In 1992, the Southtown Council celebrated its ten-year anniversary with the After Hours Business Exchange at St. John’s Center (now home to Pathway Academy at 72nd and Paseo) The intent was to “provide businesses located or doing business in Southtown the opportunity to meet potential customers and promote their business.” And the event did just that!
Over the years, the location has changed, moving from Cleveland Chiropractic College to the current location at Alphapointe, 75th and Prospect Ave. In 1997, the event grew to include the Waldo Area Business Association and the following year, the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association joined in as a sponsor.
Twenty-one years later, the After Hours Business Exchange continues to attract people metro-wide. New this year: were wine and beer tastings from a number of area beverage vendors; high-top tables for organization representatives to display their goods and services; and four grand prizes, including NAIA tournament tickets . Area food establishments provided a host of goodies, showing off the wide variety of restaurants and caterers. The two-hour evening was filled with eating, meeting new people, and catching up with friends.
Special thanks are extended to our sponsors- Gates BBQ and the KC Convention and Visitors Association, as well as Alphapointe for hosting the event, and to the Southtown Program Committee for putting the event together.