KC BBQ sauces, T-shirts, games. The Best of Kansas City shop opens Northland location

The Best of Kansas City has opened a summer pop-up shop in downtown Parkville.

It sells merchandise that has a Kansas City-area theme or is made in the area — or both. That includes gourmet foods, collectibles, gifts, T-shirts, local barbecue sauces and candy, postcards of Kansas City landmarks, magnets, board games, puzzles, soaps and candles.

Customers also can order The Best of Kansas City gift baskets at the new location.

The Best of Kansas City was founded in the late 1970s in Brookside but the store later closed. A Crown Center shop has been operating since 1986.

Montica Alexander bought the company in 1999.

“Most of the staff, including myself, live in the Northland,” she said. “We’ve always wanted a location up north and Parkville seemed like a great fit for us. It has evolved into a shopping and dining experience and there was nothing like this down there. We love the quaint downtown in Parkville and the community has embraced us with open arms.”

She dubs it the “Summer House” because they can see the sun, unlike the indoor Crown Center shop. She has a lease through September and hopes to extend the lease or expand the store in another location in downtown Parkville.