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.

Tiffany Donham

Today, I’m happy to say Main Street has mostly recovered, with new businesses breathing life back into our town. That doesn’t mean it’s all easy—our small rural area still faces its fair share of challenges. But we’re on the rise, and there’s a real sense of hope and momentum again. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that resilience is a muscle—you build it by refusing to quit. Read more>>

Travis Grossman

That rhythm walked me onto the stage at KU one afternoon while picking up rented props for a high school production I was helping to tech. I found myself staring at a two-story set for the musical “Cabret” that look like it came out of the French Quarter of New Orleans! At that moment theater hooked me in a new and exciting way, I wanted to design and build sets, and I wanted to do it at the University of Kansas! Read more>>

Megan Freeman

There are so many different components going into doing nails. At first I was trying to do acrylics, not my strong suit. So now I do Gel X nails. The nail art itself is also super difficult. Whether it’s just straight lines on stripes or the blending on aura nails it definitely took me a bit to be where I am today. Read more>>

Addison Schletzbaum

That experience made me realize how much I enjoyed photographing people. I practiced regularly, often using my parents as subjects during our free time, and continuously worked on learning more about my camera and improving my skills—thanks to helpful tutorials on YouTube. Eventually, I created a photography Instagram account to showcase my work and began promoting myself on Facebook. Read more>>

Alayna Prenger

During this time, I worried about what would become of my business when I returned to work. I had spent the first 6 months I was open building momentum and establishing a good foundation in the community. Would people be too afraid to come back in for care? Would they be able to afford to? How would this affect my ability to grow my practice and get to help as many people as possible? But luckily, when it was time to open my doors again, my patients were waiting! We all needed more ways to help manage our stress and emotions during that time and I think the lockdown actually helped drive people to acupuncture and other natural approaches to physical and emotional wellness. Read more>>

Cara Morrison Meghan Dalton

What began as a casual “what if” quickly became a calling. We said goodbye to college, enrolled in cosmetology school, and never looked back. After gaining valuable experience, building our clientele in a challenging environment, and learning under the guidance of an incredible mentor, we were blessed with the opportunity — through faith, hard work, and the unwavering support of our family and friends to open the doors of Beauty Boutique KC on August 20, 2024! Read more>>

Steven Hammerli

Thinking about what my future could look like within the graphic design sector, I was convinced I needed to change the world with graphic design and worked toward this goal through high-school and college, building on different skill sets. About a year after graduating from The Art Institutes International – Kansas City, I came across a posting from Heart to Heart International looking for a Creative Arts Associate. This was exactly the opportunity I was looking for. Read more>>

Betsy Blodgett

The biggest struggle came in 2020 when the Covid pandemic shut down everything. Of course, we canceled the tour that year, and again in 2021. It was disappointing because interest in the tours was really gaining momentum, and then it all came to a stop. Luckily, when tours resumed in 2022, we had an audience that was ready to go – I think we were all ready to travel by then! Read more>>

KayLee Merrick

At Impact, we offer more than energizing teas and protein shakes, we provide supplement education, wellness coaching, and a welcoming space where people can feel supported no matter where they are in their journey. My goal is to help people feel better from the inside out and to create an environment that encourages progress, not perfection. Read more>>

Katie Kirkenmeier

I remember family members being concerned about me and I would tell them I wasn’t depressed, I knew what depression was and felt like and that wasn’t what I was experiencing. At the time I remember being shocked to find out there were other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders than postpartum depression and I found myself thinking, if I has a somewhat seasoned therapist didn’t know about PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) then there’s definitely a need to help other women in this area because I know I’m not alone. From there I decided to open up my practice as therapist where I now specialize in working with those experiencing infertility and in the perinatal period of their lives. Read more>>

Jessica Newman

We are passionate about fostering partnerships within the community and leveraging resources to enhance our services, making a lasting impact on the lives of the families we serve. The biggest hurdle we currently face as a new non-profit is funding. Securing financial support is crucial to sustaining and expanding our services. To address this challenge, we are actively pursuing grant opportunities and seeking private donors and community partners who share our vision. By building strong relationships with stakeholders, we aim to create a network of support that not only provides financial backing but also enriches our community engagement. Read more>>

Isaac Roberson

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I recently released a film this past April, which was a huge success for me, but before that, I faced a lot of setbacks. There were several projects I started but never finished—whether it was due to timing issues, people backing out, or even my own dissatisfaction with the direction. Each of those experiences felt like a failure at the time, but looking back, they were valuable lessons. They taught me how to adapt, plan better, and refine my creative process. One thing I’ve always been proud of is that I never gave up, even when I didn’t have much to show for my work. That persistence is what ultimately helped me get to where I am now. Read more>>

Emily McMurray

By summer 2023, I had all my paperwork in order, with only one task left: submitting my health department application. With a pep in my step, I headed to the health department—only to be told that just that morning, they had informed the library kitchen that all catering businesses would now be required to use a commercial vehicle for food transport. The supervisor even mentioned that if I had come in just one day earlier, I would have been grandfathered in. I was devastated! Read more>>

Nick Reische

It was pretty easy to put the sauce together, but bulk production was a little challenging. Between taste-testing and choosing cost-effective branding such as bottles and labeling, the timeline was a little longer than we expected. The process was a bit overwhelming, and the waiting was a bit challenging, but we are so glad we decided to take that leap. In addition, the marketing and sales is another story! With both of us having full-time careers, finding the time for sales and marketing can be a struggle! Read more>>

