Joyce Smith
Contributor
Flatland contributor Joyce Smith has covered retail and restaurants for nearly 40 years with The Kansas City Star.
Stories by Joyce Smith
New Owners Spark Hope for Country Club Plaza
Many people with a stake in the Country Club Plaza say the new owners of the iconic shopping district have made a good first impression.
Kansas City Shopping Malls at an Economic Crossroads
While new owners plan to revive the Country Club Plaza, Oak Park Mall and Independence Center - the area's last enclosed malls - face different futures.
Meeting Hints at New Owners’ Plan for Country Club Plaza
Kansas City’s iconic Country Club Plaza is finally getting new owners. A meeting Tuesday offered some hints on what the future holds for the shopping district.
Nurturing the Sweet Nectar of Urban Beekeeping
Kansas City businesses seeking locally sourced honey are embracing urban beekeeping. Meet some who seek to shorten the food chain and support the environment.
Buc-ee’s Picks Kansas City Location for Gargantuan Gas Station
Buc-ee's, a Texas-based convenience store chain that touts the world's largest gas stations, has picked a site for its first location in the Kansas City area.
Here’s the Buzz on a Booming Business in Bees
Erik and Rachael Messner turned a growing passion for bees into a thriving family business with Messner Bee Farm on the eastern edge of Raytown.
Nell Hill’s Founder Returns With ‘This Little Secret’ Shop
Nell Hill's founder Mary Carol Garrity has returned to retail with a "little secret" shop in a Midtown Kansas City antique mall. Here are the details.
Restaurants Become Cornerstones of Troost Renaissance
Kansas City's historic racial dividing line, Troost Avenue, is emerging as the home of a diverse mix of restaurants, pointing to a brighter future.
New ‘Play Cafe’ Coming to Long-Vacant Brookside Shop
Hümanette cafe, scheduled to open this spring in the heart of Brookside, seeks to create a “parent-forward, child-focused" space focused on family.
Where’s Waldo? KC Neighborhood Embraces, Grapples with Growth
A new $90 million apartment project is only the biggest sign that the Waldo neighborhood in Kansas City is entering something of a post-pandemic boom.