46. Original Juan Specialty Foods Inc.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (913) 432-5228, (800) 568-8468
Address: 111 Southwest Blvd.
Description: Forget complaining about the heat and humidity of a summer day in Kansas—it’s always hot at Original Juan’s, where they cook up 80-gallon vats of incendiary salsas and sauces, even fruit jellies, using chili peppers and little else. Even Wilber Scoville, the guy who devised the rating system for chilis, would whimper with one drop of Da’ Bomb’s The Final Answer. This deep-red sauce tops out at 1.5 million Scoville units and is available in a box that includes a lock and key. They’re not kidding; you must be 21 or over to buy the stuff.
47. Planters Seed & Spice Company
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (816) 842-3651
Address: 513 Walnut
Description: At Planters the atmosphere is always festive, even without 35,000 people milling around the farmers’ market down the street, as regulars show up for a monthly fix of coffee, bird seed, and dog food. Not much has changed since it opened in 1924; the wooden floors may creak a little more now, but you can still get more than 200 varieties of herbs and spices in giant bins. The sales staff can help you create gifts using complementary items, such packets of chili seasoning and dried beans in a ceramic casserole dish or bags of flavored coffee beans and a grinder in a laminated box.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 1204 W. 27th St.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 612 W. 48th St.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 1815 Wyandotte
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 501 Commercial
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 8027 State Line Rd.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 115 Westport Rd.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 1500 Grand Blvd.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 501 Nichols Rd. (Country Club Plaza)
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
57. Mazzarese Jewelry
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (913) 491-4111
Address: 4850 W. 135th St.
Description: Like those of so many of Kansas City’s finest jewelry stores, Mazzarese’s traditions have been passed down through the generations. The youngest members are Tony and Tosca’s son and daughter, Mark and Veronica, who have kept the family legacy of quality and brought in exciting new lines and ideas. With a gorgeous new store the company has even more room to show off its diamond creations from cherished lines as well as exclusive designs. Mazzarese is also known for its masterful array of timepieces, from diamond-encrusted look-at-me styles to classic tank watches. Along with stunning diamond and gemstone pieces, the store carries top-name sterling jewelry from John Hardy and a stellar collection of gifts for men.
58. Swirk Jewelry
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (816) 753-1949, (800) MR SWIRK
Address: 310 W. 47th St.
Description: Seems like 1910 was a good year to open a jewelry store in the Midwest. Swirk’s has built a loyal following buoyed by personal service, a small but lovely selection of diamond and gemstone jewelry, many estate pieces, and the fix-anything skill of its repair team. Here’s where Kansas City brings its tired timepieces and broken bracelets. Visit the small shop above Buca di Beppo restaurant on the Country Club Plaza. You’ll get a handshake whether you buy something or not, most likely from somebody named Swirk.
59. Tiffany & Co.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (816) 531-7676
Address: 310 Nichols Rd.
Description: All the classics are to be found in this glittering store: engagement rings from demure to eye-popping, stunning pearl creations, and the finest tableware items and timepieces. Heirlooms all. Manager Melinda Petet is usually around, happy to show you a bold Peretti cuff or Picasso drop—just two of the exclusive designer lines carried here—proving once again that although the Tiffany name has been around since 1837, the styles are endlessly fresh. And in case you’re wondering, never fear; come in wearing jeans or furs. You’ll always get friendly, courteous service.
City: Kansas City, MO
Category: Shopping
Address: 220 Nichols Rd.