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Three women share business office in downtown Lees Summit.

JOHN BEAUDOIN/LEE’S SUMMIT JOURNAL

A photographer, interior designer and videographer sit in a room, discussing business, downtown Lees Summit and a myriad of other topics.

While their personalities are as diverse as their business plans, each brings an art, craft and plethora of ideas to the space now known as The 318, located at 318 SE Douglas St.

The 318 concept started more than a year ago. And in those 12 months, Kim Berwald-Viar, Kelly Lankford and Cathryn Farley have transitioned their in-home businesses to an artsy storefront near the heart of downtown Lees Summit.

And while one would think the interior designer of the group in this case, Lankford would have free reign over the office plan, all three say transitioning the former cupcake bakery into an incubator space for three businesses was truly a group effort.

It took us a year to find the right spot, said Berwald-Viar, owner of Celebrating Personal Treasures, a company that specializes in videos, gifts, books and websites for occasions such as graduations, retirements, new arrivals and baptisms. She also offers a unique service she calls life story writing" for those that want to share their history with family and friends.

Ive had some involvement with downtown Lees Summit prior to this and really enjoyed the events down here.

Lankford said the "womens business co-op" started when all three met through the networking group BNI.

From the start, its been about downtown, said Lankford, owner of KHL Design Studio. Initially, we were looking upstairs, but then we started looking at retail locations.

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