to patching holes. —Nicole Bradley
Halls
If there’s a Kansas City shop that’s seen it all, it’s Halls. The department store companion to Kansas City’s greeting card empire has been around for over a decade and has seen its way through just about everything, from ever-evolving fashion trends to recessions to pandemics. Halls has changed locations a few times since its birth, but its current home sprawls over sixty thousand square feet in Crown Center, where you’ll find lavish products and personable stylists for an elevated shopping experience. —Nicole Bradley
Hammerpress
Hammerpress owner Brady Vest started using a letterpress in 1994 to make custom record covers for his friends’ bands, along with show prints and posters for other local performing groups in the area. Today, his shop—which moved to a new location in West Bottoms earlier this year—specializes in greeting cards, stationery and ephemera. Essentially, the pressing process is the same as was used for old newspapers, with metal and wood letters coated with ink and firmly pressed against paper. The shop was originally limited to typography “on file,” but now it custom-makes letterpress plates as needed. —Nicole Bradley
Hand & Land
Shopping at Hand & Land is such a soothing experience. The shop is located in the historic Nelle Peters building in Mid-town. Sun streaming through the shop’s floor-to-ceiling windows throws a warm glow on the responsibly crafted natural and organic products that cousins Jessica Moler and Nicole Lobdell have carefully selected. Here, you will find items like a natural fiber face-scrubbing brush, Gua Sha stones for lymphatic drainage, silicone food storage bags and ayurvedic herbs. There’s even a selection of bulk plant-based home cleaning and personal care products that Hand and Land sells through a refillable program. —Natalie Gallagher
Hatch + Home
Hatch + Home, a new combo design studio and home retail shop in the West Bottoms, is built around decorative showrooms, so you can truly visualize how that dreamy boho light fixture or the Spanish chateau-style mirror can look in your home. Hatch + Home also hosts private shopping experiences and local food and drink artisan events. —Nicole Bradley
Homesong Market
When Amanda Waters’ inventory for her online store outgrew her dining room and started spilling into the rest of her home, she knew it was time to make some changes. She opened Homesong Market in Brookside, where her collection of sustainable home goods and curated antiques has been a hit. Waters’ cozy shop is stocked with eco-friendly cleaning, kitchen, bathroom and organization products—all sourced from small-batch makers, some local and some global.
Her Favorite Item: Our favorite maker is a German company called Bürstenhaus Redecker, and they’ve been making brushes for decades. Their products are handmade and sustainable, which ties into our philosophy that the home goods you use every day should be simple, useful and beautiful.
Why Brookside: I knew when I opened up a shop that I wanted it to be in Brookside. There’s a hominess and friendliness here, and there’s so much foot traffic. We have lots of regulars that we see once or twice a month that come in and check out what we’ve got going on. I love the small-town feel of it.
On Sourcing Products: It starts with research—finding a company that fits within the philosophy I’ve developed for the things that I wanted to put in my home. A lot of these companies that I buy from I’ve been using for years in my own home. We have done a lot of work with local companies that have sustainable practices, like Fire Lake Soapery from Paola, Kansas. —Natalie Gallagher
Houndstooth
In River Market, Jeff Covitz, a third-generation tailor, runs Houndstooth, a men’s suit and tailor shop. There, you’ll find over six hundred fabric choices imported from mills in England and Italy.
Also in the River Market, womenswear store KATE KC (412 Delaware St., KCMO) offers casual and inclusive wardrobe staples and one-on-one private shopping appointments. —Nicole Bradley
Hudson & Jane
After twenty years of work at Ralph Lauren on the Country Club Plaza, Rick and Flo Ann Brehm ventured out on their own to open preppy clothing boutique Hudson & Jane—Hudson the collection of menswear and Jane women. —Nicole Bradley
Indigo Wild
Although Zum’s super-popular body care products are available at Hy-Vee and Hen House, the Kansas City company’s factory store Indigo Wild, tucked into an alcove on Wyandotte Street, is where you’ll score the best deals. Zum doesn’t give factory tours anymore, but we recommend stopping in the attached store even if just for a whiff. No Zum goodies go to waste—I bought an aromatherapy body spray and the cashier gave me four decent-sized soap scraps at no extra charge. —Nicole Bradley
J Thomas Home
Just four years ago, Josh Lorg and his wife Emily were making floating shelves in their garage to sell on Etsy. Now, they’ve got a sprawling warehouse in an industrial park in Olathe to manufacture everything from the floating shelves that originally brought them success to kitchen cabinets to live-edge tables made from locally sourced materials. J Thomas Home’s shiny new showroom opens right before Thanksgiving. —Nicole Bradley
Lady Bye
Adorned with a crystal chandelier, velvet blush loveseat and monochromatic white accents, it’s no surprise that Lady Bye is inspired by the iconic feminine styles of Jackie O and Princess Di. The boutique, owned by Abby Roen Flores (who also owns Lady Bye’s sister stores COCO and KATE), offers a modern take on classic staple pieces for your closet that are affordable and size-inclusive (XS to 3X). Current customer favorites include a velvet floral print midi dress, small gold hoop earrings, black leather booties, silk scarves and pearl hair clips. —Anna Kern
Lucky Dog
Lawrence’s Lucky Dog offers more than just commercial-grade food for dogs and cats; it also sells hand-made bandanas, pet-specific CBD items and a range of accessories that fit any pet personality. The shop also has a full bakery, which co-owner Jennifer Thomas says was a happy accident.
“I was kind of doing it out of my house, a few cookies here and there for people, and it took off,” she says. After selling over eight thousand home-baked cookies last Christmas, Thomas now sells a variety of dog treats in her space on Massachusetts Street, from fun and whimsically decorated cookies with dog-friendly sprinkles to treats that are crafted for pups with sensitive tummies.
One of Lucky Dog’s newest products is a monthly subscription box called Pet Parcel. “It’s been very interesting to get feedback from people who did other subscription boxes and decided they want to support somebody local,” she says. “They like that ours are more customizable.”
If you’re looking for great locally made collars and treats, Tail Waggin’ Pet Stop (1818 Wyandotte St., KCMO) in the Crossroads is both affordable and personable. On the flip side, Waldo’s K9 Closet (7406 Wornall Road, KCMO) has a myriad of dog collars and leashes that are eccentric, theme-specific and customizable according to your puppy’s personality. Brookside Barkery & Bath (6201 Oak St., KCMO) has great grooming services and highly knowledgeable staffers. The shop also sells all-natural food and pet products. Land of Paws (4021 Somerset Drive, Prairie Village) is a more upscale shop owned by a local group of veterinarians. The store also offers all-natural food and full grooming services.
Madison Stitch
In 2017, artisan John Pryor opened Madison Flitch, a woodworking showroom in the Crossroads. Madison is a family name. “Flitch” is the Old English word for a wood slab. While that business is still going, it was not essential during the shutdown, so Pryor pivoted to Madison Stitch, now open next door to his original storefront. The new venture began in response to the need for face masks—Pryor’s stitchers have crafted nineteen thousand—but has since evolved into a design studio for women’s accessories. It’s run by women, many of whom are refugees from Burma and Afghanistan.
Biggest Pandemic Accomplishment: The relationships we built with so many different people in the city and giving them the opportunity to make something that contributed to the community. Everybody involved in Madison Stitch, from the soccer mom to the Ph. D. student to the refugees, are really proud of the work they’ve done.
On Pivoting From Woodworking To Fashion: It’s very strange. Before, I was confident with my design sense. I knew what I wanted to make and I would just make it. I don’t know anything about women’s accessories. I have shapes that I like and looks and aesthetics that I’m biased toward, but I have to rely on my team to tell me what works and what doesn’t. That’s a huge change.
