The dating column is back! And this month, we decided to stay close to home and support some hyperlocal businesses.
After starting out as a food truck, Danny's Burger Shack (DBS) opened officially as a restaurant in August 2022 in a nondescript strip center in Gladstone. But that has not hurt business one iota. Instead, they have garnered a cult following for their delicious smashburgers and their onion rings, which sell out every day. Their menu is simple, offering several kinds of burgers (in single, double, triple and pounder sizes), as well as chicken sandwiches, chicken bites, fries and onion rings. When we visited for the first time, we sat up at the deli-style counter where we could watch Danny cooking the burgers. It was fun and brought a unique extra to our visit—not everyone gets to chat with Danny a bit. Our burgers were mouthwatering, and the fries crispy and cooked to perfection. Note, they have only a handful of tables and will likely be very busy.
Once you’ve finished your burger at DBS, head next door for dessert! Scola’s Italian Cookies & Pastries is a bakery not to be missed! We are fortunate to live about 10 minutes from them, so we have enjoyed many of their items. Their specialty, of course, is Italian cookies—tay tus, biscotti, thumbprints, pistachio, Neapolitans and more. But they have an excellent selection of other sweet things, like cannoli, tiramisu, cheesecake, bread pudding, cookies, cake and gelato. It is all delicious! I don’t think we have ever gotten a bad thing there. The bread pudding is truly some of the best we have had anywhere, as are the Italian cookies. The owners and staff are always so nice and helpful, and the fact that they are open until 8:00 in the evening Tuesday through Saturday makes for a great last-minute date.
After all those calories, take time to walk off a few. Happy Rock Antiques in Gladstone is a hidden gem and much larger than it appears on the outside. Part antique mall and part flea market, it’s full of antiques, collectibles, vintage items, repurposed items, home décor and furniture, among a plethora of other unique things. My husband and I have enjoyed browsing the aisles and booths here several times. There are always new things to see and treasures to find. Even if you don’t find anything, it’s certainly entertaining. You could easily spend a couple of hours there. It makes for a fun date day activity on a Saturday or a last-minute outing on a weeknight since they, too, are open until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. If you go, be sure to check out the outdoor metal art at The Rusty Clucker on the second floor. Lots of cool and interesting pieces to behold!
Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities.