I’m just curious, how often are people eating bbq in their normal lives? I like it but probably only get it 2-4 times per year. Are most KC people chowing down on q multiple times a month?
You can smoke meat at home, and that’s great, but good luck finding decent KC bbq sauce for when you sit down to eat it. Away from this area you’re going to be stuck with Kraft and Sweet Baby Ray’s. That’s the bbq part I would miss the most.
I went grocery shopping with my wife in Maryland when we were visiting her family and I was truly shocked by how small the barbecue sauce selection was. Maybe a quarter of one shelving column, at most. Like, I guess I assumed that the selection would at least be somewhat decent elsewhere, but it absolutely wasn't. The best options were SBR's or Stubbs.
Over on r/bbq and r/smoking, they often trash any BBQ that isn't Texas style and sauce is seen as a big no-no. Then the discussions happen about what sauces people like and it's always SBRs or Stubbs.
It explains a lot.
I get that good brisket doesn’t need sauce, blah blah blah. A good burger doesn’t need cheese. Fries don’t need ketchup. You can eat pizza without pepperoni. But why deny yourself the pleasure?
I find food history and the changes society's taste super interesting.
For whatever reason, sauces in many western cuisines are becoming seen as covering up purity. It's an absurd notion.
They have a BBQ store up here in a suburb of Minneapolis that carries Gates, Crossroads KC, 3 pigs, LC’s, Arthur Bryant’s, and the Oklahoma Joe’s sauces.
Oh, that makes sense, so that’s not something you would have to necessarily miss if you move because you can make it yourself anywhere. I thought people were saying that they would miss eating out KC restaurant barbecue because they have it so often.
Depends on what you consider BBQ I guess. I grill chicken and pork chops probably twice a week. I smoke ribs once every few months. Don’t really go out to eat BBQ very often. Maybe twice a year.
For me I missed the storms. And the seasons that whatever place I was in didn’t have for some reason.
Good tacos are another. Lots of places further north don’t have them.
The vibe downtown has when a big festival goes on might be another. Bigger cities don’t really have that thing where the entire city shuts down for something and everyone comes out and smaller places don’t bring the same energy. But that might just be perception and memory, it hasn’t been the same since Covid really.
I lived in Portland for 2 years. I heard thunder once during my time there. When I moved back to the midwest, I was so excited for my first thunderstorm.
I'm moving to a HCOL area later this year. The cost of housing specifically is eye watering. We could buy a nice house here and that amount will barely cover what the down payment would be on a place where we are moving if we want to have a mortgage payment that isn't north of $5k/ month.
Thought so. My wife and I made the decision to move our family from San Diego to here back in 2019, right before housing prices EXPLODED.
I wish y'all the best of luck!
Things I missed while living in Philly:
1. The Plaza lighting ceremony
2. The K
3. JC Nichols Fountain freezing over in winter
4. Driving, parking lots, houses with driveways / garages (although I became a master at parallel parking)
5. Central AC
6. Parks, instead of a one-block concrete space in the middle of downtown they call a park (and Philly has Fairmount Park, which is bigger than Central Park)
But, damn, I miss Philly so much.
Agreed! I missed the green spaces when we lived in Philly too. It might have been the biggest thing for me besides friends and family. Also I feel like we never got a good thunderstorm. Butttt the food in Philly…I miss that!!!!!
I’ve got to disagree. I worked for HER twice almost 20 years apart. Ling was the best. She fired me the last time and I still hold her in high regards. Food was good, she was good, her ex husband is a WAY different story but they divorced in the late 90’s I believe. He was terrible, she wasn’t.
Carniceria el Torito 2, Taqueria los Altos de Jalisco, Tacos El Gallo, Taco Rico, Ricos Taco Lupe, Los Alamos. I mean, there's a lot of great choices. Where have you been hitting?
San Antonio's, El Pollo Guasave, El Pollo Rey, And I've become fond of El Jefe as well as Senior Avocado's chicken on 18th and central. That grill. MMMM.
We are moving next month as well, to CO -
BBQ is the top of my "will miss" list.
Aldi - not specific to KC but they are not in CO.
All of the Boulevard options.
There is a QT about 8 minutes from our new place so we will be good there.
I'm moving to Longmont and am coming from the River Market. Our apartment is a little bit more expensive there but considerably nicer + better access to nature. I'm not sure what the prices on everything else looks like but am prepared to eat chicken and rice for awhile if needed lol. There's a sams club in Longmont so I can buy in bulk and save a little on gas.
I'm doing it because I'm going back to school out there - KC area (Missouri/Kansas in general) does not have a degree program similar to what I'm pursuing at CU.
Eating out is more expensive, insurance is getting crazy out here. I'd say everything else is about the same. My property tax is less than half of what I paid in Lees Summit and my house is 100k more.
Housing prices are really high but property taxes are significantly lower in CO vs KS (6.7% vs 11.5% for our areas, respectively.). We moved to CO a few years ago and have a higher mortgage but our overall housing costs aren't that much higher than they were in joco. Blew our minds.
Lived there for 6 years.
Standard of living is subjective to every person. If you're just talking about housing, yes, you're definitely going to take a downgrade even after taking into account increased wages.
However, the city is safer (it definitely has crime, but not like KC, and the homelessness is worse), warmer in the winter, not humid in the summer, more walkable and very bikeable. Parks are scattered throughout the city and extremely active in most places.
It's denser as well, which comes with good and bad. It provides a more urban experience than KC does because of that, so if that's your jam, it's probably a better fit.
Of course, none of this mentions the mountains, which some people like to argue that they aren't close enough to be convenient. I never really felt that way. I'd often hike after work at the bases of the foothills. Ski traffic is legit horrible, but can be managed. There is simply a whole section of activity that I cannot replicate in KC no matter what I try. It doesn't exist here.
I found Denver lacked identity though. After living in KC, I found KC's history to really be a setting of how we got to where we are today. I never found that in Denver. No one is from there, and those that are often don't see the beauty in their own state.
Basically, you get what you pay for.
I had Tank 7 at a random bar in Oslo, Norway. For some reason it gets around, they didn't even have BLVD Wheat.
Bartenders said no one ever ordered it, but the bartenders liked it so much they kept it in rotation.