What’s Next: Our goal is to be the leading artisan boutique option in Kansas City for handbags. A lot of bags don’t have a great story behind them other than maybe they were designed by somebody famous in New York or L.A. We have this great story, but there’s real skill behind these peoples’ stories. — Anne Kniggendorf
Nickel & Suede
232 Nichols Road, KCMO & 801 Haines St., Suite 500, Liberty
Not to be deterred by a pandemic, co-founders Soren and Kilee Nickels of Nickel & Suede opened their third store in September. In addition to the flagship store in Liberty and a sister shop in Dallas, Nickel & Suede now has a prime retail location on the Country Club Plaza. The six-year-old company was recently named one of Inc. Magazine’s two hundred and fifty fastest-growing private companies in the Midwest, and the spread is obvious: Even if you’re unfamiliar with the brand, you’ve likely noticed the brightly colored leather teardrops adorning the ears of every cool girl you know.
On Pivoting During The Pandemic: This year has definitely been one for innovating. Our leather comes from Italy, which was hit so hard by Covid-19 early on. Production halted and we had to get creative with our upcoming launches. We quickly redesigned our spring and summer lines to reflect what materials we had on hand and pushed out our launches. We also reimagined our most popular promotions to align better with our new production and launch schedule.
Go-To Earrings: I find myself reaching for Gold Leaf Teardrops or our Spotted Leopard Teardrops most often. Those two always get noticed and always bring compliments!
Perfect Day In Kansas City: I love Kansas City in the fall. I would start with visiting a pumpkin patch early in the morning with the kiddos or Deanna Rose Farm, followed by lunch at Jerusalem Cafe. In the afternoon, I’d go shopping at the Plaza and then have dinner at Rye. Cap it off with a movie date night with my husband at the B&B Theatre in Liberty. —Natalie Gallagher
Peruvian Connection
In 1976, mother-daughter team Biddy and Annie Hurlbut launched Peruvian Connection, inspired by a trip to Peru that Annie took where she fell in love with alpaca fibers, described as softer and more durable than cashmere. The shop’s collection of artful sweaters, dresses, tops and more are made by skilled Andean artisans. —Nicole Bradley
Pink Antlers
There’s something about the baby pink-painted door against white shiplap exterior with sleek black trim that makes Pink Antlers such a welcoming storefront. That feeling follows you indoors at this bright, bubbly boutique party and gift shop lined with fluffy throw pillows, colorful cards and wall prints, teeny-tiny baby onesies and sweet-scented candles. Pink Antlers is owned by two sisters, Morgan and Claire Wenger, and has been in Park Place for four years. They just opened a rentable party room if you’re hosting a bridal shower or birthday celebration.
Holiday Best Sellers: Velvet pumpkins. And our Santa mugs, which we’ve been selling for about three years. It’s our number one seller every year.
Favorite Brand: Caning and ratan. Neutrals have been trending for a while, but these natural elements bring a little bit of color and a textural element.
Their Motto: Celebrate every day. We obviously love hosting birthday parties and celebrations. But we also think it’s about celebrating the little moments, whether it’s bringing home a new candle or redecorating or taking a bundle of balloons to someone. — Nicole Bradley
Prospero’s Bookstore
Prospero’s Bookstore on West 39th Street is three floors chock-full of fifty thousand used books stacked from the ground to the ceiling—there are books tucked into literally every crevice of this space, like between stairs and under tables. In the store’s twenty-three years of existence, co-owner Tom Wayne says that, eerily, some books have faster turnaround times than others.
“We clean and price books, and then we go around and put them up on the shelves,” Wayne says. “Five or ten minutes later, it comes up to the counter with somebody that just walked in the door. It’s one of the weirdest things that happen to both [co-owner] Will and I. I mean, how does that happen out of fifty thousand books? It’s just one of those surreal moments.”
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Afterword Tavern & Shelves (1834 Grand Blvd., KCMO) is closed due to the pandemic until further notice, but you can still support the cozy bookstore-bar by purchasing your next read through its online bookshop. Tucked away in downtown Lawrence, Raven Book Store (6 E. Seventh St., Lawrence) combines the well-known small-business spirit of LFK with a love of literature. It will be expanding its shelves to a larger location on Massachusetts Street in 2021. In an average non-pandemic year, Rainy Day Books (2706 W. 53rd St., Fairway) in the Fairway Shops hosts three hundred-plus author events. Right now, they’re in the process of renovating their shop. Named after the Flannery O’Connor novel, Wise Blood Books (300 Westport Road, KCMO), was created to inspire a diverse and creative community in KC. Their Boredom Bundles are the perfect way to stay intellectually challenged during this time.
