Vintage Vibes in West Bottoms, Kansas City
Every first Friday weekend, the West Bottoms area of Kansas City attracts a crowd seeking the quirky, the vintage, the unique. Rocking a festival vibe with food trucks and street attractions, the old brick warehouses open their doors to a nirvana of antiques and vintage treasures. It’s 2.5 hours from my house, but well worth the drive!
With numerous shops in a multi-block area, West Bottoms contains an embarrassment of riches for the vintage junkie. Two of my favorite shops, Bella Patina and Good Ju Ju, more than live up to their clever names.
Bella Patina boasts more than 25,000 square feet of space on three floors and more than 60 vendors. Give yourself plenty of time for a leisurely browse. If you’re looking for something specific, make a few notes in your phone because you may forget when your brain hits overload.
The fun of a West Bottoms vintage treasure hunt, however, isn’t finding a specific item as much as finding some quirky delight you didn’t know you needed and now can’t live without. The vendors do an amazing job of displaying their wares. One vendor in Bella Patina is renowned for her semi-clad Ken dolls in various poses, mixed in with more serious collectibles. It’s like an Easter egg hunt to see how many you can find!
Because the stores are only open three days a month, the inventory changes constantly. A frenzy of shopping is followed by three weeks of restocking and reworking displays in preparation for the next First Friday blitz.
You can’t beat a West Bottoms First Friday jaunt for a day of leisurely fun. Even if you don’t need anything and don’t have money to blow, you will find plenty to spark your imagination. I was in the market for dress for a wedding and found this little number. Sadly, I passed it up!
Among the dining options, let me recommend Chef J’s barbecue. I ordered the MVP 15 sandwich (smoked brisket, pulled pork and sausage), and a side of Mexican street corn. Mmmmm. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
If you’ve never experienced a West Bottoms First Friday, put it on your calendar, call some girlfriends, and make a plan. And don’t forget to report back on the treasures you find!
That dress! You should’ve gotten it, Aileen.
Lol, Jules! I totally could have rocked it, right?? 🙂 Probably better not to be a spectacle at my niece’s wedding, plus now I can imagine how it would have been without the interference of reality!
I miss you, my friend.
xoxo,
Aileen