People of the Public Market: Erica B.

Published on March 18, 2026

A few years ago, Erica was working as a special education teacher at a local school. When she became pregnant with her first child, Matilda, she started weighing whether returning to work after maternity leave made sense for her family.

“The price of childcare is insane, and I was like, I think I can stay home, I can do it, and then I was considering going back to work, but then surprise — I was pregnant with my twins,” she said.

Three years later, Erica is a full-time stay-at-home mom, and outings to the Lenexa Public Market have become part of her family’s rhythm.

“We’ll go to the library then get coffee and donuts, see Mr. Tom [Public Market concierge], go upstairs and see Miss Pam [receptionist in City Hall lobby] for a lollipop and then we’ll go to the slide inside the Rec Center,” she said. “It’s a whole routine.”

That routine has turned into something more meaningful — a sense of belonging.

“I feel like this is just one of those places that's such a staple for our family,” Erica said. “We go to Storytime at the Lenexa City Center Library then go straight over to coffee. For me as a stay-at-home mom, being able to get out of the house and see familiar faces, everyone in there is so nice. And no one in there gets mad when my kids start screaming.”

Over time, the Market became not just a place to visit, but a place filled with familiar faces and connections.

“My parents don't live here, and my husband's parents live here,” Erica said. “I'm always like, we need more grandparent figures in our lives. I feel like they see Mr. Tom and they light up.”

Many of the merchants are parents themselves, creating an easy sense of camaraderie.

“I was chatting with Johnny from Mr. D’s Coffee about what it’s like having twins since he has twins too,” Erica said. “He said he had an extra stroller they weren’t using and asked if I wanted it. Ours had broken so I said yes. I gave him my address, and he literally dropped a stroller off at our house and was just like twin parent to twin parent…this is the village that we are promised when we become parents.”

Building community and connecting with the people who make the Public Market so special is at the heart of what we do. Our People of the Public Market series highlight these stories, offering a small but meaningful glimpse into the lives of our customers.