Reset
For any lover of streetwear, Reset is a must-know. The cleanest new shoes are always in stock at this reseller. Whether it’s a new pair of Jordans, a vintage Chiefs jacket or a designer T-shirt, Reset is the place to scope out. And if you’re feeling lucky, try your hand at the shoe claw machine. If you win, you get an unbelievable deal on sneakers worth hundreds, and if you lose, at least you get to play a claw machine. —Izzy Curry
Sister Anne’s
Sister Anne’s (901 E. 31st St., KCMO) was named after the local music supporter and former owner of the record store Recycled Sounds. It was at Anne Winter’s store that owners Frank Alvarez and Jim Oshel of vinyl store-coffee shop Sister Anne’s learned how to create the welcoming atmosphere at their store today. “We are both big record collectors, and this is the only thing I have ever done,” Alvarez says. “I have been working in record stores since 1985.”
“It’s fun to turn people on to interesting albums that maybe they hadn’t heard before,” Oshel says. “I am an appreciator and enthusiast of music, and that’s what I get to do here.”
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Records with Merritt (1614 Westport Road, KCMO) is a cozy shop with a highly curated collection. While the coronavirus has made it so Jasper the dog has to stay home, Revolution Records (1830 Locust St., KCMO) now delivers orders over thirty dollars straight to your door if you live within ten miles of the store. With the variety of records and CDs they have, Josey Records (1814 Oak St., KCMO) is the type of store you can spend hours browsing. If you are looking for the place that has a little bit of everything, be sure to stop by their store. 7th Heaven (7621 Troost Ave., KCMO) contains plentiful used records across genres alongside any new vinyl you have been searching for.
The Sound Environment
Originally from Omaha, The Sound Environment is now the premier spot in KC to upgrade your audio equipment. Their expert staff knows exactly what to do no matter your price level to give you the best listening experiences possible. —Izzy Curry
Shopgirls
The staff at Shopgirls has created an atmosphere where you feel like you’re shopping with your best friend—even mirroring the, “yes you CAN rock that jumpsuit” enthusiasm you’d expect from your bestie. Styling women since 2007, this Brookside boutique owned by Katy Hamilton prides itself on an eclectic selection of clothing, accessories and gifts. If you want to feel like a VIP, book a free hour-and-a-half private appointment where you can shop and be styled privately by the team of fashionistas. —Anna Kern
The Corner Candleshop
KCMO 6231 Brookside Plaza, KCMO
Searching for the perfect scent to grace your home this holiday season? The cozy Corner Candleshop in Brookside has hundreds of scented candles to choose from with names like Brookside Bungalow, Counting Sheep and How Bout Them Apples. All candles are hand-poured in small batches in the back of the store to ensure they are of the highest quality.—Izzy Curry
Tyler Kingston Mercantile
8221 Corinth Mall, Prairie Village
Tyler Kingston Mercantile’s modern take on a general store has a wide range of products such as seasonal clothing, home goods and apothecary items. Mixing vintage with contemporary, there’s truly something for everybody: graphic T-shirts, stationery, cooking and bartending supplies, puzzles, accessories and even plants. Its central location in Corinth Square makes it a great stop during a day of shopping, especially with its unique merchandise to fit any lifestyle.—Lauren Underwood
ULAH
ULAH is nationally renowned for its collection of handsome men’s clothing, accessories and gifts—the boutique was featured on several episodes of Queer Eye on Netflix. ULAH also has an interior design branch taken on by co-owner Buck Wimberly and design project manager Lucy Hull. —Nicole Bradley
Underdog Wine Co.
Ryan Sciara had been in the hospitality and wine industry for nearly a quarter century when he opened Underdog Wine Co. in 2014. Given his experience, he had strong opinions on how things should work at his two shops, which stock a constantly rotating and always interesting assortment of wines across the full spectrum of price and style.
