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Six standout projects fueling Kansas City’s expansion

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Kansas City’s growth shines through several impactful new projects. On the East Side, a local lumber yard owner plans to build 500 affordable homes, addressing a housing gap for middle-class families. Culinary expansion is strong, too, with Urban Egg planning more breakfast spots in Johnson County and KPot launching its third Korean BBQ and hot pot restaurant at Metro North Crossing. The city also welcomes Grinning Bull BBQ, offering Texas-style brisket and Frito pie in Westport.

Entertainment is also evolving, as the new Warehouse on Broadway brings a much-needed mid-sized music venue and restaurant to the area.

Chelsee Chism, Economic Development Director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

NO. 1: KEY HIRE CASTS BROAD VISION TO BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN KCK, WYANDOTTE COUNTY

After a two-year vacancy, the Unified Government announced the crucial position has been filled at a crucial time for the county. | Published October 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by blukitsch@kcstar.comBill Lukitsch

A Texas-style BBQ restaurant will soon open in Westport.

NO. 2: TEXAS BBQ IS COMING TO KC: NEW RESTAURANT WILL SERVE BRISKET, MAC AND CHEESE, MORE

“I know we’ve got our work cut out for us, because there’s a lot of good barbecue in Kansas City,” the owner said. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The Denver hot chicken eggs benedict has lightly fried chicken, roasted chili buffalo sauce, buttermilk biscuit, ranch, hollandaise sauce, bleu cheese, celery and carrots.

NO. 3: BREAKFAST CHAIN WITH KC TIES EYES AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION IN METRO: JOHNSON COUNTY, MORE

The founder used the lessons he learned while working at Houston’s in KC to open his chain. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Warehouse on Broadway, a new live-music venue near Westport, debuts in March.

NO. 4: NEW MUSIC VENUE AND RESTAURANT COMING TO KC: ‘THERE AREN’T ANY OTHER ROOMS THIS SIZE’

Food and tunes will return to the space next month. | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Hudnall

Daniel Edwards and his wife Ebony Edwards, a Kansas City psychologist, are among a handful of Black lumber yard owners in the country and he wants to use his resources to build much needed homes in the KC metro.

NO. 5: KC LUMBER YARD OWNER PLANS TO BUILD 500 HOMES ON KC’S EAST SIDE WITHIN FOUR YEARS

“I can say through my research I am one of probably five Black owned lumber yards in the country.” | Published March 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by J.M. Banks

KPot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot has opened its third area location.

NO. 6: KOREAN BBQ, HOT POT RESTAURANT OPENS ANOTHER KANSAS CITY AREA LOCATION

The chain boasts of being the “largest and fastest-growing Korean BBQ and hot pot restaurant in the U.S.” | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.