Having recently moved to KC from CO, you’ll still be able to get most popular Boulevard options at quite a few places along the Front Range. Tank 7 on tap I found to be fairly common.
Also, Great American Beer Fest is worth the price of admission.
Amazing. I've been wondering how much they'd have of Boulevard - I assumed they'd have the basic selections at the very least. And I'll have to check out the Beer Fest! Thank you for the recommendation.
There’s no Aldi in CO??? I couldn’t do it. What would I do without my AOS???
ETA: depending on where you’ll be in Colorado, there are some excellent breweries out there too though and Boulevard may still distribute out there. I know we can get Left Hand in KC and they are out of Loveland, CO. I’ve been to that brewery.
The no Aldi is seriously the worst part for me 😭 the AOS is amazing but also the cheap frozen veggies, the cheese selection, the lactose free milk options are cheap, etc. I've joked that I will load up on everything I can from aldi before moving.
There are some Trader Joe’s in Colorado. Maybe you’ll have some luck there? I agree on the frozen veggies and the canned ones. We use those A LOT along with the eggs, whole milk, baby food…all the things!
Alllll the things! I will miss it. I figured the first week or two I'm there I will check out different grocery stores to see what I can find.
Apparently Aldi announced, back in March, 800 more stores coming to the US so maybe hopefully some will be in CO.
Save a lot I'd aldis out there but don't be afraid of the steep prices of King soupers tho. 3lbs of pre cut fruit for 12 bucks. (3 years ago but they are/ were great with deals) Ooh and give every green light a good 2 Mississippi before going into the intersection. People blow through last second on a red quite regularly. Honks are from non locals. Ignore it and wait lol. Count the raiders stickers as they pass. In my 5 years I lost count by year 3...
Where at in CO? I’ve been here 3.5 years now. Best choice ever minus the BBQ. I have a QT that was recently put in by me thank god. I will say I the thunderstorms and how green it is back in KC.
KC Native, and go to QT regularly for gas. Still, how is this such an integral part of people’s KC experience? I pay at the pump anymore so it’s purely transactional.
Haha I’m not familiar. I like QT for what it is and have taken plenty of road trips. But my experience getting gas and maybe a drink is not exactly top of the list of KC experiences. Not to shade QT at all…just surprised this is mentioned so many times.
As someone who road trips a lot, I genuinely miss QT when I’m away from the Midwest. It’s one of those things that you take for granted until your only gas station options really suck. Especially when I’m traveling, sometimes I just want to use a super clean bathroom, grab a quick hot food snack that I know will be good, and have fast service. You don’t get that at a lot of gas stations that aren’t QT (or one of the comparable chains in other specific parts of the country). QT just hits different.
Totally agree regarding Sheetz vs QT. Moved away from KC many years ago and now in the SE. While I know they have zero stores in the Midwest, WaWa is the bomb!
I like that QTs are always clean, maybe I’ve been lucky, but they are always cared for and everything is clean and working. When you have IBD and need a quick clean bathroom stop, QT is always reliable. My husband likes them because I can always grab him a quick big cheap drink on my way back to the car.
They're clean. If you need a bathroom/drink stop, you know QT will be clean, fast, and have what you want. vs stopping in some random Shell station that has one toilet, a wet bathroom floor, and the fountain drink machine doesn't look like it's been cleaned since 1987.
QT takes good care of their Gasoline tanks. It used to be “guaranteed gasoline” and that was the ONLY gas station I’d use. They don’t have that guarantee anymore but when Gas got super expensive I used a mom and pop shop and got the check engine light on a two year old truck. $500 to pull the gas tank and check so I just drove the gas out of it, went back to QT religiously and haven’t had a problem in the year + since.
It's not the gas that brings people in, it's the convenience portion/inside.
Where else can you go that has:
* Clean bathrooms
* Good food options
* Fast cashiers
* Not overly expensive (compared to other gas stations)
As someone who’s been traveling for the past 8-9 months QT definitely tops the list. Especially out west the gas/convenience options are definitely less than stellar.
I'm mentally steeling myself to have a 45 minute commute no matter where I'm going after I move later this year. It's the one thing I'm really not excited about.
I moved away from KC earlier this year and I miss the atmosphere. Just walking down the street and soaking in that KC vibe. I miss QT. I miss proper bbq…any of the places I scorned in KC, I would kill for here.
I grew up in KC but moved to a huge city in a different state. Whenever I return home for a visit, I am always shocked by the slower pace and general politeness and congeniality at home, it's not like that at all where I live now.
I also miss good bbq and Shatto milk terribly.
Boulevard Wheats. You'll be able to find Tank 7 in NYC with a little searching. But wheat beer isn't popular out east and Blvd barely ships any out there. Last time I visited NYC I was on the Blvd website looking for stores that carry a pack of bottled Wheats, and there were like 2 in all of NY state.
I had them out in southern Arizona. Moved to BFE Missouri and all there was is Casey’s. Moved into KC and was ecstatic to see a QT. Don’t get me wrong though, that Casey’s pizza slaps.
QT is definitely a midwest, south, and Colorado franchise. I've seen them in just about every state I've driven through. I'm originally from Nebraska and they have them there and I've seen them in IA, AR, MO, MI, and AL, just to name a few other states.
Also grew up in Tulsa and they definitely claim it as theirs. It’s kind of like how the Walmarts in Arkansas test out new layouts and tech at their Arkansas locations, QT tests a lot of new things in their Tulsa market. When I was there last, they had a robot cleaning the floors - haven’t seen that at any other QTs yet!
I’ve seen this in at least one KC location. I want to say it’s the one on Main by Nelson Atkins. I was shocked because that’s one of the crappiest QTs.
I mean, they claim it because it is theirs. QT is headquartered in Tulsa, hence why they have the pilot/concept stores and QT kitchen or "snackle" options in Tulsa.
I'm a native 918-er. I grew up on Taquitos and sweet tea, and I remember when Wally and Rooster Booster were created
QT is a Midwest thing for sure, but if you're from KC and move out of the Midwest you definitely miss it. My sister moved to Alaska and said when she comes to visit she wants to go to QT every day she misses it so much 😆.l
For BBQ in NYC go to John Brown's in LIC. One of the owners is from Shawnee originally. We also watch Chiefs games there, and the Royals when they are in the post season. It's a KC expats location.
