Border Brewing Company. Mildred’s. Blue Nile Cafe. Donutology at the Trolley. Pilgrim Coffeehouse. French Custard. Campground. Enzo. And that’s just the shortlist.
Besides being beloved Kansas City businesses, these names have one thing in common: they’ve all been hit in a recent wave of break-ins, leaving many with boarded up doors and windows — though the decoration varies.
The problem has had a spotlight on it these past few weeks, urging city leaders to share a solution. Mayor Q has now responded with a historic proposed ordinance: the Back to Business Fund.
Introduced on Wednesday, the fund (if approved by city council) would reimburse small businesses for repairs + additional security measures following this kind of offense. It would also be a first for the City of Fountains, though it borrows inspiration from similar city ordinances across the country — particularly Hyattsville, MD (a suburb of Washington, DC), which has a “prevention and recovery” approach that appealed to KC leaders.
Wondering who’s eligible? A timeline? What else the city plans to do? Lucky for you, your dutiful City Editors are already on it — here’s what we heard at yesterday’s press conference:
The ordinance’s outline
Small businesses affected by burglaries or vandalism from July 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025 would be eligible for the fund, says Mayor Q and managing director of KC BizCare Nia Richardson.
How much money exactly?
There’s a few numbers being thrown around. Officials are considering offering ~$3,000 for repair-related costs, with up to $5,000 for additional security measures per business. Nothing is set in stone, but the city does have a total of $325,000 to work with from its Violence Prevention and Intervention Fund.
What is “small?”
Richardson shared with KCtoday that more research needs to be done on “who’s being impacted.” We do know that, as with similar programs across the country, chains and other franchise locations are unlikely to be included.
When can we expect to see the money?
Applications are expected to open in early October, as long as the city council passes the ordinance at next week’s meeting.
Hear from local owners
“We as business owners wear so many hats — plumber, electrician, friend. [...] Whenever things like this distract us, it’s the hardest part of what we do,” Joe Giammanco, co-owner of City Barrel, said.
The well-known East Crossroads brewery recently expanded with a second location in Waldo. City Barrel Pizza + Patio celebrated its second month in business in late August — that night, one of its windows was smashed through.
“My door is going to be about $7,500 to replace. My insurance deductible is $5,000. That leaves a massive gap in where I’m at. Programs like this are going to help us — small businesses, a restaurant that already runs in extremely low margins — get through.”
The Back to Business fund will help local spots recover from theft + vandalism, but many are asking about prevention tactics. Another ordinance is rolling through city hall this week that would refurbish KCPD’s 8th floor into a temporary holding and booking facility.
So what’s next?
While you can’t cast a vote at next week’s city council meeting, you can grab a pumpkin spice latte from Mildred’s next time you’re in the Crossroads, or stop in for a cupcookie at McLain’s on your afternoon break.
Here at KCtoday, you’ll always find us uplifting the local spots that make Kansas City special. Have another suggestion for how to support small businesses right now? Drop us a line and we may share it in a future newsletter.
