Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Project Restart

The four founders of Project Restart are two pairs of sisters. We wanted to create a safe space for dancers of varying dance experience levels to come together and feel comfortable and welcomed. Our name stems from a dream of ours to collaborate with other dancers outside our group, and to treat each performance “project” as a “restart”. We do not hold auditions, but rather add members that are friends of current members in hopes of continuing to foster a loving, familial environment. Read more>>

Jessica Puhr

Another struggle that I have had to learn is that I do not have to be everyone’s photographer, but I can be the best version of myself for those who want to work with me. When I come to a session, my goal is to make my clients feel comfortable in front of the camera and to have them walk away feeling beautiful and confident. I love to build a relationship with my clients and because of that, I have clients that have come back to work with me year after year. Read more>>

Kaleb Clemmons

Music became a huge part of my life. I picked up piano—my dad taught me the basics, and I took it from there. We eventually found a church to call home, and that’s where I really dove into the Hammond organ, bass guitar, and electric guitar. My friends and I would stay long after service, playing for hours. Eventually, the church gave me a key because I was always there—practicing, exploring, growing. Read more>>

Hanna Rogers

Recently, a close friend and I launched a business called Lavish Picnics, which we are excited to see grow, especially this spring. Additionally, I have been modeling for just over a year, a path that I unexpectedly fell into but have come to deeply enjoy. It allows me to express myself and embrace my confidence, and I hope to inspire younger women to realize they can achieve anything—whether it’s serving in the military or pursuing their beauty aspirations. Read more>>

Kellie Ann Petroshak

When I transition from a full time job at a veterinary clinic to full time pet sitting there was a period of time where I doubted myself. I was worried that leaving a regular paycheck to having a chaotic schedule. My clients, however, have been consistent, kind, and comfortable enough to continue booking. The trust I have been able to built between pets and their pet parents has meant a busy schedule and I am so thankful. Read more>>

Michelle Cannon

I was known for the mom online that shared about natural solutions, and wellness along with healthy living. Spent a handful of years growing and creating online to thousands of followers who loved the tips i shared. As i have grown as a mother and person, I have evolved and that is exactly what we should be doing! Now, i still many of the same things as i always have but have been so open about hardships and wins! We are all the same in a way, so i feel my followers have been able to relate in many ways! Life to be is about growing, learning, and being by others who are on this same path! We need each other and i hope to continue to inspire others with the things i create and share! Read more>>

Jessica Meza

At first I was offering services for free, including maternity and newborn photos, senior sessions, family portraits and even a wedding! After I started gaining traction and confidence in my abilities, I started to charge at a very low fee. Over the years, I’ve raised my prices to keep with competitive rates and making sure I’m compensated for my work accordingly. (a lot happens with editing and behind the scenes). Read more>>

Kathy Forste

I graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in Broadcasting and a Minor in Music. I started working at various television stations over the next 32 years. I worked for all the major affiliates; ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS. Mostly in the area of programming. In addition to working in television, I had been writing and performing my own music since 1992. In 2008 my two degrees and passions came together for me when I started KC Cafe Radio with a co-worker. Read more>>

Patricia Powell

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—but that’s part of the beauty in the journey. Starting out, one of the biggest challenges has been building and maintaining a solid clientele. In this industry, that takes time, consistency, and a lot of patience. There were moments when I questioned if I was doing enough or moving fast enough, but I had to remind myself that growth doesn’t happen overnight. Read more>>

Ty Young

Being from various ghettos in and outside of St. Louis, I wanted to show we are more than the negative images were all boxed into. With cinematic visuals and vibrant colors with a long mystery of myself to keep the focus on the brand and the community we were building and apart of ENK’D has truly been embraced. Read more>>

Sarah Burton

From building a website to developing a strategic marketing plan that includes social media, in-person events, and email/text messaging, the challenges were real. Scaling recipes to larger batches, mastering the science behind baking, understanding packaging, navigating laws and regulations—the list seemed endless. While I had a basic understanding of some of these areas, I quickly realized that there was so much more to learn in order to truly hit the ground running. Read more>>

Kent Hartland

The day after I graduated from High School, I got married. She was pregnant, it was not mine and I knew it, but I was seventeen and (cough) in love. It was the first serious challenge I set for myself, getting a real job, providing a home and basics not to mention uninsured medical care for my young wife and baby. Read more>>

Ferrell Richardson

The Cottage Rose started years ago, back in 1996. My mom, and business partner, began helping out friends and family by doing the catering and floral design for their wedding. She began to grow quickly so at 10 years old I started helping her out. She ended up getting bigger than she anticipated and with 4 kids to raise, had to put the biz on hold. For some reason though, she never got rid of the business and kept renewing the license every year. We decided to start The Cottage Rose back up about 10 years ago and we have been going strong ever since! Read more>>

Jessica Andrews

In addition to my freelance work, I launched J’s Makeup Artistry Inc., which continues to grow in the beauty and skincare space. In 2019, I began my own luxury mink lash line, and in 2021, I officially launched my cosmetic line, followed by my skincare line in 2022. My products are now available in Hy-Vee grocery stores, with locations in Manhattan, Kansas, and Liberty, Missouri, making me one of the few small business owners to have my products featured in such major retail stores. In 2022, I was also selected as one of the top 15 finalists in the Hy-Vee Pitch Competition at Arrowhead Stadium and was nominated for the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Spark MHK. Read more>>

Melissa Garrett

I started Carefree Creations, my first creative venture. It began with jewelry and handmade artwork that honored my culture and identity. That journey eventually evolved into Wadulisi’s LLC.