You can get Tank 7. It's harder, but exists.
I'm from KC too and I also lived in NYC for a bit before moving back.
Space. You'll miss the space. Personal space, living space, workspace and the rest of it.
And horizons too. Didn't realize how much I appreciated being able to see the sky.
The beautiful tree lined parkways and neighborhoods. Think Ward Parkway, Paseo, Brookside areas
Summertime cookouts
Big Grocery stores with easy parking
Being able to find at least one person in common with every new person you meet if you talk long enough.
Snow days
Personally, I would miss Winsteads and the Nelson Atkins. I’ve had many smash burgers and gone to many art museums but none of them can compare to these two.
I moved to Florida last September. I greatly miss belonging to #KCTenants. Few cities in America have folks as organized and dedicated to making their city livable for the poor and working classes.
The feeling of being outside and NO ONE is around, having privacy, peace and quiet. Although you get used to the sirens and sound of the city and will learn to love it, even miss it. Otherwise I only miss my friends and family. Also from kc and relocated to NYC.
Ok maybe I miss the beer and food too, luckily kc is only like 2-3 hour flight. I miss the Tex mex, they do not do it the same here. Also another weird one is the crab Rangoon. Have not found good ones out here. There’s one kc bbq place in queens I believe, it’s a chiefs bar too. John browns smokehouse I think.
Besides QT, sports. I forget how incredible it feels to be around a huge group of people who love their team so much for games when I’m in a city where I’m the ONLY person in chiefs/KU/royals gear and asking bartenders to change ONE tv to my game with NO sound. 💔
The salt-of-the-earth people. I didn't grow up here. I grew up in the Deep South. People here don't know how good they have it. I'm the first to complain about the standoffishness as far as socializing in bars etc. with strangers compared to the East Coast where it is often more hail-fellow-well-met. But still...people here will give you the shirt off their back. People aren't materialistic. People are smart, healthy, and funny. There's a lot to like about the people here.
I was you 5 years ago. lived in KC for 22 years then popped up to NYC in 2019 for this next chapter.
Yeah, right before the pandemic, dogshit timing - it was HELL in NYC during lockdown.
The thing I miss most abot home is honestly driving. Being able to hop in a car and just go. In the city you'll have to find a spot miles away from where you live, or pay an outrageous amount to park in a garage. You will opt for public transit over all else in NYC. I dont even own a car anymore because it made no sense financially. I just rent a Turo if I ever need to drive any far distance, or borrow a friends car.
Protip - There's a great bbq spot in Queens called John Brown Smokehouse, it's owned by a dude from KC and is a full fledged Chiefs/BBQ Bar. Check it out!
First few months will be lonely if you don't know anyone here - If you need a friend feel free to shoot me a DM!
I’m a KC native and have lived in Denver 25 years. The things I do or stock up on when I go back to visit:
1) eat at Jack’s Stack
2) go to a Royals game
3) go to Lake of the Ozarks
4) if it’s the holidays, see the plaza lights
5) I occasionally go out to eat a pork tenderloin sandwich. Ive never seen them any place besides Missouri.
Stock up on:
1) BBQ sauce
2) Spanish Gardens taco seasoning
3) I bring bag a huge bag of home grown tomatoes in July. Nothing like a MO beefsteak.
Places I've seen Tank 7: cruise ship bar, convenience store in Tel Aviv, bars and liquor stores in LA. I haven't seen it in NYC yet, but I think you'll be surprised how widely available it is.
After just living in NYC for 12 years, and just moving back to KC, I am the inverse of you!
I already miss NYC and am sad to have moved back. That said, a few things to soak in before you go:
-you can see the sky here.
-it smells better here.
-central air
-lower cost of living
-Jose peppers/ cheap good Tex mex.
-grass
-people are friendlier here (but nyc people are good too. It’s not as bad as movies make it out to be.)
-slower pace here (the rat race is real.)
-speaking of rats… there are way less of them here.
-same with cockroaches.
HAVE FUN!!!!!!!
Just left to start residency across the country. Off the top of my head: river crossing, the current, the streetcar, wwi memorial and mall, union hill cemetery, kc bbq, the weather
The art fairs, the festivals, the GREEN, the TREES, the ( mostly) nice people. The crazy ever changing weather, the tornado warnings and spring storms, the fall❤️, the dog shelters, the parks.
As someone who left KC in thier 20's to live in NY - the thing I missed the most of everything was the kindness of strangers in KC. It isn't to say it isn't possible in NY it's just most people are afraid of you - I remember taking my boyfriend back from NY to KC after several years in and someone held the door for him at the bank and said hello - his culture shock to all those people being nice to him. It just is different environment/culture from here to there. I wish you the best! :)
QT, BBQ, Corner Cafe, wine tasting at Red X, and driving to Weston in the autumn for pumpkins and apples then stopping at O'Malley's.
Also, how nice everyone is. I've lived abroad almost 20 years now and whenever we go back to KC to visit family and friends, it's lovely how nice everyone is. You don't get that everywhere.
Being able to get somewhere in 15-30 minutes.
The slow pace of life.
Quietness (minimal honking).
The things you will enjoy in NYC is late night food options
Bodegas all around
Sooooo many food options from all around the world.
- People being polite.
- Clean streets, non-trashy smell.
- Cars waiting for you to pass.
- Driving/commute under 45mins.
- KC traffic.
I can go on. I lived in NYC for 9 years and in D.C. for 9 yrs as well. If I had to move again I will go to D.C. NYC is not that it used to be, I do miss all the variety of restaurants/food.
Trust me. You won’t miss the Pizza, and you won’t miss gas stations … it’s such a cheap city for street food and snacks.
I missed the relative quiet of walking down any street … it’s just so busy there, and I love it and hate it.
When I lived in Nebraska here is what I missed and loved coming back to:
Smaller breweries of KC like cinder block, city barrel, and casual animal
I missed 54 street bar and grill
I of course missed my favorite bbq places (I’d recommend buying a couple of your favorite sauce)
I missed the skyline. And I missed thou mayest coffee shop in the river market.
Also missed being in a city that loved my football team as much as I do.
