Mid Coast Modern to Close its Westport Shop, Relocates Bear Soap Brand to the West Coast
Kansas City, MO- After nearly ten years of being a local retail icon, Mid Coast Modern is closing its doors for good, as confirmed by founder Matt Bramlette. The Westport Road gift shop, which has been in operation since 2015, primarily supports local makers, artists, and independent businesses. The closure is set to finalize by the end of the month.
Declining Sales Amidst the Pandemic
According to Bramlette, sales have plummeted especially after the halt in foot traffic when the nearby restaurant, The Corner, closed during March 2020. This external factor, which the owner had no control over, has indeed affected the overall income of the business.
However, all is not lost for Bramlette. He also owns Bear Soap Company that features popular products such as body soaps, bath bombs, beard balms, and toilet bombs, which are created in-house and also sold online as well as in ‘Made in KC’ stores and selected retail locations.
Bear Soap Company’s New Chapter
The Bear Soap brand will continue its existence, with Bramlette planning to move it to California in the upcoming months. Bramlette’s secondary venture, Soap Bar, which prominently showcased the Bear Soap brand, also ended its operation in June 2022. It was when Bramlette decided to incorporate all his Westport storefronts into the Mid Coast Modern.
Bramlette expressed his love for creating the Mid Coast Modern space, which soon will witness its closure, stating that it was a unique destination for shoppers. Making it a haven for interesting product collection and aiding small brands to prosper was something he passionately loved, he noted.
Customer relationships and employee rapport were cherished by Bramlette, who mentioned them as his extended family. He will be missing the many friends he made with customers and the joy when people professed their love for his shop.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Bramlette declared his love for working with local makers and wished success to all creative spirits in Kansas City. He urged his followers to continue supporting local businesses and keep the vibrancy of the city alive.
Looking Forward to New Opportunities
Upon his move to California, Bramlette envisages operating production spaces both in Kansas City and California. He remains optimistic about the new opportunities he might encounter on the West Coast.
Embracing Change and New Beginnings
Mid Coast Modern’s imminent closure is indeed the end of an era. However, Bramlette’s continuation of Bear Soap Company on the West Coast hints at the potential of creating new histories in unfamiliar territories. The transition might be a little intimidating, but it is in embracing these changes that the entrepreneurial spirit thrives.
