Profile: The Black Pantry
Plus 5 Black Pantry Staples for a Perfect Sunday!
Photos courtesy of Made in KC
When Brian Roberts wanted to source Black-made products for a picnic with his wife, he had to drive all over the city. There was no “one stop shop” similar to the Asian or Hispanic markets available in town. With a spark of an idea and a lot of grit, Roberts created The Black Pantry to fill this big void in the KC shopping scene.
Roberts started his venture with a trailer that he would use for pop-up events in partnership with other retailers. After finding success with these events, he partnered with Made in KC and expanded into a brick and mortar space in 2021. The shop is located at the Made in KC headquarters in Martini Corner and shares a space with the Made in KC Neighborhood Shop.
The Black Pantry showcases high-quality goods from Black owners, makers, artists, and designers. There is something for everyone whether they’re shopping for date night, a gift for a friend, or a new favorite shirt. Make sure to peruse the growing selection of wine and spirits - Love Drunk Rosé, from acclaimed sommelier Andrés Hueston Mack, comes highly recommended by Roberts.
On my most recent visit, I curated a list of favorites for a perfect Sunday. Try these or pick your own, but don’t sleep on the high caliber items at The Black Pantry.
5 Black Pantry Staples for a Perfect Sunday:
Brooklyn Tea Hangover Helper: Sunday mornings can be brutal if you accidentally had a little too much fun on Saturday night. Brooklyn Tea’s organic, fair trade tea will bring you back to life with a refreshing mug of hydration.
Soap Distillery Fair Trade Coffee Body Scrub: With an invigorating aroma of coffee, mint, and vanilla, this sugar scrub is guaranteed to wake you up and get you moving on Sunday morning.
Teaspressa Crystal Mimosa Kit: Let’s be honest - we’re feeling better after our Brooklyn Tea and ready for our favorite Sunday ritual - Mimosas! Drop one of the naturally flavored, glitter-filled sugar cubes into your champagne flute before topping with bubbles, and watch the show begin.
Pipcorn Snacks: Sundays are perfect for lounging on the sofa with Netflix and a snack. Pipcorn offers a variety of crunchy, salty treats that are perfect for sharing with your sofa mate or keeping all to yourself. The cheddar jalapeno cheese balls are a spicy upgrade to the nostalgic cheese puffs we all know and (secretly) love.
Regular Ass Candles Lazy Love: When the sun starts to go down, the gentle glow of this candle will set the stage for a cozy night. With an 80-hour burn time, notes of pear, jasmine, cashmere, and lemon will fill the room for many Sundays to come.
The Black Pantry
325 E. 31st St
Monday - Saturday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 - 5:00 pm