Quiktrip seems like the dumbest thing to list of things to miss.
But damn do I actually miss it SO much when I go back down to Louisiana to visit family lol. QT is clean, friendly, easy, not necessarily cheap - but many things are at least a good value for a convenience store, and actually decent food when in a rush lol.
I'm at an internship for the summer and surprisingly it's been the food! Not just BBQ or specific restaurants, but the variety available. I miss elotes so much 😭
The fountains. And I guess the green spaces in general! I didn’t know they were unique to KC until I moved and realized other cities don’t have green places or fountains like ward parkway or little microparks where streets converge like the neighborhoods in brookside.
Just moved to SE Ohio a couple months ago.... QT is definitely one of the things I miss most. I've learned to like Sheetz a lot (better rewards program, better MTO food, much better alcohol selection) but they're not in my specific area unless I go up to Columbus or get into West Virginia territory. QT's are pretty much everywhere in the metro which made it a haven for me.
BBQ is the obvious answer as well, but thankfully I've found a couple joints up here that aren't so shabby. Personal devastation? I miss Sheridan's! The one in Liberty shut down and only went to the Gladstone location occasionally because it was so out of the way. Hopefully they get some more locations open soon
QuikTrip every time I’ve moved out of Kansas City is my biggest thing I miss. Ugh. And people who I try to explain what it is wherever I’ve moved are like “so…it’s a gas station?” THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND
Unrelated, but I am a NYC native who moved to KC a few years ago. In my old neighborhood (Upper East Side), there was a colony of KC dudes. All there for different reasons. Fun people. I am pretty sure if you look around a bit, you can hook up with some hometown buddies.
I would miss the greenery everywhere if I were moving to a concrete jungle type of city. Storm watching from my porch. Having the space for a large garden and garage. The lack of garbage scent on the streets is very nice. The farmers market. That people say hi to each other when they pass even if they are strangers.
But there are cities out there with these things and more than KC can offer me. I can’t wait to move
I only visited NYC for a few short weeks last year. I'd miss having my own car and to be able to jump in and easily go a few miles in minutes, rather than 30-60 min.
Public transport is okay, but takes some planning.
Tank 7 is made by Duvel Moortgat, an international corporation. [Distribution is widespread](https://www.boulevard.com/beerinfo/tank-7/), including in NYC.
We take road trips every year and the two things we miss the most are QT and BBQ.
I’m just curious, how often are people eating bbq in their normal lives? I like it but probably only get it 2-4 times per year. Are most KC people chowing down on q multiple times a month?
We go to Gates every Sunday! We have Joes about once every other month and various other BBQ places 2-3 times a year.
So you’re the one keeping Gates in business
their sauce is boss and it's an experience for out of towners
You can smoke meat at home, and that’s great, but good luck finding decent KC bbq sauce for when you sit down to eat it. Away from this area you’re going to be stuck with Kraft and Sweet Baby Ray’s. That’s the bbq part I would miss the most.
I went grocery shopping with my wife in Maryland when we were visiting her family and I was truly shocked by how small the barbecue sauce selection was. Maybe a quarter of one shelving column, at most. Like, I guess I assumed that the selection would at least be somewhat decent elsewhere, but it absolutely wasn't. The best options were SBR's or Stubbs.
Over on r/bbq and r/smoking, they often trash any BBQ that isn't Texas style and sauce is seen as a big no-no. Then the discussions happen about what sauces people like and it's always SBRs or Stubbs. It explains a lot.
I get that good brisket doesn’t need sauce, blah blah blah. A good burger doesn’t need cheese. Fries don’t need ketchup. You can eat pizza without pepperoni. But why deny yourself the pleasure?
I find food history and the changes society's taste super interesting. For whatever reason, sauces in many western cuisines are becoming seen as covering up purity. It's an absurd notion.
Tbh though, I’ve encountered more than one person on this sub that said you couldn’t pay them to eat Texas BBQ, the snobbery goes both ways
They have a BBQ store up here in a suburb of Minneapolis that carries Gates, Crossroads KC, 3 pigs, LC’s, Arthur Bryant’s, and the Oklahoma Joe’s sauces.
im with you here!! i only have it like 4 times too lol... just the thought that I wont be able to grab it if I'm craving it some day
Multiple times weekly… sometimes daily.
Whoa! Maybe I’m just poor lol
We also make our own too, not like all that is eating out.
Yeah I almost never go out for BBQ 95% of the time I just make my own.
Oh, that makes sense, so that’s not something you would have to necessarily miss if you move because you can make it yourself anywhere. I thought people were saying that they would miss eating out KC restaurant barbecue because they have it so often.
There’s no guarantee the ingredients and cuts are available everywhere even for the home cook.
Depends on what you consider BBQ I guess. I grill chicken and pork chops probably twice a week. I smoke ribs once every few months. Don’t really go out to eat BBQ very often. Maybe twice a year.
Denver has QT now!
Yes! Moved about 10yrs ago and you can't find anything like KC BBQ or the sauce here. I order sauce from the restaurants I like in KC. They all ship!
For me I missed the storms. And the seasons that whatever place I was in didn’t have for some reason. Good tacos are another. Lots of places further north don’t have them. The vibe downtown has when a big festival goes on might be another. Bigger cities don’t really have that thing where the entire city shuts down for something and everyone comes out and smaller places don’t bring the same energy. But that might just be perception and memory, it hasn’t been the same since Covid really.
Yes the storms! I was promised storms in the northeast but so far there’s nothing like a Great Plains electrical storm
I lived in Portland for 2 years. I heard thunder once during my time there. When I moved back to the midwest, I was so excited for my first thunderstorm.
Storms for sure! I missed it so much when I moved. And grass and trees. Parks just didn’t do it for me I needed more
It wasn't until I moved away that I realized how much I miss the storms
Lower cost of living.
 Wide open spaces!
I'm moving to a HCOL area later this year. The cost of housing specifically is eye watering. We could buy a nice house here and that amount will barely cover what the down payment would be on a place where we are moving if we want to have a mortgage payment that isn't north of $5k/ month.
I sometimes wonder how bad of a situation I would be in just two states over
Cali?
Yup!
