Will KC Streetcar extension help businesses boom? Here’s what some said
Despite the gloomy weather on Friday, which was opening day for the KC Streetcar extension, businesses at the new 51st and Brookside stop kept decently busy.
Customers flowed in and out of Ding Dong Dogs, a ballpark-style hot dog restaurant that just opened in September. A few doors down, Crows Coffee poured lattes for a steady stream of visitors.
A barista at Crows said the business was upping its number of employees per shift from three to four, anticipating things to pick up because of new streetcar stop.
“Adding the streetcar line is adding to our volume and daily traffic,” Kendall Pearl with Crows said. “We’re excited to meet a lot of new people — a lot of fresh faces in the store.”
But will the streetcar extension mean more cashflow for surrounding businesses long-term? They hope so. But it’s hard to say what will happen after opening weekend festivities cease.
The line now includes the following stops:
- WWI Museum and Memorial
- 27th and Main: Union Hill
- 31st and Main: Armour
- Armour and Main: Westport
- 39th and Main: Southmoreland
- 43rd and Main: Art Museums
- 45th and Main: Plaza
- Emanuel Cleaver II and Brookside Boulevard: Plaza
- 51st and Brookside Boulevard: UMKC
What do KC businesses expect?
Kari Lindner, a manager for Made in KC Marketplace on the Country Club Plaza, said much of the shopping district’s foot traffic comes from tourists staying in surrounding hotels.
While the Plaza is within walking distance for many out-of-towners, those without cars are less likely to venture downtown. So extending the streetcar allows those staying at the InterContinental, for example, to quickly ride to Power & Light for a drink.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily going to bring more traffic; I think it’s going to change traffic,” Lindner said.
Lindner hopes that the streetcar will reduce parking garage congestion and make travel to events like the Plaza Art Fair and Plaza lighting ceremony much easier.
Bonus: She lives near a stop.
“Personally, I’m very excited,” she said. “I will be able to (take the) streetcar to work.”
At the Plaza’s Grand Street Cafe, general manager Drew Davies said his restaurant has been preparing for the opening by renovating its dining room.
And with construction beginning more than three years ago, it’s been a long time coming.
“It’s been kind of growing pains,” he said. “So we’re definitely very optimistic to have it bringing folks up from UMKC and down from the Marriott.”
Farther down the tracks at 39th and Main streets, coffee shop and bakery Soli Deo reported a slightly more active day than usual.
Before it was Soli Deo, Heather White ran a similar concept in the space called Enchante. (She also owns Tailleur and Cheval nearby.) But crime and streetcar construction made “operating a safe and successful business impossible,” White told The Star in March.
Soli Deo took over in April, and manager Abbey Hansen is hopeful the construction inconveniences will pay off.
“This area doesn’t have a lot of foot traffic, so that’s the main difference we’re hoping to see, and already are kind of seeing today,” she said.
Also near the 39th Street stop is Victor Ejelonu’s West African restaurant, My Village Grill Restaurant and Event Space. He hopes the streetcar will cut down on parking issues in the area and encourage students and visitors from all over the city to venture out.
“We’re so excited about it,” he said. “You don’t have to drive your car to us — you just come in, grab your food, and go back onto the streetcar onto the campus.”
Plus, Ejelonu is hopeful 2026 FIFA World Cup visitors will have an easier trek to his restaurant.
Predictions aside, time will determine how many businesses along the tracks see a bump in sales.
“It’s one of those waiting games,” Lindner said. “We’re all very excited, but it’s kind of just a — we’ll see how it goes.”
The Star’s Tammy Ljungblad contributed to this report.