The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the landscape for Kansas City, Missouri's small businesses as many have struggled to survive.
Nearly seven months into the pandemic, several shops have closed for good, while others are adjusting or even expanding.
DIALOGUE WITH THEPUBLIC.AND RIGHT NOW FOOTTRAFFIC AND SALES HAVEPLUMMETED FOR MOSTLOCAL STORES DURINGTHE PANDEMIC...BUT AS 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER NICK STARLINGEXPLAINS SOME AREADJUSTING TO SURVIVE.NEARLY SEVEN MONTHSINTO THISPANDEMIC---WE'VE SEENSEVERAL LOCAL SHOPSCLOSE FOR GOOD AS THEMONEY COMING IN HASDRASTICALLY SLOWEDDOWN--WHILE OTHERSARE TRYING TO SURVIVEAND SOME EXPANDING.Kilee Nickels"CEO and FounderofNickel & Suede.I"m from Kansas City sothis is just a dream come trueto have this spot.IT"S A BIG DAY FORKILEE NICKELS"THE CEOAND FOUNDER OF NICKELAND SUEDE"AS THEYOPEN THEIR THIRDLOCATION HERE ON THEPLAZA.The Plaza is such adestination and there"s somany people that come in andbring their friends and bringtheir family.EVEN DURING APANDEMICKilee Nickels"CEO and FounderofNickel & Suede.We said yeah, we"re goingto do it and so we"re justleaning into optimism and feellike, you know what peopleare going to, retail is notgoingaway.Kristen Minner, KC resident,shopperI think it"s really good forKansas City and the growthhere.ON THE FLIPSIDE OTHERLOCAL BUSINESSES HAVESTRUGGLED INCLUDINGRUBY JEANS JUICERYChris Goode, owner Ruby JeansJuiceryOur sales have drasticallydeclined during the pandemic,we"ve closed a location,we"ve temporary closedanother location so we"vecondensed to just our 30thand Troost location.BUT THEY"RE USINGTHIS TIME TO ADJUST ANDHAVING POP UP EVENTSLIKE AT THE HALLS STOREIN CROWN CENTERSELLING THEIR JUICE ANDT-SHIRTS WITH 15-PERCENT OF PROCEEDSGOING TO OPERATIONBREAKTHROUGH.Chris Goode, owner Ruby JeansJuiceryA way to create a rising tide totogether and also give backand have that heart posture ofgiving even in the midst of ourchallenges.A CHALLENGE TO URGECUSTOMERS TO SHOLOCALKEEPING THEIRMONEY IN THISCOMMUNITY TO HELP THEMSURVIVE DURING THISPANDEMIC.Kristen Minner, KC resident,shopperWe got to help those smallstores stay alive.Chris Goode, owner Ruby JeansJuiceryIt couldn"t be moreimportant than right now.REPORTING IN KANSASCITY.
Record numbers of people are starting new businesses, and more and more of them are women and minorities, according to a new study...