Openings & Closings

Kansas City wine bar and grocer is closing after 6 years. ‘We’ve had a good run’

Mat Adkins, owner of The Pairing Wine & Grocer in Kansas City’s Crossroads district.
Mat Adkins, owner of The Pairing Wine & Grocer in Kansas City’s Crossroads district. The Kansas City Star

A Kansas City wine bar and grocer is closing in the Crossroads neighborhood.

The Pairing: Crossroads Wine & Grocer has announced it will shut down its business at 1615 Oak St.

A social media post from owner Mat Adkins explained that he fought “tooth and nail” to keep the business from closing but ultimately decided things weren’t working.

“I could give you a hundred reasons why I felt like I never got a fair shot (covid, the city, crime, economy) but I also made some mistakes along the way,” he wrote. “Either way, we had a great run, maybe not as long as I’d have liked but still something I’ll forever be proud of building.”

The Pairing will begin the process of closing in the spring.

“So much love to our patrons, friends, and especially my staff who will always mean the world to me,” Adkins said in his post.

Founded in 2019, The Pairing sells a selection of white and red wines, beer, ciders and other spirits. Customers can enjoy their wine at the bar or purchase bottles to go.

The space doubles as a music venue.

On the business’ Facebook page, customers expressed support.

“I’m wrecked for you all. Sorry, Mat,” wrote one user. “My absolute favorite place in town.”

Adkins spoke to The Star in February about the Royals’ then-proposed ballpark in the Crossroads, which would have resulted in his business being demolished.

“The Crossroads is one of the only neighborhoods left in KC that’s almost exclusively locally owned and operated and full of independent businesses,” he said.

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Jenna Thompson
The Kansas City Star
Jenna Thompson covers retail news for The Kansas City Star. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, she previously reported for the Lincoln Journal Star and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she studied journalism and English.
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