Stacey Lamb

create games and activities for kids in hospitals, for play therapists, for grief counselors, social workers, educators….anyplace where kids need a smile. I collaborate with these professionals…they give me the content and their ideas…then I do all of the illustrating and product creation. I have met the most wonderful people and they have taught me so much along the way. I think every day how very grateful I am for my glorious time at Hallmark. In those 30 years, they paved the way for me to be able to do what I do now! My most recent collaborations were a book and a workbook for kids and families who are dealing with the loss of someone to suicide. I am so so so glad that I am able to help others in my own way….and to think it all started with Charlie Brown. My hero. Read more>>

Julie Weaver

A career in real estate is rarely a straight path—it’s a winding road with seasons of growth, moments of uncertainty, and unexpected turns that demand resilience. Mine began in the late 1990s, when real estate was evolving from thick MLS books to online systems, syndications and competition with newly developed web based platforms. Although phone calls, and face-to-face connections remained the norm, it was evolving. It was a pivotal time and I cut my teeth in administrative and marketing roles, learning the industry from the ground up. Read more>>

Michaela Krueger

Nights and weekends were spent sanding, painting, hauling, and scrubbing. What they couldn’t afford to pay for, they made up for with sweat equity. It wasn’t glamorous—it was exhausting. All of this came while balancing the demands of family life. With two kids at home and work obligations still pulling at our time, we had to learn to juggle parenting, late-night renovation projects, and the stress of building a business from the ground up. Read more>>

Marrissa Rhodes

For years, my work has been one-on-one, in the quiet space of the therapy room, guiding clients through the deepest layers of their inner world. I still carry a small caseload of clients, and have expanded my practice into a group practice at this point. But I began to see that this work: the integration of emotional depth, spiritual intelligence, quantum understanding, and psychoanalytic insight, needed to reach beyond those four walls. That’s what inspired me to create my podcast, Reverence for Rêverie, a space where I explore psychoanalytic concepts, mysticism, quantum physics, and the symbolic intelligence that shapes our lives. Read more>>

Brian Hurtgen

Music has always been my passion. As a musician myself in the local music scene (Major Matt Mason USA, Holiday At Sea, Bye American), I want to put local KC music forward as much as possible. Of course, I will carry the staples like Taylor Swift that would appeal to anyone, but I try also to feature voices that might not get as much exposure. I want to be a place that is known for giving voice to underground artists, women, people of color, LGBTQ and anyone on the margins. I would love to create a vibe where anyone who walks in the door is going to know that they are safe, seen and represented in our racks. Read more>>

Kahleigh Lucas

Come to find out my very first comedy show was hosting a show in front of 250 people . I started doing shows all around the city and the. Covid happened and shut down everything. I was introduced to TikTok during that time and i made one video that went viral which led to me having over 2million followers, over 180k followers on Instagram and a host of viral videos from Let’s Roll Friends to God Skits and my Joint Skits with Armon and Janette. I’m currently in the process of writing short films and putting together a 10 city comedy tour Read more>>

Scott Martinez

I’ve been a studio guy for much of my life, from my teenage years recording and mixing in analog studios to the present day using VST’s. I was also a bass player from very early on, mostly because everybody wanted to play guitar and most of them were better than me, and I figured bass would be easier. Boy was I wrong! Of course, I’d be 10x the guitar player I am today if I had been able to afford a decent guitar – anybody that has played guitar has played a crummy guitar at one point or another and knows how frustrating it is. I started my business – Samsara Guitars – with the intent on donating guitars for kids that can’t afford them, to save them from having the same experience. I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it!! Read more>>

Angelique’-Olivia J. Taylor

As a New Orleans Louisiana native. I relocated to the mid-west state of Kansas after hurricane Katrinia in 2005. My father Harold W. Garner Sr. was a resident here in Topeka and working at the local VA Medical Center. During my 16 years of service, I have shared these traditional praline candies as gifts with veterans and co-workers at the Topeka VAMC during my tenure. Read more>>

Molly Morgan

I graduated cosmetology school from Z Hair Academy, as a level 3 stylist in 2015. Upon graduating I began an apprenticeship underneath Shannon Horting at Hair Experts. Once I finished the apprenticeship I was a commission stylist for a little over 2 years there. I then followed Shannon when she opened Volume Lash & Hair Studio in 2018. I have booth rented at Volume Lash & Hair Studio since! Read more>>

Amy D. Taylor

After the divorce, I was a single mom, working and raising my kid who happens to have Autism, while rebuilding a nervous system that felt like it lived on high alert. Then came thyroid cancer. I wish I could tell you I handled it all with grace and green juice. Mostly, I handled it with grit, ugly crying in the car, and radical honesty with myself. Surviving that made my mission crystal clear: I’m here to help women move from coping to actually thriving—on their terms, with the brain and nervous system they have. Read more>>

Erin Haugerud

Ever since I was a kid, I loved gathering inspiration from around me—whether I was making collages, rearranging furniture, or doodling ideas for dream rooms. That passion never left me. After studying design and working in various creative roles, I realized that my calling was to design homes that don’t just look beautiful—but feel unforgettable, while also functioning seamlessly with each family’s lifestyle. That realization led me to start EH Design. Read more>>

Katie Goth

In 2017, my little sister graduated from nursing school, and my mom wanted to order a yard sign to celebrate. At the time, there were no local companies in our area that offered yard sign set-ups. So, we ordered a sign online and tried to do it ourselves. Unfortunately, it didn’t go well—the sign wasn’t weatherproof and couldn’t hold up against the snow. That experience sparked an idea. Read more>>

Willie Cole

I am a multimedia visual artist, better known as a sculptor, who prefers the term “Perceptual Engineer.” I make things out of other things i.e. assemblage. What distinguishes me from other assemblage artists is that my sculptures are made from a single object multiplied. For example, in the airport commission, 12 saxophones equals a bird.. In another example, 30 shoes might equal a bust or mask. You might be tempted to see my work as 3-dimensional op art. My goals are spiritual. I seek to give these objects new life. Reincarnation might be an appropriate term. Read more>>