“We stock what we want to stock, not what our distributors tell us to stock,” he says. “We really focus on small, family-owned wineries, distributors and importers. That’s why it’s Underdog—it’s the size of the shop, but it’s also the philosophy of the shop. The small producers we stock are the real ‘underdogs’ in the wine industry.”
How The Shop Is Physically Different: The way we have the shops set up makes it really easy to find what you are looking for. Most other stores are organized by country, region, varietal, etc. We set our stores up progressively, by the weight (or body) of the wines. We start with sparkling wines, then move to lighter bodied whites, medium bodied whites, fuller bodied whites, then we jump over to rosé, then lighter reds, medium bodied reds and fuller bodied reds. Our top shelves are all wines priced $15 and under, then they go up in price as you move your way down the shelves. This is another departure from traditional “liquor store” organization, where they put the lesser priced wines on the bottom.
Trapped On A Desert Isle With One Case From The Shop: It can be a mixed case, right? I want a mixed case of champagne. If I’m on a desert isle, I want some champagne. If I had to pick one producer, it would be Champagne Bereche et Fils.
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Cellar Rat Wine Merchants (1701 Baltimore Ave., KCMO) in the Crossroads hosts private tastings and classes with personable staff who know and have tasted nearly every bottle in the shop. KC just got its first dedicated natural wine shop, Big Mood. Bier Station (120 E. Gregory Blvd., KCMO) has long been a Waldo staple for its grab-and-go model. With pandemic shifts, they now have online “Cart to Car” ordering and a pickup window.
Verdant
Over the past six years, Chentell Shannon has built her fledgling ceramic studio, Convivial Production, into a thriving wholesale and e-commerce business. Her three primary lines—home, table and garden—are solidly functional and glazed in a soothing ivory. In September, Shannon further expanded her profile with a brick-and-mortar shop in the Crossroads called Verdant. This five-hundred-square-foot space is just big enough to highlight Convivial’s garden category, but Shannon is stocking more than her Convivial planters and vases: Verdant also offers a curated selection of plants, floral arrangements and gift items.
Her Favorite Plant: Fig tree. It feels the most “designer” and substantial, and it can make the most impact on a space. The routine of taking care of them is great, and they make a space feel almost subtle and balanced.
On Florals: Initially, we thought we would just do weekend flower arrangements, but when we started renovating the space and people would peek in, they would say, “Oh, you’re a flower shop? We need one!” And we realized that people need flowers every day of the week, so our whole flower program got rehashed. We’ll be offering $3 bundles of eucalyptus or $8 bundles with a bloom. Our motto is “No mess, no fuss.” If you buy a vase, you can also get a bouquet sized for that vase. There’s also a “buy ten, get one free” botanical punch card. We want flowers to be a weekly thing.
She Wants Her Shop Items To Make People Feel: Joy! I want people to feel joy, to feel like they have quality and beauty and that it’s accessible. — Natalie Gallagher
Welwythn
19 On The Mall, Prairie Village
Longtime makeup artist Gina Holmberg knew it was time to make some life changes after meeting with a holistic nutritionist, who had Holmberg assess the products she used, from cleaning supplies to body wash.
“She sent me a couple articles that were all about the toxicity of conventional products and what those toxic ingredients could do to your body,” Holmberg says. “I felt so duped. I was just floored. I kept reading and reading and reading.”
Her natural health and beauty store, Welwythn, sells everything from Gwenyth Paltrow’s popular Goop candles to plant-based skincare lines. —Nicole Bradley
Westside Storey
Westside Storey started out as an antique store in 2012.“My loft overlooked the corner of 17th and Summit,” owner Chris Harrington says. “I would sit on my porch and see how busy the area was from all the restaurants and thought a retail shop would be a good fit [for the area].”
Since then, the shop has evolved into a proud Kansas City space filled with local artisan-made goods and retro finds.
“We carry over one hundred local brands from mom and daughter teams to established brands that have been around for twenty-five years,” Harrington says. “It’s an amazing, supportive industry where everyone wants everyone to win. It’s less competitive and more collaborative.”
