Hospitality businesses take care of the community.
Main Street takes care of the people at the heart of those businesses — freeing owners, uplifting employees, and protecting the local places we love.
Because when people thrive, hospitality thrives. And when hospitality thrives, the heart of every community beats stronger.
Main Street is where
hospitality meets HR.
What we do.
Unlike corporate consultants or generic payroll platforms, Main Street brings first-hand experience and customized HR solutions that actually work. Main Street handles the people side of the business, from disputes to development, so owners can focus on what they love while building stronger, happier, more profitable workplaces.
Protecting People
I’ll care for the people at the heart of your business.
Empowering Owners
I’ll take more of your plate so you can focus on what matters.
Sustaining Legacy
Let’s protect what you’ve built — and grow what’s next.
Elevating Culture
Happy teams make for happier customers.
Rooted in Kansas City.
Our hospitality scene has heart and soul, just like its Jazz— and Main Street is here to help it thrive. Hospitality isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. It’s the server who remembers your order, the bartender who knows your story, the kitchen who serves comfort with every dish.
And those who give so much deserve the same in return. Main Street partners with the independent spots that make KC feel like home. The places where regulars gather, teams grow, and neighborhoods stay connected. When your people are cared for, your business — and our city — grows stronger.
Who we are.
Built by industry professionals.
With over a decade in restaurant operations and a graduate degree in Gastronomy, our Founder and CEO, Kirsten Carpenter, brings front-of-house experience and HR expertise to help restaurants build stronger systems, fairer policies, and healthier cultures. As a Kansas City transplant, Kirsten is committed to helping the hospitality community here flourish.
Our Services
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Keeping your house in order — so you can focus on keeping guests happy.
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Taking care of the people who take care of everyone else.
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Build a team that feels like family and works like pros.
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The secret to retention? Growth. I’ll help your people shine.
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Because culture doesn’t just happen — it’s built.
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People and profit go hand in hand, and I’ll help you balance both.
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For when you need a little extra magic.
Testimonials
“Kirsten understands the work firsthand. She has worked the floor, led teams, and knows the pressure of a busy Saturday night. That experience makes her exceptionally effective — she brings equal parts empathy and accountability. She also prioritizes making herself available, ensuring consistent access to her expertise and guidance. Since partnering with her, our communication, documentation, and overall consistency have improved across all locations.”
Katy Chirichiello, Managing Partner of JK Food Group,
Boston MA
“Working with Kirsten has been an absolute game-changer for our restaurant group. From day one, she brought a combination of empathy, integrity, and razor-sharp insight to every aspect of our HR operations. She supported us through navigating complex and often sensitive personnel matters with grace and professionalism, always leading with a deep sense of care for both the individual and the organization. Our performance review system, which had long needed a refresh, underwent a complete transformation under her guidance. Knowing Kirsten was in our corner allowed us to (finally) sleep soundly at night, confident that our team was in the most capable, thoughtful hands. She brings a level of intelligence, experience, and educated nuance that no off-the-shelf HR platform could ever replicate.”
Sara Abernathy
Owner and Founder of Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing / Glasshouse Kitchen Raleigh, NC