Hair Stylist Molly McPheter opened the doors to her posh and elegant Kansas City boutique salon called Roots & Branches Salon in July 2014 in the historical and beautiful downtown River Market neighborhood along with a second location Roots & Branches Salon in the beautiful charming Waldo neighborhood in 2022.
Our team strives to deliver downtown glamor flared with an all-around city sensation. The Roots and Branches staff’ has that unique ability to create a look for each of their clients, not just any look but their own individual look. Roots and Branches is a Salon that is always looking to expand their knowledge by seeking out education and learning as a team, from each others experiences.
As a team we love working with the community, and you can see our work featured in KC Wedding Magazine, Spaces KC Magazine, Silpada, Ink Magazine, The Gown Gallery promotional pieces, and many more.
Appointments
Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled appointment. We require 24 hour notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. We understand that occasionally the unexpected happens. If you have a history of 2 or more last minute cancellations or "no shows", we will require a $50 deposit to reserve your appointment. Arriving late will likely limit the time allocated for your service. If you are running late, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, however, you may have to wait or be rescheduled with another available stylist. If there is just not enough time to do the service, we will have to reschedule. For appointments 30 minutes in length or less, we can only allow a 10 minute grace period. These rescheduled appointments will be recorded as a "no show”.
Parking
For your convenience there is a parking lot across the street where the Steam Boat of Arabia is located directly across the street going west on 5th St there is 2 hour parking metered. Also a sure bet is parking in the River Market and walking a block down to the salon. Be sure to check the signs to see if you are in a metered parking spot.
History of Building
The two buildings that front East 5th Street (500 Grand Avenue and 113 East 5th Street) were constructed in 1927-1928 to provide commercial space for neighborhood businesses. A previous building stood on the site as early as 1896. Both buildings housed a variety of retail businesses: jewelers, barbers, tailors, restaurants, and saloons. These vendors were similar to those operating in other buildings in the immediate neighborhood.
The second floor of 500 Grand (121 1⁄2 East 5th Street) was also the headquarters of the North Side Democratic Club. Notorious Kansas City gangster Johnny Lazia founded the North Side Democratic Club in 1928. The public goal of the club was to recruit neighborhood voters to support a specific Democratic electoral slate, engineered by political boss Tom Pendergast.
He brokered deals with Al Capone to make Kansas City a boot-legging hub, and his connection to the Union Station Massacre of 1933 is suspected but not confirmed. Lazia’s genial temper, his pleasant, ready smile, and his willingness to help the local citizenry earned him the nickname “Brother John.” The funeral after his murder in 1934 was reportedly the largest ever held in Kansas City, with thousands of individuals paying their respects.
Charles Carollo, Lazia’s bodyguard and lieutenant, assumed control of the North Side Democratic Club after Lazia’s death. Carollo was sent to prison along with Tom Pendergast in 1939. In 1940 interim club president Marion Nigro formally disbanded the North Side Democratic Club in order to separate it from the criminal activities of some of its senior members. A new club, formed under a new charter, was headquartered at Admiral Boulevard and Grand Avenue. The Club was not listed in city directories in 1940. However, city directories continue to list the North Side Democratic Club at its original 5th and Grand location from 1942 through the mid-1960s.
By the mid-1970s, a few small independent businesses remained on the first floor of 500 Grand. Gooch Brake and Equipment Company accumulated the adjacent spaces as they became available, until 1980, when the company owned and occupied the entire complex of buildings.
Earlier buildings at 506 – 510 Grand housed liveries and private stables. They were replaced in 1927 by a modern automotive garage. Henry Garland operated the Garland Garage at this location from 1927 through 1942. By 1945, it was the Sloan Transfer Company.
A two-story commercial and manufacturing building was constructed at 516 Grand prior to 1896. Throughout its history the building housed a variety of businesses, including a wholesale coffee distributer, an insect powder manufacturer, and a poultry distributer. The second floor was removed in 1941.
specialties
At Roots and Branches we pride ourselves on making every client walking out feeling like a million bucks. We specialize in Women’s and Men’s Haircut along with customized colors by Global color applications (single process), Foil Applications (highlights), and Balayage applications that can be either hand painted or foiled in to achieve the perfect blond. All colors may have an additional color charge. If you have any questions or want to send a picture before our appointment please email us or text (RiverMarket & Waldo).