City of Entrepreneurs Marketplace at Union Station
My name is JJ Macias. I am an intern with KCMO in the BizCare department. I visited the City of Entrepreneurs Marketplace at Union Station and spoke with vendors and visitors. I walked the space, asked questions, and listened to direct feedback. Here is what I saw and heard.
What I first saw was that small businesses filled the hallway inside Union Station. Vendors set up products, samples, and simple displays. I saw visitors stopping at booths, talking to the owners of the businesses. The marketplace operated during the World Cup period, so I saw visitors from many regions. The activation gave local businesses a clear place in a major tourism moment.
The marketplace followed the City of Entrepreneurs initiative. The goal was to give local businesses a role in the economic activity created by the World Cup. This activation also played into Open Doors, which works on activating vacant spaces and supporting business growth. Union Station became a hub for local commerce, culture, and community. I saw live entertainment, cultural programming, artist activations, and community experiences all over the space.
I got direct feedback from vendors. This event helped them network with new business owners. They got to exchange ideas. They formed new relationships. Several vendors told me the event increased their visibility. They spoke with visitors who had not heard of their business. They shared their stories and gained new interest. Vendors also pointed to areas for improvement. Some vendors wanted a lower fee. Vendors wanted stronger online promotion. Vendors wanted clear signs outside Union Station. Vendors wanted more visibility for walk-by traffic.
I also talked to visitors who shared their own experience. Many enjoyed the variety of products. The samples helped them choose what they wanted to buy. The vendors were friendly, so it was an easy experience. Some visitors wanted more food choices. Others wanted more souvenirs. Others wanted more pet products.
The marketplace highlighted more than one hundred local businesses, artists, makers, food vendors, and community groups. This event supported local businesses. Vendors got exposure. Visitors found new products. The space allowed for conversation and connection. The activation highlighted how strong Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is.
I left the marketplace with a clear picture of its impact. I saw strong interest from visitors. I saw vendors gaining attention from new audiences. I saw local businesses using the World Cup moment to grow. The activation gave Kansas City a simple way to highlight its entrepreneurial community. The feedback I gathered showed real strengths and clear areas to improve. I saw how stronger marketing, clear signage, and more accessible pricing would support future events. I also saw how much value vendors and visitors gained from this experience. The marketplace showed how local businesses shape Kansas City’s identity, and I am happy to say that I saw all this firsthand.