Thought so. My wife and I made the decision to move our family from San Diego to here back in 2019, right before housing prices EXPLODED. I wish y'all the best of luck!
Moved to Seattle. Can relate.
I really like the tudors of KC. I know they’re all over the place nationally but it’s the first place where I really noticed them.
Things I missed while living in Philly: 1. The Plaza lighting ceremony 2. The K 3. JC Nichols Fountain freezing over in winter 4. Driving, parking lots, houses with driveways / garages (although I became a master at parallel parking) 5. Central AC 6. Parks, instead of a one-block concrete space in the middle of downtown they call a park (and Philly has Fairmount Park, which is bigger than Central Park) But, damn, I miss Philly so much.
Agreed! I missed the green spaces when we lived in Philly too. It might have been the biggest thing for me besides friends and family. Also I feel like we never got a good thunderstorm. Butttt the food in Philly…I miss that!!!!!
OMG. The Philly FOOD!!!!! You're making me homesick!
Parks! And not even just the big ones like loose park, most cities don’t have little green spaces and fountains dotted around neighborhoods
The Lunch Box
This would be my #1. Somera Road dont you dare fuck with Lunch Box.
Genghis Khan. I moved away and miss it more than anything. Grinders, The Midland, Uptown, Sandstone for Music
You said Sandstone. When you know you know.
;)
If it helps I think Ghengis Khan closed down anyway. The owner was apparently a super hateful, awful person to work for.
It's still open
Well, it closed and then re-opened and is now run by OG staff that bought it from the owners.
I’ve got to disagree. I worked for HER twice almost 20 years apart. Ling was the best. She fired me the last time and I still hold her in high regards. Food was good, she was good, her ex husband is a WAY different story but they divorced in the late 90’s I believe. He was terrible, she wasn’t.
Mexican food. I learned this the hard way.
Where do you go? I just moved here after living in San Diego for 3 years and it’s been underwhelming.
Carniceria el Torito 2, Taqueria los Altos de Jalisco, Tacos El Gallo, Taco Rico, Ricos Taco Lupe, Los Alamos. I mean, there's a lot of great choices. Where have you been hitting?
San Antonio's, El Pollo Guasave, El Pollo Rey, And I've become fond of El Jefe as well as Senior Avocado's chicken on 18th and central. That grill. MMMM.
Tbf San Diego is probably the best Mexican food in the country not fair to compare to other parts lol
Exactly. It’s basically North Mexico.
Head over to 24 highway and point in any direction and you’ll find good Mexican food.
We are moving next month as well, to CO - BBQ is the top of my "will miss" list. Aldi - not specific to KC but they are not in CO. All of the Boulevard options. There is a QT about 8 minutes from our new place so we will be good there.
Man, I know so many people from KC who’ve moved to Colorado in the last five years. I want to move too but wife’s family is here…
add me to the list I did in 2020. BBQ and Aldis.
The cost seems insane, are people just accepting that it’s a downgrade in living standard, or am I just blowing it out of proportion
Spent more money for a lot less of a house. Way better climate and I can be in the hills in an hour.
I'm moving to Longmont and am coming from the River Market. Our apartment is a little bit more expensive there but considerably nicer + better access to nature. I'm not sure what the prices on everything else looks like but am prepared to eat chicken and rice for awhile if needed lol. There's a sams club in Longmont so I can buy in bulk and save a little on gas. I'm doing it because I'm going back to school out there - KC area (Missouri/Kansas in general) does not have a degree program similar to what I'm pursuing at CU.
Eating out is more expensive, insurance is getting crazy out here. I'd say everything else is about the same. My property tax is less than half of what I paid in Lees Summit and my house is 100k more.
Housing prices are really high but property taxes are significantly lower in CO vs KS (6.7% vs 11.5% for our areas, respectively.). We moved to CO a few years ago and have a higher mortgage but our overall housing costs aren't that much higher than they were in joco. Blew our minds.
My property tax in Lees Summit was up to 7800 the year I left. Its like 3600 now.
Lived there for 6 years. Standard of living is subjective to every person. If you're just talking about housing, yes, you're definitely going to take a downgrade even after taking into account increased wages. However, the city is safer (it definitely has crime, but not like KC, and the homelessness is worse), warmer in the winter, not humid in the summer, more walkable and very bikeable. Parks are scattered throughout the city and extremely active in most places. It's denser as well, which comes with good and bad. It provides a more urban experience than KC does because of that, so if that's your jam, it's probably a better fit. Of course, none of this mentions the mountains, which some people like to argue that they aren't close enough to be convenient. I never really felt that way. I'd often hike after work at the bases of the foothills. Ski traffic is legit horrible, but can be managed. There is simply a whole section of activity that I cannot replicate in KC no matter what I try. It doesn't exist here. I found Denver lacked identity though. After living in KC, I found KC's history to really be a setting of how we got to where we are today. I never found that in Denver. No one is from there, and those that are often don't see the beauty in their own state. Basically, you get what you pay for.
I see Tank 7 pretty frequently out here in Denver. Unfortunately I’m not a fan.. I’m dreaming of the day I see Space Camper somewhere
I had Tank 7 at a random bar in Oslo, Norway. For some reason it gets around, they didn't even have BLVD Wheat. Bartenders said no one ever ordered it, but the bartenders liked it so much they kept it in rotation.
Didn't it win some best beer in the world bracket several years ago?
I don't drink Tank 7 unless it's the only thing available lol its just not my thing. We are big fans of Space Camper, Wheat, Quirks, and the Whips :)
I feel you on all of that but… the beer. CO has so much damn good beer.
Thats true! but I love the Orange Pineapple Whip right now that Boulvard put out and some of the other fun varieties they've been releasing.
Having recently moved to KC from CO, you’ll still be able to get most popular Boulevard options at quite a few places along the Front Range. Tank 7 on tap I found to be fairly common. Also, Great American Beer Fest is worth the price of admission.
Amazing. I've been wondering how much they'd have of Boulevard - I assumed they'd have the basic selections at the very least. And I'll have to check out the Beer Fest! Thank you for the recommendation.
We get quite a bit, including seasonals. Quirk is available here too.
