06.22.2023

Today’s Forecast

90º Sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise 5:53 a.m. | Sunset 8:48 p.m.

Small biz spotlight: MADE MOBB

Learn about Kansas City small business MADE MOBB’s journey to big success

Editor Bella’s favorite MADE MOBB piece is the NFL Draft T-shirts. | Photo by KCtoday

Small businesses make up so many of our favorite parts of Kansas City — including retail brand MADE MOBB, based in the Crossroads Arts District.

Editor Bella sat down with the MADE MOBB team to chat about their journey + what KC can expect next from the small but mighty biz.

When did the business come to life? Give us some historical context.

“We started in 2012 but on paper [it was] 2013 that we launched our first collection,” co-owner Mark Launiu shared.

“Back in the day, we used to be a four season collection clothing company where we drop a collection once every season. One of those shirts would always give a shout out to Kansas City. Of course, that one shirt would always sell out. So we’re like, maybe we should start doing more Kansas City stuff,” co-owner Jesse Phouangphet told us.

What was the inspiration behind the biz?

“A lot of the inspiration behind our stuff is the mob style. We got our name from the movie ‘Good Fellas’ and just liked the feel and vibe of it. It’s like you can’t touch them unless they’re a made man, so we always rode deep with that,” Mark told us.

What does Kansas City mean to you?

“Kansas City has been a great city to grow in. We’re going through a lot of changes in Kansas City. There’s so much life back in Kansas City that we’re just super hyped on, and we really just wanted to be in the position to be able to not only affect the community, but also be a part of the growth,” Jesse said.

“We allow Kansas City to wear their pride, you know, through clothing.”

First Fridays, advice + more history

Events

Thursday, June 22

Strawberry Hill Urban Hike | Thursday, June 22 | 4:30-7 p.m. | Splitlog Coffee, 548 Central Ave., Kansas City, KS | $38 | See the beautiful homes of Strawberry Hill, the Wyandot Burial ground, and hear stories of courageous enslaved people who escaped to freedom.
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights | Thursday, June 22 | 7 p.m. | KC Live! | $30 | Pull up to this country party with Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line.

Friday, June 23

Q BBQ Fest Kansas City | Friday, June 23-Saturday, June 24 | Times vary | Arrowhead Stadium | $69 | Watch legendary pit masters serve up award-winning barbecue, and taste some of it too.
Superstar Mafia | Friday, June 23 | 8 p.m. | Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester St., Kansas City, MO | $15 | This local dance band, founded in 2016, plays everything from classic songs of the 60s and 70s all the way up to today’s pop hits.

Saturday, June 24

Fashion Wine Walk | Saturday, June 24 | 3-6 p.m. | Legends Outlets, 1843 Village W. Pkwy., Kansas City, KS | Free entry | Taste local wines and shop summer staples.
Fall Out Boy | Saturday, June 24 | 6:30 p.m. | Azura Amphitheater | $46-$350 | Jam out to pop punk tunes like “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” and “Thnks fr th Mmrs.”

Sunday, June 25

Carnival for CASA | Sunday, June 25 | 12-3 p.m. | Faulkner’s Ranch, 10600 Raytown Rd., Kansas City, MO | $15-$30 | Bring the kids out for this western-themed function, fit with a petting farm, corn cannon, and zipline.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Sports

Red Kingdom, this one is for you. Five Chiefs players made their way to the CBS Sports “Top 100 NFL Players of 2023.” Patrick Mahomes took the spot for No. 1, and Travis Kelce landed at No. 6. Other players on the list include Chris Jones, Creed Humphrey, and Joe Thuney.

Development

One step closer. The KC Current’s Berkley Riverfront stadium project installed the final steel beam, inching towards a 2024 completion date. Community members (like us) signed the beam to celebrate the accomplishment for KC + historic win for women’s sports.

Civic

The City of Kansas City, MO’s 2023 general election included decisions on the mayor and 12 City Council seats on the ballot. The results are in — Mayor Quinton Lucas will officially serve KCMO for four more years. See the City Council outcomes. (FOX4)

Biz

United Way’s $2 million Catalyst Fund officially selected its first 22 nonprofit grantees. The fund — backed by the Kauffman Foundation — advances small nonprofit organizations that are led by or primarily serve people of color in KC. (Startland News)

Edu

Shawnee Mission School District approved compensation increases for certified teachers, principals, counselors, and parent educators. The school board decided to boost the pay up to nearly 7% to deal with persistent staffing setbacks. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Wellness

Bahhh — that’s namaste in goat language. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is bringing back Goat Yoga, an outdoor yoga class accompanied by goats. Class dates range from Tuesday, June 27 through Saturday, Sept. 16, and tickets are $30.

Drink

A crushable summer beverage that won’t leave you with a hangover the next day? Try Ritual Zero Proof’s All Day Margarita made with alcohol-free tequila.*

Community

See Walt Disney’s legacy around KC

Laugh-O-Gram Studio and the start of Walt Disney’s animation career in Kansas City

A mural on the side of the Laugh-O-Gram building. Walt Disney produces pages of drawings under the words, "Thank You Walt Disney Inc."

This mural marks the preservation of the Laugh-O-Gram building — and symbolizes its future. | Photo by Smuckola via Wikimedia Commons

Disney enthusiasts attest that KC was one missed connection from becoming a worldwide animation capital. Did you know Walt Disney moved to Kansas City at the age of nine and stayed for 13 years before moving to Los Angeles in 1923?

As it stands, we can still find glimpses of the House of Mouse’s foundations scattered downtown, alongside a few locals making serious headway to rekindle that legacy.

Take a whirlwind tour of the animator’s childhood by visiting three still-standing sites:

His childhood home on Bellefontaine Avenue has been the family home of local Roberta Long since the ‘40s — but sightseers still come by in droves. Roberta’s message to interested fans: “You are more than welcome to come by.”
Between studies at Benton Elementary School and delivering papers, Disney took Saturday art classes at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Disney’s knack for drawing animals started with checking out books from the KC Public Library.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Bella

From the editor

The KC Current Stadium brings a tear to my eye every time I drive by it, knowing how big of a victory this project is for our community and women in sports.

What really brought a tear to my eye was signing KCtoday on the final beam and watching it rise to complete the stadium’s skeleton. KC BABY!

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_14}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY