Local craft beer lovers (or casual post-ski day beer enthusiasts like Hailee), rejoice! Behind the Bar is joined by co-founder of Casual Animal Brewing, Lara Gray!
Lara Gray of Casual Animal Brewing
Founder and owners Lara Gray and Kyle Gray started Casual Animal Brewing in Kansas City’s Crossroads district in 2017-18 in the space across from the former Kansas City Star building. The business has thrived – even expanding to more than double its original size in 2020 as the country was in the midst of a global pandemic.
Committed to the neighborhood, Lara is also president of the East Crossroad neighborhood association and a board member of the Crossroads Arts District. Along with a lot of good being done in the area, Lara and her fellow Crossroads small business owners have seen firsthand just how much violent crime in Kansas City has risen over the past few years.
Looking for a way to make a change, Lara discovered KC 360, a local organization that uses a collaborative, community-based approach to address gun violence and violent crime in Kansas City.
Lara shares why KC 360’s work is so vital and how everyone can support their mission to make Kansas City safer. And, of course, the group is sipping on some of Casual Animal’s finest brews while they talk!