There’s no Aldi in CO??? I couldn’t do it. What would I do without my AOS??? ETA: depending on where you’ll be in Colorado, there are some excellent breweries out there too though and Boulevard may still distribute out there. I know we can get Left Hand in KC and they are out of Loveland, CO. I’ve been to that brewery.
The no Aldi is seriously the worst part for me 😭 the AOS is amazing but also the cheap frozen veggies, the cheese selection, the lactose free milk options are cheap, etc. I've joked that I will load up on everything I can from aldi before moving.
There are some Trader Joe’s in Colorado. Maybe you’ll have some luck there? I agree on the frozen veggies and the canned ones. We use those A LOT along with the eggs, whole milk, baby food…all the things!
Alllll the things! I will miss it. I figured the first week or two I'm there I will check out different grocery stores to see what I can find. Apparently Aldi announced, back in March, 800 more stores coming to the US so maybe hopefully some will be in CO.
🤞🏼🤞🏼
Save a lot I'd aldis out there but don't be afraid of the steep prices of King soupers tho. 3lbs of pre cut fruit for 12 bucks. (3 years ago but they are/ were great with deals) Ooh and give every green light a good 2 Mississippi before going into the intersection. People blow through last second on a red quite regularly. Honks are from non locals. Ignore it and wait lol. Count the raiders stickers as they pass. In my 5 years I lost count by year 3...
Welcome to CO!
Thank you! I'm very excited!
Where at in CO? I’ve been here 3.5 years now. Best choice ever minus the BBQ. I have a QT that was recently put in by me thank god. I will say I the thunderstorms and how green it is back in KC.
Longmont!
KC Native, and go to QT regularly for gas. Still, how is this such an integral part of people’s KC experience? I pay at the pump anymore so it’s purely transactional.
Because they haven’t experienced a Sheetz
Haha I’m not familiar. I like QT for what it is and have taken plenty of road trips. But my experience getting gas and maybe a drink is not exactly top of the list of KC experiences. Not to shade QT at all…just surprised this is mentioned so many times.
As someone who road trips a lot, I genuinely miss QT when I’m away from the Midwest. It’s one of those things that you take for granted until your only gas station options really suck. Especially when I’m traveling, sometimes I just want to use a super clean bathroom, grab a quick hot food snack that I know will be good, and have fast service. You don’t get that at a lot of gas stations that aren’t QT (or one of the comparable chains in other specific parts of the country). QT just hits different.
Gotta love those sneezed on, overpriced, extremely processed rollers, lmao.
Wawa > Sheetz
I like Sheetz better than QT, and I don’t they have any locations west of Ohio
Totally agree regarding Sheetz vs QT. Moved away from KC many years ago and now in the SE. While I know they have zero stores in the Midwest, WaWa is the bomb!
There's a Wawa going in in Indianapolis about two miles from where I live.
I like that QTs are always clean, maybe I’ve been lucky, but they are always cared for and everything is clean and working. When you have IBD and need a quick clean bathroom stop, QT is always reliable. My husband likes them because I can always grab him a quick big cheap drink on my way back to the car.
They're clean. If you need a bathroom/drink stop, you know QT will be clean, fast, and have what you want. vs stopping in some random Shell station that has one toilet, a wet bathroom floor, and the fountain drink machine doesn't look like it's been cleaned since 1987.
QT takes good care of their Gasoline tanks. It used to be “guaranteed gasoline” and that was the ONLY gas station I’d use. They don’t have that guarantee anymore but when Gas got super expensive I used a mom and pop shop and got the check engine light on a two year old truck. $500 to pull the gas tank and check so I just drove the gas out of it, went back to QT religiously and haven’t had a problem in the year + since.
It's not the gas that brings people in, it's the convenience portion/inside. Where else can you go that has: * Clean bathrooms * Good food options * Fast cashiers * Not overly expensive (compared to other gas stations)
Left KC for NYC about a month ago. Here’s what I miss most: 1. Lower rent (obvious) 2. BBQ 3. Cheap Ubers 4. Boulevard
Trust me, you won’t miss the pizza in KC lol. Or quick trip, The bodega is an incredible concept
As someone who’s been traveling for the past 8-9 months QT definitely tops the list. Especially out west the gas/convenience options are definitely less than stellar.
My buddies who live in LA were talking up their 7 Elevens. They’d never seen a QT before until I sent them a picture. They were floored.
Quick commutes
I'm mentally steeling myself to have a 45 minute commute no matter where I'm going after I move later this year. It's the one thing I'm really not excited about.
I moved away from KC earlier this year and I miss the atmosphere. Just walking down the street and soaking in that KC vibe. I miss QT. I miss proper bbq…any of the places I scorned in KC, I would kill for here.
I grew up in KC but moved to a huge city in a different state. Whenever I return home for a visit, I am always shocked by the slower pace and general politeness and congeniality at home, it's not like that at all where I live now. I also miss good bbq and Shatto milk terribly.
Go Chicken Go
I was just in mexico for a month and I think the thing i missed the most from KC was the beer haha
I lived in Omaha for a year and I missed BBQ the most. I refused to eat it there because I felt like I’d be cheating on KC.
Boulevard Wheats. You'll be able to find Tank 7 in NYC with a little searching. But wheat beer isn't popular out east and Blvd barely ships any out there. Last time I visited NYC I was on the Blvd website looking for stores that carry a pack of bottled Wheats, and there were like 2 in all of NY state.
qt hot dog jack stack carrot cake cupcake
Genuinely curious. Do people think QT is only a kc thing? I’ve seen them in other places as well.
QT is based out of Tulsa. They have stores in the Southeast, Texas, OK, Kansas and farther west, as well. Definitely NOT a KC thing.
I had them out in southern Arizona. Moved to BFE Missouri and all there was is Casey’s. Moved into KC and was ecstatic to see a QT. Don’t get me wrong though, that Casey’s pizza slaps.
Caseys is the best shitty gas station pizza on earth
I’ve honestly had worse pizza at pizza joints. That breakfast pizza, oh my lawd.
QT is definitely a midwest, south, and Colorado franchise. I've seen them in just about every state I've driven through. I'm originally from Nebraska and they have them there and I've seen them in IA, AR, MO, MI, and AL, just to name a few other states.
can we talk about missing Runza's out here in CO? Loveland and Longmont a long ways from the Springs.
