Kemet Coleman
Beer, Music & the Rebirth of Kansas City’s 18th & Vine
What happens when you combine Kansas City beer, music, entrepreneurship, history and creativity?
You get Kemet Coleman and Vine Street Brewing Co.
In this episode of There’s Just Something About Kansas City, we sit down with Kemet Coleman, Kansas City musician, entrepreneur, creative placemaker, and co-founder of Vine Street Brewing Co., Missouri’s first Black-owned brewery.
Located in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, Vine Street Brewing has become much more than a place to grab a beer. It’s a gathering place where music, art, culture, history and community come together - and an important part of the ongoing revitalization of one of Kansas City’s most culturally significant neighborhoods.
Kemet takes us behind the scenes of his unlikely journey from musician and creative entrepreneur to brewery owner. He shares how his experience working at Boulevard Brewing sparked his passion for craft beer, how he connected with co-founders Woodie Bonds Jr., Elliott Ivory, and Annie McGinnis, and why he was determined to build Vine Street Brewing in the heart of Kansas City’s historic Black community.
We talk about the challenges of transforming a long-abandoned historic building into a thriving brewery, the importance of preserving the legacy of 18th & Vine, and Kemet’s vision for the future of Kansas City.
He also shares stories from his music career, the creative philosophy behind Vine Street, his belief in the power of businesses to bring neighborhoods and people together - and, yes, his dream of making it to Hollywood as an actor.
This is more than a conversation about beer. It’s a story about Kansas City, creativity, perseverance, entrepreneurship, history, and the power of betting on your hometown.
