Category: Featured Business

Featured Business: Jovito’s Italian Cafe & Deli

About Jovito’s (by Alex Fiorella):

My family has been in the restaurant business for a long time with my Grandparents Russ & Flora Fiorella starting Smokestack BBQ in 1957. My aunts Mary, Diane, and Carol Fiorella ran the businesses after Russ along with my dad, Russell. My mother, Leasa Caron, also worked in the restaurant business for a number of years. Needless to say, we have been part of the KC restaurant community for some time now! Back in 2015, Leasa bought Jovito‘s from Mary Hart. Mary and her brother Joe Scaglia ran Jovito‘s in South KC, and their brother Mario owned Mario’s in Westport. My family knew the Scaglias growing up and are family friends. Long story short, we loved the food and desserts, Mary wanted to retire, and we decided to keep the business and Meatball Grinders alive! When the opportunity arose for us to move the business to Waldo, we couldn’t turn it down!

Why did you choose Waldo for your business?

Waldo is home for us. Our family grew up in the Waldo neighborhood and have lived here for over 20 years. My mom owned and operated Bookworm Bookstore on Wornall when I was a baby and we used to get breakfast at our neighbors, Georgie Porgies. My siblings and I went to St. Elizabeth’s Grade School where my mom also taught first grade. We’ve just always been Waldo people! We were more than excited to bring a family business to the community and offer our Italian comfort food to the area we call ‘home’. I used to frequent One More Cup when I was studying at UMKC for my law degree and loved the store. We learned the space was available and thought it would be a perfect fit. Turns out it is!

What can customers do to support Jovito’s right now?
Right now it is a difficult and uneasy time for small businesses, especially restaurants. Luckily, we are “carryout professionals” because our platforms (doordash, grubhub, ubereats, etc.) were all in place before the pandemic hit and a good portion of our business has traditionally been to-go orders. That said, keep coming by and trying out our food! If you like the food, then spread the good word the old fashioned way or online. Purchasing gift cards or a Jovito‘s t-shirt are always a good option as well! Times are tough right now for so many small businesses so my wife and I try to order one big meal from one of our favorite local places each week. Some of those in Waldo are Taj Mahal, Cosmo Burger, McClains, Crow’s Coffee and Waldo Pizza to name a few.

 

Beyond your own, what’s your favorite Waldo business & why?
Wow! What a question! Waldo Pizza will always have a special place in my heart – I used to work there, the pizza is delicious and Phil B is just a great guy. Also have lots of good memories of great times at Bobby Bakers and The Happy Place (Tommy Farrahs).

 

What is your favorite thing about the Waldo community?The stewardship, compassion, and loyalty. People care about one another and really take pride in being part of the community. Neighbors look out for one another, welcome new people and businesses, and genuinely want to see their community improve and prosper. Look at the Waldo Heights fire and all the support and donations following the tragedy. Our business neighbors Irezumi and Waldo Barbery have been wonderful and supportive since we first started from ordering to sending people our way. Most importantly, Waldonians are real people that work hard, don’t put up with bullshit, and take action when the time calls. In a sense, Waldo keeps it real!

We are so grateful and happy to be part of this community and able to share our food here. It is a crazy time for so many people and a lot of negativity going around the world. We feel like we are back home and in a great place, not just physically, but mentally as well. Please keep supporting local/small businesses across the city as much as possible. We’re excited to spruce up our back patio/outdoor seating this Spring! Thanks, Waldo!!!
Jovitos Italian Café & Deli
816.943.9988
7408 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64114

Featured: Mike’s Wine & Spirits

We pride ourselves on offering the most competitive pricing and selection in Kansas City. Mike’s Wine & Spirits is family owned & operated.

Q&A with Mike’s Wine & Spirits, Andy Doohan

What is your business story?

Mike Doohan (a Waldo native) founded the company in 2001 with the first location at 85th and Wornall, after working in the wine & spirits industry for over 20 years. His two sons, Pat and Andy now work with him in the family business and both live in the Brookside/Waldo area. Mike’s Wine & Spirits has grown to three locations including the original in Waldo along with, Brookside & Westport.

Why did you choose Waldo for your business?

The Waldo community supports local and is loyal to the businesses in the area that are operating to the best of their ability. 

What’s new at Mike’s Wine & Spirits?

We are always looking towards the future. We bring in new items daily including, seasonal beers (Oktoberfest/pumpkin), new wines, whiskey, tequila, and more…Plus, we recently launched an app to better serve our clients and are offering delivery services in the surrounding area. You can always visit our website for monthly specials! 

Beyond your own, what’s your favorite Waldo business & why?

Too many to choose from, but I’m a sucker for some Betty Rae’s ice cream!

Favorite thing about the Waldo community? 

The diversity and down to earth but hard working mentalities in the Waldo community.

Follow Mike’s WIne & Spirits on social media at @mikeskc

Mike’s Wine & Spirits is the presenting sponsor for Waldo Walk 2020! Join us for fun giveaways, specials at Waldo businesses including Mike’s KC and a reason to get your miles in from Septemer 19 – 26. Register here.

Featured Non-Profit: HAPPYBOTTOMS

Let’s help support local families in need! #WaldoGivesBack

Waldo is hosting a Virtual Donation Drive to help raise money for HappyBottoms.org, which is headquartered in the Waldo neighborhood and is in need of support this month. Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. If we reach our goal of $500 by April 17th, Paige Fowler of Edward Jones Financial has made the commitment to match us an additional $500! Simply visit their website, fill out their donation form and select the ‘Waldo Drive’ tab!
Traditionally, April is HappyBottoms’s Diaper Drive month when the community donates upwards of 50,000 diapers. During this time, HappyBottoms is unable to accept diaper donations and can only accept monetary donations. Every dollar counts. If you can support this incredible cause that supports our local community, it will make a difference.

About HappyBottoms

HappyBottoms provides diapers to families in need in Kansas City.

HappyBottoms mission is to positively impact the mental, physical and financial stability of a family in crisis and need through diaper assistance, education and connection to services. Diapers are not covered by government assistant programs like Food Stamps and WIC and 1-in-3 moms do not have enough diapers to keep their baby clean, dry and healthy.  Not having enough diapers impacts the mental and physical health of a child and their family, and has a larger economic impact on the community.

Each month, HappyBottoms sends an average of 250,000 diapers into the community.  The current economic devastation is impacting even more families and the need has increased incredibly the past few weeks.  We are doing all we can to set up new distributions and help even more families in the coming months. In 2019, HappyBottoms distributed 2.2 million diapers to more than 10,000 children.

Follow our fundraiser on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/everythingwaldo

Your donations help. Thank you Kansas City!

Featured Business: HAGOYAH

Meet featured business: HAGOYAH Hair Studio & Yoga Den.

HAGOYAH is a unique small business based in Waldo at 515 W. 75th Street that offers radical self-care and holistic beauty services including haircare, yoga, massage and more.

(Please note: HAGOYAH is currently closed temporarily due to COVID-19, but we still wanted to share the inspiring work that they do to support Waldo through their positivity and meditation tips.)

Q&A with HAGOYAH’s owner, Angela Cronk.

What is your business story?

I wanted to bring back that once a week element of self-care and community our grandmothers had back in the day when they would get their hair “set” once a week as well as make yoga affordable and accessible for people.  I resigned from my corporate Paul Mitchell job, went back to waiting tables and renting a chair to do hair.  I sold EVERYTHING I owned to pay for yoga teacher training in 2010 and saved all my money to go towards the business.  I took a class through KC Sourcelink/S.C.O.R.E. on how to write a business plan and wrote a business plan.  I actually called over 30 banks before getting approved and only got $36,000 and the rest is history.

Why did you choose Waldo for your business?

Waldo was still a hidden gem and it just felt like the right place for my unique business.  And after meeting my potential new landlord, Diane Botwin I knew it was the right place.

What can customers do to support you? 

Stay positive and do nice things for themselves.  If they can afford it, purchasing gift certificates and attending our online yoga classes, which are only $5 each.

Beyond your own, what’s your favorite Waldo business & why?

That’s a tough one.  I can’t pick just one, so I will go with the top three.  Centered Spirit & Emilie’s French Tea room.  They have several holistic health practitioners and the tea room is so charming and relaxing.  I am really digging the new SOAP KC shop.  I love everything about this concept.  And, Papu’s Cafe is mega delicious.  I crave their hummus and gyro meat.

Favorite thing about the Waldo community? 

I love that it has a small-town feel with the shared love between the neighborhood and the businesses.  Waldo has its own unabashed unique vibe and we are proud of it.