KC has one the top luxury vintage sellers in the country, WyCo Vintage (3535 Broadway Blvd., KCMO), which operates a small storefront in Midtown but does most of its business on Instagram, with big-spenders and touring celebrities making the pilgrimage to the shop’s VIP loft. We Got Your Back Apparel (8750 Penrose Lane, Lenexa) at Lenexa Public Market produces super-soft KC swag and is known for its colorful sugar skull prints. With three locations around the metro, Rally House is a go-to for a quick ball cap buy before a Royals game or to wait in line for a Super Bowl playoffs tee. Raygun (1803 Baltimore Ave., KCMO) has expertly pivoted during the pandemic, selling tees with cheeky block-letter phrases like “Help Keep Patrick Mahomes Safe: Wear a Mask” and “Zoom High School.” No matter where in the city you are, on any given day you’ll find at least one person wearing a KC heart shirt. You can thank Charlie Hustle (419 W. 47th St., KCMO) for that.
Stop ‘N Shop
Country Club Plaza
The spot: The granddaddy of ’em all, Country Club Plaza is a KC institution that also happens to be an upscale outdoor shopping plaza. The shops are decidedly high-end (Anthropologie, Athletica, Apple) and will soon include a Nordstrom. Kendra Scott and Tivol are two great spots to buy gifts on the Plaza.
Where to eat: The big chains get the most square footage (Shake Shack, Fogo de Chao, Capital Grille) but there are some local gems, too, like Classic Cup Cafe, Jack Stack and The Granfalloon.
Make a day of it: In summer months, you’ll find gondolas floating on Brush Creek. Around the holidays, horse-drawn carriages take riders around to see the Christmas lights.
Legends
The spot: KC’s designer outlet mall, Legends, has dozens of shops, ranging from Tory Burch to TJ Maxx and from J. Crew to Journey’s. The neighboring area also houses the massive Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Where to eat: The offshoot of Arthur Bryant’s was our go-to here, but it closed late last year. You can get barbecue at Blind Box inside Nebraska Furniture Mart or find loads of national chains at the Legends, such as Culver’s and Panda Express.
Make a day of it: The Legends is right next to Kansas Speedway and the pitch where Sporting KC plays, and it’s not far from the Renaissance Festival and the large outdoor concert amphitheater where some of the summer’s biggest touring acts perform.
Prairiefire
The spot: One of the newest premium shopping plazas in the city, Overland Park’s Prairiefire has favorite stores like REI, Fat Brain Toys and Threshing Bee.
Where to eat: Some of our favorite pizza in the entire city can be found at Grimaldi’s inside Prairiefire. Chicken ’N Pickle and Brass Onion are other solid picks.
Make a day of it: There’s a natural history museum on site, as well as bowling and bocce at Pinstripes.
Town Center & Park Place
The spot: Leawood’s Town Center and its adjacent plazas have a mix of elite national brands (Crate & Barrel, Apple) and local ones. Among the standouts is Alysa Rene Boutique, where you’ll find elevated basics and pieces from designers like the mid-century modern-inspired Joseph Ribkoff.
Where to eat: Inside Park Place, you’ll find Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant, known for its epic happy hours, plus 801 Chophouse and upscale cocktail lounge Verdigris.
Make a day of it: Park Place is home to JoCo’s only outdoor ice rink, which makes for an idyllic Christmas shopping trip. Not far away, you’ll find the heated bays of Top Golf.
Zona Rosa
The spot: The Northland’s Zona Rosa opened in 2004 with a lineup that includes standards like Sephora, Staples, Old Navy and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Where to eat: Local eateries like Hereford House and Swagat Fine Indian Cuisine join a roster of nationals like Red Robin, Bar Louie and Buffalo Wild Wings. Grab a gallon tub of Topsy’s popcorn—we recommend a blend of the cheddar and caramel deliciousness.
Make a day of it: One of the city’s best comedy clubs, Kansas City Improv, is in the plaza, and you can pop a couple quarters into the cabinets of Draftcade next door.
