KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Founded in 1838, Kansas City has long been a center for trade, creativity, and friendly faces. Almost 200 years later, those qualities still thrive in this city straddling Missouri and Kansas. Locals are well aware of it, but the world is starting to take notice. This newfound recognition has led to a surge in hometown pride merchandise, significantly benefiting local entrepreneurs.

“We have always been a hidden gem,” shares Jessica Palm, vice president of the Area Development Council for Kansas City. “However, we’re now entering a golden age.”

At Parisi Coffee located within Union Station, Palm articulates the strategy to transform the city into a worldwide attraction. Kansas City is indeed on the right track, highlighted by several significant developments: a new state-of-the-art airport terminal opened in February 2023, the KC Current stadium became the first women’s professional sports venue globally, a major Google facility is being developed, and a $4 billion Panasonic plant is underway. Not to mention, the blossoming connection between Taylor Swift and Chiefs player Travis Kelce has also contributed.

“This week, you’ll feel the warmth we call ‘Kansas City kindness,'” says Palm. Her department arranged interviews with local businesses impacted by the Swift-Kelce relationship, hinting at the community’s Midwestern hospitality. “People here would give you the shirts off their backs.”

Palm’s assertion rings true. I’ve experienced it firsthand. Once at a Chiefs-Eagles game last year, as light rain fell and my choice of jacket left me chilled, a fellow fan kindly offered me his coat, saying, “No way I’m letting you freeze.”

I’ll share about my second experience shortly.

KC is Timeless

Since Swift attended her first Chiefs game on September 24, 2023, local boutiques have swiftly responded by launching merchandise aimed at both football fans and Swifties.

“The enthusiasm at the game was incredible,” remarks Elle Steadman, owner of Pink Dinosaur. “My customers and I thought, ‘We need Taylor-inspired merch!’”

A fashion major from the University of Missouri, Steadman, a mother of four, channeled her creativity to design trucker hats that say “Red Era,” beaded heart sunglasses, and clever red sweatshirts reading “Who’s Afraid of Little Old KC Football (You Should Be).”

“Our online following surged by 170%,” says Steadman, 41. “We were stuck at 26,000 followers on Instagram for ages, but once Swift showed up at a game, we skyrocketed to 41,000.”

While Swift hasn’t worn any Pink Dinosaur items yet, she’s made purchases from other local shops.

“She has transformed our lives,” says Chris Harrington, owner of Westside Storey.

In October 2023, Harrington and his partner, Kathryn Cacho, sent a bundle of five vintage sweatshirts to a place connected to Swift’s team. Cacho cleverly included a hand-knitted beanie — white with the number 87. Swift wore several of Harrington’s sweatshirts, alongside the unique beanie, to various games last season. Consequently, after the buzz circulated about Westside Storey’s role, sales skyrocketed to tenfold in the following days. Cacho’s beanie sold out instantly, forcing her to limit orders to 300.

“We just completed the preorders,” Cacho states almost a year later. “It was just me, my sister, and a tiny team managing it. We’re still accepting orders, but in batches of 20 beanies.”

It appears that Swift is not finished showcasing their designs, as she sported a T-shirt dress during the Bengals-Chiefs matchup.

Although Harrington and Cacho cannot definitively say that Swift wore their specific item, they had the same dress in stock the previous week.

“What I thought would be a brief ‘honeymoon period’ has now extended into something much longer,”

According to Harrington, “(Swift) has opened up new possibilities for us.” He mentions, “We are considering other locations and planning to expand our office and inventory space.”

Other clothing shops in the area experiencing growth include Fetch, a trendy venue; We Got Your Back Apparel, a unique store in Overland Park; and Made in KC, which operates a chain of 10 stores.

Additionally, EB and Co., a boutique that sold the No. 87 gold jersey ring worn by Swift at the AFC championship, has also seen significant success.

“It’s been absolutely crazy,” remarks owner Emily Bordner. “I’ve run this business for around 12 years, and since Taylor wore our ring, we’ve been flooded with tags from everyone.”

The boutique sold out of their 200 rings instantly, prompting Bordner to set up a preorder option that garnered 5,000 more requests. For five months, they hustled to send out rings and meet the overwhelming demand.

“Thanks to (Swift) and Donna (Kelce), I was able to purchase my dream home this year,” Bordner adds. “It’s thrilling, but as a business owner, I’m thinking, ‘How do we prepare for Year 2?’ We are definitely learning as we go.”

Bordner reports an 83% increase in sales this year and has expanded her wholesale clientele by 3,000%.

Rare Date Nights

Piropos, an Argentinian-themed restaurant, has become a notable part of the TnT love story. This 23-year-old establishment, vaguely named after an Argentinian saying that equates beauty to sin, was one of the couple’s early date spots.

