The Black Pantry, a shop with a mission to spotlight Black brands and businesses, continues to grow.
Owner Brian Roberts started his shop as a pop-up trailer, eventually moving in and sharing a space with Made In KC’s Martini Corner store. Now the shop is getting a space all its own, with a few new exciting features.
The Black Pantry’s Midtown location (3134 Gillham Rd., KCMO) officially opens on Feb. 1 at 9 am (there is a soft opening this weekend: Jan. 26, 9 am to 3 pm). The large 2,800 square-foot space will debut coffee and cocktail bar Good Karma Coffee. Customers can shop for vinyls, cookbooks, soaps, candles and more, while some extra seating and tables invite those stopping in for a beverage to hang out and make themselves comfortable.
“Our Market Bar concept is very much curated to mirror not only myself and personal taste but offer diversity in the developmental and economic inclusion into this growing City,” reads The Black Pantry’s Instagram post.
Good Karma Coffee uses primarily the KC-based Marcell Coffee Roasters and Black Drip Coffee for decaf and other specialty drinks. Candied yam, strawberry mocha and banana pudding coffee drinks are the flavor offerings to kick off the Pantry’s new digs.
Eventually, Good Karma Coffee will also sell alcoholic drinks. Roberts says brews from Vine Street Brewing Co., Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery, can also be expected. The owner also plans to bring back the tradition of Saturday Markets, featuring farmers and specialty food vendors who post up at The Black Pantry to sell their goods.