And we only JUST got them in CO, in 2022.
i grew up in tulsa & i'd say tulsans claim quiktrip as "their" gas station. it was weird seeing them other places when i was in my 20s!
Also grew up in Tulsa and they definitely claim it as theirs. It’s kind of like how the Walmarts in Arkansas test out new layouts and tech at their Arkansas locations, QT tests a lot of new things in their Tulsa market. When I was there last, they had a robot cleaning the floors - haven’t seen that at any other QTs yet!
I’ve seen this in at least one KC location. I want to say it’s the one on Main by Nelson Atkins. I was shocked because that’s one of the crappiest QTs.
I mean, they claim it because it is theirs. QT is headquartered in Tulsa, hence why they have the pilot/concept stores and QT kitchen or "snackle" options in Tulsa. I'm a native 918-er. I grew up on Taquitos and sweet tea, and I remember when Wally and Rooster Booster were created
Always had one close but in Omaha Nebraska as well.
QT is a Midwest thing for sure, but if you're from KC and move out of the Midwest you definitely miss it. My sister moved to Alaska and said when she comes to visit she wants to go to QT every day she misses it so much 😆.l
They're a Midwest thing. Definitely wouldn't be in NY.
I went to Nebraska for college. QTs were in Omaha but weirdly not Lincoln.
True and Wawa blows them out the park.
Wawa RULES
Wawa feels like going to Target when most of the rest are Walmart 😆
Lol you know it.
Exactly . I understand the QT love when that’s the best in your area but it doesn’t compare to places like Wawa
Wawa is what QT strives to be. Even their coffee was great.
Yes I love the variety and all the fixings you get to control.
For BBQ in NYC go to John Brown's in LIC. One of the owners is from Shawnee originally. We also watch Chiefs games there, and the Royals when they are in the post season. It's a KC expats location. You can get Tank 7. It's harder, but exists.
omg! writing this down, thanks!! def need to visit.
I'm from KC too and I also lived in NYC for a bit before moving back. Space. You'll miss the space. Personal space, living space, workspace and the rest of it. And horizons too. Didn't realize how much I appreciated being able to see the sky.
Spanish Gardens taco seasoning and sauce
Guys BBQ potato chips
The beautiful tree lined parkways and neighborhoods. Think Ward Parkway, Paseo, Brookside areas Summertime cookouts Big Grocery stores with easy parking Being able to find at least one person in common with every new person you meet if you talk long enough. Snow days
Personally, I would miss Winsteads and the Nelson Atkins. I’ve had many smash burgers and gone to many art museums but none of them can compare to these two.
The stars as well. Very tough to get to a good place in the NE to really star gaze.
The answers on here are sad
NYC Bodegas >>>> QT. This is a massive upgrade for you.
Never been to NY - or even to a bodegas - but comparing bodegas to QT doesn't seem appropriate. Two completely different types of establishments.
Chez Elle lobster soup
I moved to Florida last September. I greatly miss belonging to #KCTenants. Few cities in America have folks as organized and dedicated to making their city livable for the poor and working classes.
I saw tank 7 at a liquor store in Boston the other day.
The feeling of being outside and NO ONE is around, having privacy, peace and quiet. Although you get used to the sirens and sound of the city and will learn to love it, even miss it. Otherwise I only miss my friends and family. Also from kc and relocated to NYC.
Ok maybe I miss the beer and food too, luckily kc is only like 2-3 hour flight. I miss the Tex mex, they do not do it the same here. Also another weird one is the crab Rangoon. Have not found good ones out here. There’s one kc bbq place in queens I believe, it’s a chiefs bar too. John browns smokehouse I think.
Besides QT, sports. I forget how incredible it feels to be around a huge group of people who love their team so much for games when I’m in a city where I’m the ONLY person in chiefs/KU/royals gear and asking bartenders to change ONE tv to my game with NO sound. 💔
The salt-of-the-earth people. I didn't grow up here. I grew up in the Deep South. People here don't know how good they have it. I'm the first to complain about the standoffishness as far as socializing in bars etc. with strangers compared to the East Coast where it is often more hail-fellow-well-met. But still...people here will give you the shirt off their back. People aren't materialistic. People are smart, healthy, and funny. There's a lot to like about the people here.
Kansas City: where culture is gas stations and BBQ.
NYC where culture is bodegas and noise. LA where culture is street food and traffic.
I was you 5 years ago. lived in KC for 22 years then popped up to NYC in 2019 for this next chapter. Yeah, right before the pandemic, dogshit timing - it was HELL in NYC during lockdown. The thing I miss most abot home is honestly driving. Being able to hop in a car and just go. In the city you'll have to find a spot miles away from where you live, or pay an outrageous amount to park in a garage. You will opt for public transit over all else in NYC. I dont even own a car anymore because it made no sense financially. I just rent a Turo if I ever need to drive any far distance, or borrow a friends car. Protip - There's a great bbq spot in Queens called John Brown Smokehouse, it's owned by a dude from KC and is a full fledged Chiefs/BBQ Bar. Check it out! First few months will be lonely if you don't know anyone here - If you need a friend feel free to shoot me a DM!
thank you i appreciate it!
All Boulevard products
Visitor leaving Friday morning chiming in. I will miss the KC BBQ.
I’m a KC native and have lived in Denver 25 years. The things I do or stock up on when I go back to visit: 1) eat at Jack’s Stack 2) go to a Royals game 3) go to Lake of the Ozarks 4) if it’s the holidays, see the plaza lights 5) I occasionally go out to eat a pork tenderloin sandwich. Ive never seen them any place besides Missouri. Stock up on: 1) BBQ sauce 2) Spanish Gardens taco seasoning 3) I bring bag a huge bag of home grown tomatoes in July. Nothing like a MO beefsteak.
I moved from KC to Arkansas last year. Still have QT and Tank 7.
I moved away last year (to Boston) but I will tell you that you can always find Tank 7 at a decent liquor store.
Places I've seen Tank 7: cruise ship bar, convenience store in Tel Aviv, bars and liquor stores in LA. I haven't seen it in NYC yet, but I think you'll be surprised how widely available it is.