“Kelce has frequently visited, especially after his Super Bowl victory in 2022,” says owner Cristina Worden. “It felt like a typical night. Nothing spectacular.”

When Kelce and Swift arrived, Worden instructed her staff to refrain from taking photos or messaging their friends.

“At around 8:30 p.m., the manager called, saying, ‘Taylor and Kelce are here,'” recalls Worden. “I told the team, ‘Stay calm, treat them well, and give them space.’

In Kansas City, it’s customary to show respect to celebrities when they are out and about.

When Kelce appeared at the Trader Joe’s near his home in Leawood, Kansas, the store fell silent as he made his purchase. Everyone smiled and looked on, but no one approached him. Kansas City is small enough that news travels quickly, yet respectful enough that locals generally allow celebrities their privacy.

“We wanted to maintain confidentiality,” states Sheila MacDonald, marketing consultant for Piropos. “Our aim was for them to feel secure and not have to worry about onlookers or paparazzi.”

Seated in the banquet room, the couple ordered dishes like empanadas and mahi mahi, along with a special bottle of wine, Château Lamothe.

“That wine is our best seller,” MacDonald mentions. The banquet room has since been the site for a Swiftie bride who unexpectedly changed attire there to surprise her guests with a pop-up wedding, as well as a blogger who detailed what TnT might have experienced.

Food for Taylor Swift Fans

You can’t miss the “TS” in donuts, and a local donut shop—where Kelce frequents—has introduced a special 30-pack aimed at fans of Swift.

“Before the Eras Tour came to Kansas City last year, we launched a 30-pack of mini donuts that outperformed all our previous campaigns in terms of preorders,” states Abby Meyer, the marketing director of Donutology. “We embraced the Taylor-gating theme because not many people will finish 30 mini donuts in one go.”

Donutology has come up with witty donut names inspired by Taylor Swift song lyrics such as “Caramel Is a Cat,” “Guilty as Cinnamon,” “Lavender Glaze,” and “Loving Him Was Red Velvet.”

Owner Andrew Cameron, 36, shared, “We sold an extra 20,000 donuts beyond our usual sales,” as he prepares for a busy fall football season. “This year, we have an exclusive Taylor Swift pack.”

McLain’s Bakery, a beloved establishment for nearly 80 years, is launching a sixth location on Swift Street in North Kansas.

Owner Mollie Lothman mentioned, “Our fifth location is on Travis Street. We didn’t plan this; those leases were signed back in spring 2023.”

The bakery offers customized “Lover” cakes and heart-shaped treats. One popular item is a frosted cake showcasing two hands – one with Swift’s signature red nail polish and the other wearing a Kelce Chiefs glove.

Lothman, 38, noted, “Comparing the 2022-2023 football season numbers to those from 2023-2024, our cakery team experienced a 40% increase in sales. I credit a lot of this to Taylor.”

“Every day I walk through our cake department, there’s something being decorated that’s inspired by Taylor Swift,” remarked Cassidy Garr, director of guest experience.

‘Part of the community’

Mayor Quinton Lucas took a quick 15 minutes between City Hall meetings to discuss Swift’s influence on his city.

“She’s an extraordinary global figure that people are drawn to,” Lucas said. “I’ve encountered many prominent figures, but there’s a unique joy that surrounds Taylor.”

Lucas has met Swift several times since she has gained an affinity for his city, and while he cannot predict if she’ll make Kansas City her permanent home, he is thankful for Kelce’s role in bringing Swift to town.

“I take pride in the way he’s integrating her into our community,” Lucas stated. “They visit local spots we enjoy and go about their lives like normal people. He found a great home because he’s with an amazing girl.”

Throughout her Eras Tour, Swift has generously donated significant contributions to local food banks. Before her July 2023 concerts, the community food network, Harvesters, received outreach from Swift’s team.

Jillian Williams, the Director of Philanthropy for Harvesters, explained, “This support means a lot. We’re a large organization serving many counties, and we have trucks delivering food to rural areas. Taylor’s spotlight on us enhances our visibility and encourages donations.”

‘Sharing the KC love’

On my last day in town, I visited KCTV5 to chat with anchors Kerrigan Arnold and Shane Konicki. During my previous visit, I forgot my winter coat. This time, however, I managed to forget my dress socks instead.

Jessica Palm from the Area Development Council stepped away from the green room moments after I mentioned it, and soon after, I received a pair of space-themed socks. As the segment concluded, I was heading to my car when Palm caught up with me, saying, “Bryan, we need the socks back. They belong to one of the main anchors.”

Kansas City’s motto of “Sharing the K.C. Love” reflects how the community supports one another, even lending clothing when needed. As the area welcomes Swift’s influence and her relationship with Kelce, locals hope she might just decide to make Kansas City her home in the future.