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The secret is out—there is a little corner of paradise tucked away in Johnson County, in the heart of Leawood. In the 1920s and 30s, Mission Farms was an entrepreneurial farming destination, covered in lush green fields with roaming horses. Today, the development is flourishing as Kansas City’s premier destination for locally owned restaurants, boutique shops, and upscale living with spectacular views and a rich connection to its history. Surrounded by beauty of all kinds, Mission Farms is a tight-knit small-business community filled with everything nice that life has to offer.
Dining Out
Dining at Mission Farms is always a local affair. Whether stepping out for dumplings at Blue Koi or fried chicken at Rye, you’ll find handcrafted dishes from Kansas City’s most dedicated chefs. “We have some of Kansas City’s best restaurants,” says Darby Brender, owner of Fusion Fitness at Mission Farms. “Rye, Tavern at Mission Farms, Martin City Brewery, Enjoy Food + Drink, they’re all wonderful restaurants. Páros Estatorio—that place is amazing. We’re so lucky to have a wide variety from casual eating to upscale. There’s something for everybody here.” Páros Estiatorio is named after the island on the Cyclades and serves Greek food featuring sustainable seafood and locally sourced ingredients.
Shopping and Services
“Overall, the establishments at Mission Farms are quality over quantity,” says Brender. “Everybody there is very focused on delivering the best.” Xiphium Salon, an upscale salon and Mission Farm’s longest-standing tenant, is very involved in giving back to the community, as is VanBrock, Kansas City’s destination for elegant jewelry. “Because we are all small businesses, each owner is there, present, and involved with their staff and the customers,” Brender says. Her own business, Fusion Fitness, opened in Mission Farms over ten years ago. “We immediately loved the ownership and their approach to being very pro-Kansas City,” she says. “They are really supportive of small businesses. I don’t know that there’s any other shopping area in KC that is 100 percent locally owned.”
Getting Healthy
Mission Farms has not abandoned its green-pasture past and still focuses on the natural beauty found in the neighborhood. Residents interested in jogging, walking, and biking can find the picturesque Johnson County Trails System nearby, and bikers can find their haven at Elite Cycling. “People will pop off their bikes and come in to have coffee at the establishments,” says Brender. “It does feel like a very active, very health-minded community.” It’s a social community, with businesses within walking distance of several apartment complexes and a hotel. Brender has also been building connections at Fusion Fitness, where the clientele is 100 percent female. “There are lots of stay-at-home moms who come in, and it’s nice for them to have that community—people they can connect with.”
Mission Farms has a family feel. “Because we are all small businesses, the group of owners is pretty tight-knit,” says Brender. “We bounce ideas off each other; we support each other. There’s a lot of collaboration within the community. It feels like a little family.” The development is expanding, and its dynamic atmosphere continues with new businesses, including Gallery V and Cuorebella, a shop filled with curated collections and hand-picked gifts.
Surround yourself with historic architecture, greenery, and inviting boutique-style shopping with a visit to Mission Farms today.