The name Wadulisi means honey bee in Cherokee. It represents resilience, community, nourishment, and hard work. Just like the bee pollinates to sustain life, Wadulisi’s works to nourish our communities through Indigenous food, cultural education, and storytelling. Our meals are not just food—they are medicine, tradition, and survival. We teach through our food, preserving recipes, educating schools and communities, and reconnecting people to Indigenous foodways through every bite. Read More>>

Sabrina Mason

Even with passion and talents, you will still receive no . During this journey, I have experienced so many nos to where I appreciate the yeses.I had to continue my crafts and understand that those doors closed was a detour to better opportunities. I love everything I create even if no one else does because it is a part of the authentic me. Read more>>

Henry Parks, Cael Harris Ty Harris, Chris Elliott

We’re Greygarden, a rock band from Baldwin City, KS we try to blend influences from blues, soul, punk, and classic rock into something that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Our music is raw, honest, and packed with emotion. We’re most proud of our debut EP I Don’t See it Coming that came out last month. The seven-song collection showcases our sound and was recorded with a DIY ethos. The project captures raw emotion, rich melodies, and a classic feel that we hope will resonate with listeners. Read more>>

Jerry McNeal

My story started with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by inner-city youth, and the belief that their potential needed to be nurtured beyond just academics or sports. I noticed that there was a lack of development opportunities and support systems in place for these young people, which led me to think bigger than just football. Football, or sports in general, can serve as a great platform, but I wanted to create something that went deeper – something that focused on building life skills, leadership, and community engagement. Read more>>

Clay Morgan

I rose through the ranks and was performing several shows each weekend. I learned how to run lights and sounds. I learned how to host the show. As I learned more about the construction of shows, my perspective switched from being kind of a showboating performer to one that considered the audience first. That was a BIG shift in the way I performed. I don’t think I can explain it very well, but I will try. My focus shifted from, “Look at me, I did or said the funny thing, now laugh!” to putting the audience, hoping that what happens on stage is so relatable that they laugh with me. Read more>>

Shannon Aubrey

Fast-forward to me getting my own brows Microbladed (an enthusiastic participant of the early 2000s over-plucked brows trend) and asked so many questions of the artist! She shared with me the training she attended, and I very much respected her work, so after a lot of research, I enrolled in the training. After which, I graduated from the prestigious Beauty Angels Academy, where I completed a 6-month, 20-level “quality of work”- based program with 1:1 mentorship with Grand Master Amanda Breuer in Microblading & Shading in 2019. Read more>>

Erikka French

Ms.Erikka singer/songwriter has been performing locally for 16years. Currently working on her album “ Elevated”. New hit single “Smokin’” is out on all digital platforms. Kansas City native born and raised, my biggest influence as a kid was Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. Single mother of 4 works hard everyday perfect her craft. Read more>>

Ian Cahill

I have been working as a part-time novelist for over 12 years. When my first daughter was born, I was looking for an identity outside of just “Dad.” I always wanted to be a writer and took creative writing classes in college but never seemed to form the community or consistency to write an entire book. Through social media, I quickly found a community and support to help me finish my first book in 2016. From there, I have written nine novels, some of which are still unpublished. Read more>>

Apollo Ludeman

I regained my interest in photography and even then I didn’t think of myself as a photographer but I have always bought phones based on the camera quality and technology admittedly with out giving it much though I just wanted good pictures of our family and cool cars if I happened to run into one out in the wild. But in recent years the kids got older and I had been searching for a new path and it was my amazing wife Rose who casually said…”You should do photography!” A that has put me on a path that I honestly never imagined for myself but I’m still at the beginning of this new path but I’m beyond excited for the journey . Read more>>

Marissa Nelson

I tend to be someone who worries a lot about how others perceive me, and when I launched my business, I was aware that people would have their own thoughts and judgments. On top of that, just a few months prior, my boyfriend received a leukemia diagnosis, facing numerous challenges that required me to be strong not just for him, but also for our children. Additionally, I had no background in photography, so grasping the camera settings and understanding how they affect the final image has been quite a struggle, and I’m still on that learning curve. Read more>>

Quinton Paige

For years, I was too afraid to share anything I created. My art and music stayed private—just mine. That changed in 2022, when I was assigned a final project for my high school digital productions class. I decided to write a song and make a music video. It became the first piece I ever released under the name *Quinton Paige*. It represented not just where I had been, but who I wanted to become. Read more>>

Taylor Ho

Looking back, we’re so grateful for the journey—the challenges, the triumphs, and the moments that brought us closer as sisters. Mon Chéri is a testament to what can happen when you dare to dream and have someone by your side who believes in you. As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue growing—not just as business owners, but as women who want to inspire others to chase their dreams, embrace their passions, and find beauty in every step of the journey. Whatever comes next, we know we’ll face it together, with the same courage and love that brought us here. Read more>>

Joshua Williams

A friend, Lynell Diggs, encouraged me to try painting, and after much persuasion, I did—starting with a King Tut piece featuring a cybernetic eye. Since then, painting has become my focus. I’ve exhibited my work in various art shows, museums, and festivals, including The African American Jazz Museum, Berkeley Art Garden, 80 Santa Fe Art Gallery and ArtsConnect. My art has been featured in The Evolution Magazine and installed in venues like Urban Restaurant and Aizen Root Remedy Cafe. Currently, I’m working on a Patrick Mahomes mural for a barbershop. Read more>>