Kansas City has become the epicenter of a delicious pop culture collision, where the immense, overlapping fandoms of Grammy-winning singer Chappell Roan and superstar Taylor Swift are reshaping local business—one iced cookie at a time.
As fans prepare for Roan’s two sold-out concerts at the National WWI Museum and Memorial and the buzz around Swift’s new album, local bakeries are rapidly pivoting their business models to meet the explosive demand for elaborate, themed desserts. Businesses like McLain’s Bakery and Dolce Bakery are creating entire collections of specialty cookies, cakes, and a few drinks designed specifically for concert pre-parties, listening parties, and fan celebrations.
The excitement is city-wide. The KC Streetcar is now rolling through the city bedecked in a vibrant Chappell Roan-themed wrap and has been dubbed the “Pink Pony Express.” McLain’s Bakery, a staple in Kansas City since 1945, is capitalizing on the excitement with a dedicated “Showgirl Menu” Taylor Swift + Chappell Roan, it’s a femininomenon,” featuring hand made Chappell Roan-themed cookies and “Midwest Princess” cakes, designed in house, for both Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan…