Nivi's Mini's: Tiny Bites Full of Flavor
Tiny but delicious, Nivi’s Minis are bite size pillowy pancakes popping up all over the metro!
Photos courtesy Nivi’s Minis
Hey peeps! Bringing you something mini but DELICIOUS! Fun fact, I’m a huge fan of spin classes. I have been spinning at MOJO in the Plaza for about 8 years. The way I gorge on food, I need all the cardio I can get. Last month, I walked into MOJO for my normal 9:30am class and the aroma of something delicious was permeating the air… I completely forgot that Nivi’s Minis was popping up! The smell of the pancakes actually gave me more incentive to ride like there’s no tomorrow with great anticipation for after class pancakes. It was such a cute setup with the cart and umbrella, and the people behind it were the warmest and kindest. Immediately after my class I beelined right to Nivi’s Minis and ordered a six-piece Nutella/condensed milk pancake tray with strawberries! No lie, I ate them right there and ordered another 6 minis to take back home to my partner, of course (wink wink). Now, let’s get to know the husband and wife behind Nivi’s Minis.
Muhammad and Naveen moved a couple of months ago to our beloved Kansas City from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Muhammad is originally from Houston, Texas (side note, one of my favorite hotels, The Post Oak Hotel, is in H-town). Muhammad’s wife, Naveen, is from Chicago. After spending a few years in a small town, their relocation to a bigger city presented new and exciting opportunities for them. Muhammad and Naveen admitted to me that initially, neither one of them had dreams of running a snack cart when they arrived in Kansas City. Muhammad’s sister, who runs a successful snack cart in Houston called Inti’s Minis, suggested they bring a similar sweet concept to Kansas City—and that’s where the vision was born. The more they talked it over, the clearer it became that this was a good path for them and the perfect way to combine their skills and passions.
“Naveen is incredibly creative and an amazing artist. As her husband, I have always been blown away by her creativity, which effortlessly shines through in everything she takes on—from graphic design and photography to video editing or styling. She’s always had a dazzling eye for detail and as we kept imagining what this cart could be, we saw an opportunity for her to channel her creativity into something real, a business that wasn’t just functional but also beautiful, personal, and fun,” Muhammad expressed lovingly about his wife. They imagined a snack cart that not only served delicious mini pancakes but could be fully tailored to suit any event or theme with personalized signage, themed decor, and even embellished umbrellas.
In the early stages of planning, during a road trip brainstorming session, they started thinking of names for their business. They wanted something easy and playful, but also something fitting. After some back and forth, “Nivi’s Minis” came out on top. The name had depth from Naveen’s nickname “Nivi,” lovingly given to her by nieces and nephews. Pairing the nickname with “mini,” referencing their bite-sized treats, struck the perfect chord. It also paid homage to their sister company, Inti’s Minis, whose influence was key to the launch of their business.
Their idea began to take shape the more they explored the vendor scene here in Kansas City. They discovered some amazing vendors, but also noticed there was still plenty of room for something innovative like what they had in mind. They had their custom cart built in Houston and one weekend they pushed all their furniture to the side and turned their living room into a makeshift studio. They filmed behind-the-scenes clips setting up their cart, making their mini pancakes, and decorating their treats with yummy toppings and drizzles. One of their early TikToks from that weekend even went viral in the area, leading to lots of engagement and inquiries. Since then, they have been the “viral mini pancake cart of Kansas City,” connecting with the community through styled shoots, local pop-ups, and events at small business like the one I met them at.
While their initial pop-up experiences have been fun, Nivi’s Minis offers much more than that! They operate as a full-service vendor cart available for private hire at a wide range of events. Their goal is to provide a fun and memorable treat that fits seamlessly into any celebration of any size. Even with full-time careers—Naveen as an ultrasound technologist and Muhammad in aerospace engineering—building Nivi’s Minis on the weekends has been incredibly fulfilling. For Muhammad personally, it’s been a joy to watch Naveen’s creativity flourish. For both of them, it’s been incredibly rewarding to pour their passion and hard work into every aspect of their business. They are proud to call Kansas City their new home and can’t wait to share their love for mini pancakes with their community, one event at a time!
“We didn’t know when we moved to Kansas City, we’d soon be running the city’s most talked-about ‘viral mini pancake cart!” they told me. Nor did we, but we sure are happy to have them here!!
