This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

May Day Paper & Post is an independent stationery, paper-goods, and gift shop founded by Ally May, which opened on May Day — May 1, 2023 — at 1715 Westport Road in Kansas City, Missouri. The shop specializes in curated greeting cards, fine writing papers, journals, pens, stickers, and all things snail mail, sourcing roughly 95–99% of its inventory from small studios, independent artists, and makers across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. It has since added a second Kansas City storefront in Brookside.1234

Description

May Day Paper & Post is an independent stationery and gift shop specializing in high-quality, unique greeting cards, journals, fine writing papers, pens, pencils, stickers, and other paper goods — “all things snail mail.”23 The Westport Road store carries over 700 cards in inventory at any time, alongside imported stationery, planners, and notebooks, with the great majority of its merchandise (described variously as 95% and “nearly 99%”) sourced from small studios, independent artists, and printers across the United States, Europe, and Japan.12 As a stocked reseller, it carries lines from independent paper-goods makers such as Idlewild Co.5

The shop’s name is a double meaning: a play on founder Ally May’s surname and a nod to the May Day holiday she celebrated growing up in rural Missouri — a day marking the start of summer for farmers, traditionally observed with maypoles and small handmade baskets of paper, ribbon, candy, and wildflowers left on neighbors’ doors. The store deliberately opened on May 1 (May Day) 2023.13

May Day Paper & Post now operates two Kansas City storefronts: the original on Westport Road and a second location in the Brookside neighborhood at 5909 Main Street.46

Ownership and history

May Day Paper & Post was founded and is owned by Ally May.23 May is originally from a rural Missouri farming community and spent roughly ten years on the East Coast before returning to Kansas City in 2020.3 When she moved back, she brought “boxes and boxes” of her favorite greeting cards with her, and — disappointed by the local selection of independent-artist and “weird, funky, cool” cards available around town — she was inspired to open her own paper shop.3

She opened May Day Paper & Post on May 1, 2023, at 1715 Westport Road in Kansas City, intentionally choosing May Day as both a play on her name and a tribute to her childhood May Day traditions.13 The business subsequently expanded with a second storefront in Brookside (5909 Main Street).46

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

  1. https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2024-11-30/kansas-city-stationery-store-paper-shop-prints-pens-notebooks-letterpress — asserts: May Day Paper & Post, owned by Ally May, opened May 1, 2023, at 1715 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111; carries 700+ cards plus imported stationery, planners, and notebooks; nearly 99% of vendors are small studios, makers, artists, and printers. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  2. https://www.maydaypaperandpost.com/ — asserts: official site for May Day Paper & Post; independent stationery shop specializing in greeting cards, journals, fine writing papers, pens, pencils, stickers, and “all things snail mail,” ~95% sourced from small printers and independent artists. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. https://locatekc.com/blog/local-spotlight-may-day-paper-and-post-the-best-place-for-cards-gifts-and-stationery-in-kansas-city — asserts: founder/owner Ally May; from a rural Missouri farming community; lived on the East Coast ~10 years before returning to KC in 2020; brought boxes of favorite cards and, disappointed by local indie-card selection, opened the shop; name plays on her surname and on the May Day holiday; sells cards, stationery, gifts, journals, pens from independent artists/small printers; West Plaza and Brookside locations. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. https://www.yelp.com/biz/may-day-paper-and-post-kansas-city — asserts: May Day Paper & Post, Cards & Stationery, 1715 Westport Rd, Kansas City, Missouri; listing updated December 2025 with 23 photos and 11 reviews (operating-status corroboration). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. https://idlewildco.com/reseller/may-day-paper-post/ — asserts: May Day Paper & Post is a listed reseller/stockist of Idlewild Co. independent paper goods, corroborating its curated-reseller model. ↩

  6. https://www.yelp.com/biz/may-day-paper-and-post-kansas-city-2 — asserts: second May Day Paper & Post location, 5909 Main St, Kansas City, Missouri (Brookside); listing updated May 2026 with 24 photos (operating-status corroboration). ↩ ↩2

See also

  • Registry
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Kansas City–owned
  • Westport