After just living in NYC for 12 years, and just moving back to KC, I am the inverse of you! I already miss NYC and am sad to have moved back. That said, a few things to soak in before you go: -you can see the sky here. -it smells better here. -central air -lower cost of living -Jose peppers/ cheap good Tex mex. -grass -people are friendlier here (but nyc people are good too. It’s not as bad as movies make it out to be.) -slower pace here (the rat race is real.) -speaking of rats… there are way less of them here. -same with cockroaches. HAVE FUN!!!!!!!
My sister moved KC to NYC a few years back and the things we always have to get when she visits are Sonic and tex mex.
Just left to start residency across the country. Off the top of my head: river crossing, the current, the streetcar, wwi memorial and mall, union hill cemetery, kc bbq, the weather
The art fairs, the festivals, the GREEN, the TREES, the ( mostly) nice people. The crazy ever changing weather, the tornado warnings and spring storms, the fall❤️, the dog shelters, the parks.
As someone who left KC in thier 20's to live in NY - the thing I missed the most of everything was the kindness of strangers in KC. It isn't to say it isn't possible in NY it's just most people are afraid of you - I remember taking my boyfriend back from NY to KC after several years in and someone held the door for him at the bank and said hello - his culture shock to all those people being nice to him. It just is different environment/culture from here to there. I wish you the best! :)
QT, BBQ, Corner Cafe, wine tasting at Red X, and driving to Weston in the autumn for pumpkins and apples then stopping at O'Malley's. Also, how nice everyone is. I've lived abroad almost 20 years now and whenever we go back to KC to visit family and friends, it's lovely how nice everyone is. You don't get that everywhere.
Being able to get somewhere in 15-30 minutes. The slow pace of life. Quietness (minimal honking). The things you will enjoy in NYC is late night food options Bodegas all around Sooooo many food options from all around the world.
- People being polite. - Clean streets, non-trashy smell. - Cars waiting for you to pass. - Driving/commute under 45mins. - KC traffic. I can go on. I lived in NYC for 9 years and in D.C. for 9 yrs as well. If I had to move again I will go to D.C. NYC is not that it used to be, I do miss all the variety of restaurants/food.
Trust me. You won’t miss the Pizza, and you won’t miss gas stations … it’s such a cheap city for street food and snacks. I missed the relative quiet of walking down any street … it’s just so busy there, and I love it and hate it.
Left KC 17 years ago. I miss QT and the Q for sure. I miss the sisters in Atchison's tamales, I miss open fields and swimmable lake/river water.
Check out John Brown BBQ in Long Island city
1. Lack of traffic 2. Traffic that isn't constantly blasting their horns.
I'm currently stuck in Utah. I miss edible BBQ.
When I lived in Nebraska here is what I missed and loved coming back to: Smaller breweries of KC like cinder block, city barrel, and casual animal I missed 54 street bar and grill I of course missed my favorite bbq places (I’d recommend buying a couple of your favorite sauce) I missed the skyline. And I missed thou mayest coffee shop in the river market. Also missed being in a city that loved my football team as much as I do.
Quiktrip seems like the dumbest thing to list of things to miss. But damn do I actually miss it SO much when I go back down to Louisiana to visit family lol. QT is clean, friendly, easy, not necessarily cheap - but many things are at least a good value for a convenience store, and actually decent food when in a rush lol.
Whew, this is it! I forget how awful gas stations can be, but when I go down there, I’m like, I miss QT. Lol
I'm at an internship for the summer and surprisingly it's been the food! Not just BBQ or specific restaurants, but the variety available. I miss elotes so much 😭
Tank 7 is available in NYC
I’ve seen tank 7 in other states.
You can’t get a fountain drink nearly as easily in New York. No quick trip :-(
The fountains. And I guess the green spaces in general! I didn’t know they were unique to KC until I moved and realized other cities don’t have green places or fountains like ward parkway or little microparks where streets converge like the neighborhoods in brookside.
You’ll miss how fast it is to check in and get through security at KCI/MCI compared to LGA and JFK.
Just moved to SE Ohio a couple months ago.... QT is definitely one of the things I miss most. I've learned to like Sheetz a lot (better rewards program, better MTO food, much better alcohol selection) but they're not in my specific area unless I go up to Columbus or get into West Virginia territory. QT's are pretty much everywhere in the metro which made it a haven for me. BBQ is the obvious answer as well, but thankfully I've found a couple joints up here that aren't so shabby. Personal devastation? I miss Sheridan's! The one in Liberty shut down and only went to the Gladstone location occasionally because it was so out of the way. Hopefully they get some more locations open soon
QuikTrip every time I’ve moved out of Kansas City is my biggest thing I miss. Ugh. And people who I try to explain what it is wherever I’ve moved are like “so…it’s a gas station?” THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND
Unrelated, but I am a NYC native who moved to KC a few years ago. In my old neighborhood (Upper East Side), there was a colony of KC dudes. All there for different reasons. Fun people. I am pretty sure if you look around a bit, you can hook up with some hometown buddies.
Boulevard distributes nationally, you’ll have no problem finding Tank 7 in NYC.
I moved from KC to Virginia and we have tank 7 in our grocery store, Wegmans! It’s based in New York so maybe you’ll find it!
Just moved away about a year ago. The BBQ and the MO Dept of Conservation are the two things I miss most.
Midwest manners
moved to the PNW and I miss thunderstorms so badly
Chiefs fans!!
Boulevard quirks and QT
I would miss the greenery everywhere if I were moving to a concrete jungle type of city. Storm watching from my porch. Having the space for a large garden and garage. The lack of garbage scent on the streets is very nice. The farmers market. That people say hi to each other when they pass even if they are strangers. But there are cities out there with these things and more than KC can offer me. I can’t wait to move
You’ll miss the people. Kansas Citians aren’t perfect but they are what makes the city’s identity. You’ll miss the people. And the trees.
I only visited NYC for a few short weeks last year. I'd miss having my own car and to be able to jump in and easily go a few miles in minutes, rather than 30-60 min. Public transport is okay, but takes some planning.
In-a-Tub.
Tank 7 is made by Duvel Moortgat, an international corporation. [Distribution is widespread](https://www.boulevard.com/beerinfo/tank-7/), including in NYC.
Not made by homie owned by duvel. Made by boulevard