‘It’s a step’: Kansas City leaders create fund for business owners after rampant break-ins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Thursday, the first step was completed to help Kansas City business owners after rampant break-ins. It’s called the Back to Business Grant Fund.

It was the first reading for the fund at Thursday’s City Council meeting.

The City of Kansas City, Missouri is setting aside $325,000 for prevention and recovery.

This includes two parts to the grant:

• Vandalism and Property Crime Recovery Grant Funding: Up to $3,000 per business for repairs related to incidents occurring between July 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025.
• Vandalism and Property Crime Prevention Grant Funding: Up to $5,000 per business for security measures acquired between July 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025.

Many details are still being sorted out by the city.

This could be a helpful tool for business owners as they are left to pick up after criminals.

At the beginning of August, a string of break-ins hit businesses all over the metro.

Teocali Mexican Restaurant was one of the victims.

“You work so hard and you’ve been working so hard a lot of sweat and tears have gone into your establishment, it’s your dream and for somebody to come in and just violate it just like that it is devastating,” said Teocali Mexican Restaurant Co-Owner, Enrique Gutierrez. He added, “18 years haven’t been hit and they hit me good this last time and I’m hoping this is the last time.”

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Two men broke one of their front doors, stole their safe, and left.

Just three minutes away, Ruby Jean’s Juicery off Troost faced a similar incident.

“To break into a juice bar or try to break into a juice bar of all places overnight that is a sick mindset,” said Ruby Jean’s Juicery Founder and Owner, Chris Goode.

He said they’ve been broken into seven times since they first opened that location in late 2017. This continuous issue has cost so many Kansas City business owners thousands of dollars.

“Something has to be done that is beyond we are sorry,” said Goode.

A few weeks ago, he went to the city, urging them to put together some type of fund to help.

“I also believe that there is a responsibility for us as a city when we say that we celebrate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas City and so my urging many weeks ago now is that there would be a fund put together. I called it the we are in this together fund,” said Goode. He added, “For me and for them to just get a little slice of relief it makes us know that Kansas City is a beautiful place to live it is a place that we should celebrate, but it is also a place that we shouldn’t be afraid or shy away from doing the very difficult homework that we have to do.”

ALSO READ: ‘I feel hopeless’: Café broken into twice in less than a week

The city created the Back to Business Grant Fund, just as Goode hoped.

“This is a step in the right direction it is giving some relief but we recognize it cannot give total relief,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

It’s financial assistance many entrepreneurs welcome.

“Programs like this allow us to refocus on what we need to do. My door is going to be about $7,500 bucks to replace my insurance deductible is $5,000, that leaves a massive gap in where I’m at,” said City Barrel Brewing Company CFO, Joe Giammanco. He added, “The other thing that is wonderful about this program is it is not just focused on say the Waldo or Brookside neighborhood. These problems are hitting East Crossroads, they are hitting Beacon Hill, they are going into the West Bottoms so this kind of program being city-wide is going to help out everything.”

City leaders said they plan to do more, business owners hope that happens.

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“It is a good gesture to start off with but I would like to see more cops driving around the areas especially, the Crossroads, Midtown, Brookside,” said Gutierrez. He added, “I appreciate the $3,000 but nowadays everything is so expensive that is probably gonna give me two cameras. You never know how much everything is nowadays.”

On Thursday, other businesses provided KCTV5 with statements regarding this fund.

“I appreciate the opportunity and any effort the Mayor is making to help with crime and the underlying causes leading to break ins and vandalism. We have had two break-ins in the last three years and never one in the 12 years prior. And a string of vehicle thefts that has affected employees and customers. While I still feel like Kansas City is a safe city I find myself making changes. We have installed far more cameras than we used to have, and because one break-in involved accessing the safe, we keep far less cash on hand- which means more frequent bank visits just to eliminate holding it on site.”

The co-owner of Anchor Island Coffee, Mike Hastings provided this statement below.

“The mayors steps to offer this fund is step in the right direction. Without having gone through the approval process, I am not aware of the red tape that has been put in place or how difficult it will be get approved for this fund,” Hastings said.

Owners encourage everyone in the community to do their part.

“We want to see people move from being online to being in person,” said Goode.

“Go buy some coffee from Mildred’s, go buy pizza from Buffalo State Pizza you know there are so many places that have been hit,” said Gutierrez. He added, “Go out there and just buy some gift cards just them, one drink here a beer here, or food here everyone once in a while it makes a big difference.”

Mayor Lucas anticipates this will help 100-150 businesses.

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“I’m not happy we have to do this, I’m not happy to hear about all of our businesses being vandalized the way that they are and it is getting really really out of control, so the hope is that this kind of alleviates a little stress for our small business owners as they get back up on their feet,” said KC BizCare Manager, Nia Richardson.

The fund is still making its way through City Council, they anticipate applications to open in October.

ALSO READ: Kansas City police investigate another break-in at a Crossroads coffee shop

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