Parisi company launches new era with downtown HQ
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Parisi's coffee office at 24th Street and Southwest Boulevard. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
Kansas City's largest family-owned coffee brand and its sister logistics company are planting their flags downtown this spring.
Why it matters: The move by Paris Brothers establishes a seven-year lease at a long vacant space in the Power & Light District, one of KC's busiest neighborhoods.
The big picture: President Joe Paris recently took over the more than 40-year-old family business from his dad and uncle. "It's been stressful," he says. "Like, don't mess it up, right?"
- His vision for the move centers around culture, energizing roughly 200 employees and building a brand that represents Kansas City.
Driving the news: The company recently announced its first-ever headquarters near 13th Street and Baltimore, bringing teams together for the first time.
Context: Kansas Citians are likely familiar with the big "Parisi Coffee" sign towering up out of the Crossroads. But the coffee team is just one part of the Paris Brothers business.
- The company's warehousing and grocery distribution lines operate out of SubTropolis, an underground business park.
What they're saying: We want to "be good stewards of Kansas City," Paris tells Axios. "We've been here for the growth of the city."
- Power & Light president John Moncke said in a statement: "They are one of Kansas City's great homegrown success stories, and their decision to locate downtown is another strong signal of the confidence businesses have in the future of our urban core."
Zoom in: Part of the move is about recruiting. Paris says attracting employees to an underground office has been difficult after the pandemic.
- He also wants his coffee lab and test kitchen to build energy across departments. "We're all foodies," he says.
State of play: Parisi has only two cafes — in Union Station and downtown Overland Park — but Paris says the coffee business is growing through private-label sales and its organic coffee brand, Mother Earth, sold in stores.
- Paris Brothers' grocery distribution is also expanding to include more local and clean-label brands, including James Beard winner Yoli Tortilla and Jack Stack barbecue sauce.
What we're watching: The new HQ won't include a coffee shop, but Paris says the Crossroads space could eventually become one.