1. Lean Kitchen Co.
When Jeana and Chris Penny were considering opening a meal prepping business, opening the first Lean Kitchen Company in Texas was a “no brainer,” co-owner Jeana Penny said. Missouri-based Lean Kitchen is a healthy meal prep franchise, Jeana Penny said, adding that everything is made fresh in the on-site kitchen weekly. The husband-and-wife team opened the business in McKinney in early 2024, which was the first Lean Kitchen to open in Texas.
2. Little Bipsy
Although Little Bipsy is an apparel brand headquartered in Washington, the company's warehouse, featuring a window-lined showroom, is located in McKinney. Customer Service Manager Deona Kim describes the clothing brand, which started with children’s apparel and has grown to include adult sizes, as being comfortable and soft.
“What we do is more gender neutral—boys or girls can wear it,” Kim said. “We do a lot of solids, and we have some prints and graphic tees that can interchange and work with our other launches.”
3. Sunset Trail Farm
When Kristen and Trey Hoegenauer moved from their Richardson home of 20 years to a 7-acre farm in McKinney, they didn’t intend to open a pick-your-own-blackberry farm, but the idea grew on them.
“We always gardened and had blackberries growing along our garage [in Richardson],” Kristen Hoegenauer said. “We were trying to figure out how to be better stewards of the land, then we thought of blackberries–they're native to Texas and thrive in our high pH soil. We also love people, hospitality and welcoming people.”
4. ILS Gummies
Although ILS Gummies produces 60 million nutraceutical gummies monthly in McKinney, the demand is over double that amount, company officials said. A $6.5 million expansion project at the 70,000-square-foot facility began in 2024 and is slated for completion in July.
“We were capped at space. Our demand right now is for about 150 million to 200 million gummies,” CEO Dru Riess said. “As soon as we're done with this build out, we'll be going to about 200 million gummies a month.”
5. Bingham Estate
Once a private residence, the historic Bingham Estate property in East McKinney now welcomes guests for overnight stays. Owner Erika McWilliams opened the main house as a bed and breakfast in May 2023, and six new cottages debuted in April following an expansion on the south side of the property. The cottages are each named for a child of the Bingham family that originally owned the property, McWilliams said.
6. Wildflower Production House
Through her business, The Wildflower Production House, McKinney resident Markita Pollard aims to bring together creative professionals that can offer a variety of experiences and services. In the summer of 2024, Markita Pollard opened The Wildflower Production House in The McKinney Flour Mill. In November, Pollard moved the business to downtown McKinney. The business offers concierge services and ambient experiences provided by a collection of creatives, who Pollard calls Wildflowers.
7. Crow’s Martial Arts
Grand Master Raymond Crow, a lifelong teacher of martial arts, is now offering martial arts and athletics instruction in McKinney. Crow’s Martial Arts Academy opened about a year ago at the University Business Plaza along University Drive. The school offers a wide range of martial arts classes for kids and adults. Subjects include Jun-Fan Gung Fu, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu grappling and more.
8. Wayback Barn
When guests drive up the tree-lined gravel road to Wayback Barn, visitors can spot a 100-year-old red barn on a four-acre property that also includes picnic tables and a variety of outdoor games nestled under Bois d’Arc trees. McKinney residents and married couple Ryan and Laura O’Dowd opened Wayback Barn in 2023.
“We want it to be about connecting with your people through games and good conversation in a relaxed atmosphere,” Laura O’Dowd said of the business.
9. Linda’s Electric Quilters
What started as a way for McKinney resident Linda V. Taylor to pay off the longarm quilting machine she bought to make her handmade quilts, has turned into a multi-building quilting destination. Established in 1995, Linda’s Electric Quilters includes a retail space, warehouse and studio in McKinney. The retail space is stocked with threads, patterns, notions, sewing machine accessories, batting and fabric.
10. Palace Barber Shop
As customers file through the doors of Palace Barber Shop in downtown McKinney, they either take a seat in the red chairs lining the wall or go immediately to a barber chair. For the most part, customers do not get asked what service they would like performed, nor do they need to volunteer the information, the service just ensues.
“I walk in, sit down and Linda or John already know what I want,” said Jerry Brooks, McKinney resident and longtime customer.
