KANSAS CITY, Mo. – If you are looking for a good gift, a good meal, or just a good time, there’s a little café in Kansas City you need to check out. It’s run by two sisters who mix hard work with a whole lot of love.
Mar-Bon Classic Café and Gift Shop is a step back in time. From their classic soda fountain to the old Hollywood memorabilia they sell – there’s something for people of all ages.
These two sisters, Bonnie Huntington and Martha Pointer, share an infectious love of life, cooking and people. They know no strangers. Despite posted hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., they turn no one away. Even if they are supposed to be closed.
“Sometimes we have them coming in at 8:30,” Bonnie says. “And she goes to the door,” Martha laughs. “And she says ‘Come on in, we’re open!’”
Martha and Bonnie started down this road 13 years ago with catering, after Bonnie retired from the phone company.
“Every month we had something going,” Bonnie says. “And it seems like it just got bigger and bigger.”
From weddings to anniversaries, word spread quickly of their great food, cooked completely from scratch.
“No recipes,” Bonnie boasts. “You just know what you're doing,” Martha adds. “A pinch here. A dab there. Uh oh! That's not enough. A little more. A little thicker.”
And looking through their portfolio of Martha's beautiful cakes, it's hard to believe she's never taken a single lesson. Her cakes are amazing. She says she puts the bride’s wants first.
“When a bride talks about a cake, there's way more to a cake than a price,” she says.
With success in catering, they opened their first gift shop four years ago. Earlier this year, they moved to a larger location to bring the two together. They made a point of locating the store in the heart of the community. Both sisters stress their farm girl roots in wanting to keep their services accessible to all.
“We wanted it here,” Martha says. “And I tell you the people of this area, I have to say thank you to them. They have been so receptive. Very supportive!”
You’ll find all sorts of gift ideas in their store. Their top sellers? The legends such as Elvis, Marilyn, Lucy and Betty Boop.
“So we try to carry something different that we think no one else will have,” Bonnie stresses.
Mar-Bon Classic Café and Gift Shop is located at 12020 E. 47th St. in Kansas City. For more information, check out their
Web site.
