Alumni Businesses Along the KC Streetcar Line

The KC Streetcar’s Main Street Extension is expected to be completed this year. The project will add eight additional stops, serving as a literal and metaphorical bridge between UMKC and the Kansas City community. UMKC is Kansas City’s top university, and the streetcar stop right at UMKC will connect the campus to various alumni-owned businesses. Here is what some of them had to say about the streetcar and their connections to UMKC.

BY KRITHIKA SELVARAJOO

L to R: Nicholas Grünauer (BBA '06, MBA '08), Dulcinea Herrera (BBA '22), Jhy Coutler (B.A. '17), Chris Beier (BBA '09, MBA '12) and Vu Radley (B.A. '12) PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO

Jhy Coutler (B.A. '17) PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO

Orange by: Devoured

When Jhy Coutler (B.A. '17) turned in her design senior project — a foodie magazine concept named Devoured — she had no idea the concept would be brought to life just four years later. After graduation, she started an Instagram account to bring Devoured Magazine to life. She cooked different foods and shared them on the account to highlight what she was making.

“It is funny how my senior project helped kickstart the whole concept of Devoured. It was like a blessing in disguise. My experiences at UMKC also helped me feel confident enough to continue my journey in design. Right now, I still do all the marking and design for Devoured," Coutler said.

After winning a pizza oven in 2019, she decided to dive into the pop-up business with Devoured Pizza. In August 2024, Coutler opened Orange by: Devoured, a microconcept of Devoured in Martini Corner. The spot serves pizzas and small-plate tapas.

“The streetcar expansion means a lot for the city. To me, it is a huge opportunity for my business to become a staple in such a charming neighborhood,” Coutler said. “I think Martini Corner is a hidden gem. This expansion will allow more people in the neighborhood to thrive and access small businesses more easily. Hopefully, it will also encourage them to explore new pockets of the city.”

Chris Beier (BBA '09, MBA '12) PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO

Strange Days Brewing Company

Nestled on the corner of the River Market, Strange Days Brewing Co. has been open for business since 2018. The spot was founded by Nathan Howard, Alec Vemmer and UMKC alum Chris Beier (BBA '09, MBA '12). The concept started brewing when they were homebrewing in a garage.

Homebrew days lasted 10 to 12 hours starting early in the morning while soccer games played throughout the day. They continued to brew, serve at festivals and participate in competitions, realizing an opportunity existed for a small brewery concept that focused on unique beers and opened early for soccer fans to watch televised matches. From there, Strange Days Brewing Co. was created.

Beier says that his experience at UMKC played a role in being the co-founder of Strange Days Brewing Co.

“While working on my degree, I participated in the E-Scholars program,” Beier said. “This program allowed me to work through every aspect of the business, form a business plan and work with mentors.”

Vu Radley (B.A. '12) PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO

MADE MOBB

Vu Radley (B.A. ’12) started MADE MOBB, a streetwear brand, with his friends 10 years ago. Since opening, MADE MOBB has dropped various collaborations with different Kansas City brands including the Kansas City Chiefs, KC Current, Worlds of Fun and Café Ca Phé.

MADE MOBB designs most of its collaboration merchandise in-house, and Radley attributes this ability to UMKC allowing him to sharpen his design chops and learn important skills such as how to put a design together that goes to print. He is especially passionate about the various collaborations MADE MOBB creates. “There is a lot of talent in Kansas City, and it is fulfilling to be able to support the community and elevate Kansas City businesses, especially small businesses, whether that is with a capsule collaboration or having them pop up in our space,” said Radley. “I want to continue doing this and also focus on collaborating with not just businesses, but also local Kansas City creatives.”

Bringing things full circle, UMKC partnered with MADE MOBB for its first Roos Mobb collaboration in 2023. To launch the collection, UMKC hosted a pop-up event at MADE MOBB featuring various UMKC alumni- and student-owned businesses. The event was a success, and in late 2024 the second line of Roos Mobb merchandise was released during a similar event. Keep an eye out in the fall of 2025 for this year’s release and pop-up!

Dulcinea Herrera (BBA '22) PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO

Café Corazón

Café Corazón opened in 2019 as the first Latin and Indigenous coffee shop in Kansas City. Dulcinea Herrera (BBA '22) and her parents felt that the origins of coffee, deeply rooted in South American and Native American cultures, deserved recognition. They wanted to share the drinks, foods and traditions they grew up with, and create a space where people could experience the true heritage behind every cup.

Herrera, who studied business with an emphasis in marketing, says that her degree has been foundational to Café Corazón's success.

“The skills I gained in marketing have allowed me to create meaningful connections between culture and community,” Herrera said. “Every strategy, campaign and decision at Café Corazón is infused with the principles I learned — it's not just about selling coffee, it's about telling a story that honors our Latin and Indigenous roots.”

Café Corazon now has two locations, one in Westport and the other in the Crossroads. Both locations will be more accessible, thanks to the streetcar expansion.

“The streetcar expansion represents a new chapter of accessibility and connection for Kansas City,” Herrera said. “It’s exciting because it brings more people into the heartbeat of our city, allowing them to experience the vibrancy of local businesses. For Café Corazón, it means we can welcome more of our community and visitors to share in our culture, making KC a more connected and supportive place for all of us.”

Nicholas Grünauer (BBA '06, MBA '08) PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO

Grünauer

Nicholas Grünauer (BBA '06, MBA '08) chose UMKC because of the Bloch School’s faculty and facilities. He also cites Kansas City’s urban campus as another reason.

“Kansas City is my adopted hometown, and I have always been passionate about working to make urban Kansas City a great and dynamic place to live and work,” said Grünauer.

After graduating with his MBA in 2008, he decided to open Grünauer down in the Crossroads, attempting to recreate his family’s restaurant, Gasthaus Grünauer, located in Vienna, Austria.

Open since 2010, Grünauer serves Austrian and Central European cuisine just a short walk from the Crossroads streetcar stop.

“I fully believe the streetcar Main Street expansion is going to be a transformative investment for Kansas City and UMKC,” Grünauer said. “Connecting the River-Crown-Plaza-UMKC corridor is going to unlock so much economic activity. Projects like this are extremely complicated to get to completion, and I couldn't be prouder of our city for getting this major infrastructure project over the finish line.”

EB and Co.

In 2012, Emily Bordner (B.A. '11) was on the hunt for the perfect handbag: something modern and simple, affordable yet high quality. When she could not find what she was looking for, she decided to make her own. With word of mouth traveling about her bags, and a few successful pop-ups, EB and Co. was born.

Although EB and Co. started off selling handmade leather bags, the brand now offers other accessories such as jewelry and hair clips. In 2019, Bordner opened her first storefront in Brookside and expanded to the Plaza in 2021.

"We are so excited to have the [streetcar] expansion near us, I think it will have a direct and positive impact on sales and the community around it,” said Bordner.

The store has continued to grow in popularity since 2019; Taylor Swift was even spotted wearing an EB and Co. 87 Chiefs ring at the 2024 Superbowl!

Emily Bordner (B.A. '11)