Check out downtown North Kansas City: indie movies, burgers, pickleball & a unique parade

Great food, fun family activities and a unique annual parade are just across the river from downtown Kansas City. The independent city of North Kansas City combines industrial railyards with shops, restaurants, bars and live music venues.

As one resident told The Star, North Kansas City is a small enclave surrounded by Kansas City proper. Its own municipality within Clay County, this city of only 4.6 square miles is different from “the Northland” and separate from the part of Kansas City itself that lies North of the Missouri River.

“If you cross either the Heart of America Bridge or the Bond Bridge from downtown Kansas City, you are entering the municipality of North Kansas City,” said Rich Groves, the Executive Director of North Kansas City Business Council. “If you start climbing up a hill, you are no longer in North Kansas City.”

What to eat and drink in North Kansas City

Tasty food options abound in downtown North Kansas City, from quick bites to relaxed dining experiences. Grab a bowl of rice, stir fry, and macaroni salad from the super-popular Hawaiian Bros. location right at the entrance to downtown– be sure to try the Dole Whip, a vegan soft serve ice cream available in pineapple or raspberry. Tay’s Burger Shack is another popular joint in a pint-sized location at the intersection of Linn St. and Armour Road.

If you prefer to linger, enjoy a glass of wine or two with friends at Sail Away Wine or check out the craft IPA selection at Cinder Block Brewery. You can spend a happy hour or join a group bike ride at Velo Garage and Tap House.

An unassuming shared storefront called Company & Co. on Armour contains even more options, from Sweet Emotion’s oat milk ice cream to Post Coffee’s espresso and pastries.

Things to do in North Kansas City

Company & Co. isn’t just about food– the space is also connected to a performance venue called the RINO, where you can find concerts, comedy shows and open mic nights. It also serves as a meeting place for brewCHURCH, a modern take on the traditional church service featuring candid conversations and musical performances.

North Kansas City is also home to Driftwood Ceramics, a pottery studio with accessible date night events for beginners and month-long classes for those looking to hone their skills handbuilding or on the throwing wheel.

Just up the street, catch an indie or retro movie at Screenland Armour, an independent movie theater hosting indoor and outdoor screenings of retro, foreign, independent and mainstream movies. Hidden in the basement, and accessible only from the alley behind the theater, lies the retro-inspired dive bar and video game hangout spot Rewind Video.

How to get involved in North Kansas City

Rather than just learn about one great nonprofit in the Kansas City area, you can learn about a huge number all at once at a unique annual event known as the Snake Saturday Parade. Held on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, this one-of-a-kind parade features local nonprofit groups, which march to raise awareness for their causes and for the chance to win cash prizes for their organizations.

The Snake Saturday Parade brings crowds of thousands to North Kansas City for celebrations of Irish culture, a barbecue contest, activities for kids and more. Don’t be fooled by the name– no snakes are involved (or harmed) in the creation of this parade. Instead, it commemorates the legend of St. Patrick banishing snakes from Ireland. The next parade will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

What is North Kansas City known for?

Sports fans have long traveled to North Kansas City to visit Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum. The large space features all manner of sports memorabilia, from autographed jerseys to football helmets from teams around the country. While owner Jim Chappell sold the restaurant to new owners several years ago, the space is still in operation and features the same extensive collection of sports mementos.

A newer landmark that draws visitors from around the metro is the flagship location of Chicken N Pickle, a restaurant and bar equipped with courts where guests can play the tennis-like game pickleball while they wait for their food. The restaurant’s dog-friendly outdoor space also features lawn games and a seasonal tiki bar. Chicken N Pickle also hosts a holiday pop-up bar so popular that guests need to purchase timed reservations to attend.

The history of North Kansas City

North Kansas City was established as an independent entity in 1912, right after railroads began running through the area and levees were built to protect the area from potential flooding from the Missouri River. Groves told The Star that up until just one year before the city was established, the only way to travel there from Kansas City was to take a ferry ride across the river– a bridge that cars and pedestrians could navigate wasn’t built until 1911.

The North Kansas City Development Company was responsible for planning the city’s commercial and residential areas. That’s why many of its streets form perfect grids– and why it prides itself on being “the first planned industrial-residential community in the Midwest,” according to Groves.

The area later became known as a shopping destination filled with malls and department stores– many no longer in business. While modern North Kansas City is a busy hub for truckers, freight rail workers and residents alike, Groves added that the area still featured cornfields and grassland up until World War II.

Do you have more questions about great stuff to do around the Kansas City metro? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.