Mise en Place: Cedric Ransburg fosters a connection-first cocktail lounge at In Good Company

Cedric Ransburg // Photo by Alexander Omorodion

In a world where a loneliness epidemic runs rampant in the West, Cedric Ransburg tailors a space centered on human connection.

As co-owner of In Good Company alongside Daniel Edwards, Ransburg has taken elements of his wide range of industry and personal experience between Kansas City and California as inspiration. 

Between the living room style layout, an absence of TVs, and Ransburg himself welcoming you on the microphone as you walk in, he is very intentional about the space and the vibe he wants to curate. As such, he has three rules at IGC: No bad company, no bad spirits (on the shelf, or in people), and no bad tippers.

The Pitch: Tell us about yourself.

Cedric Ransburg: I was born and raised in Kansas City. Went to college in Rolla, Missouri, and that’s where I met my business partner; we were roommates down there. Then I ventured away for a little while. For about 13 years, I was in Southern California — 11 years in Los Angeles and two in Orange County. 

I worked the ins and outs of the industry there, from bartending to barback to management to working in hotels and restaurants. I saw all different facets of the industry, including working as a brand ambassador before I came back here. 

Hospitality is super easy. Just be nice to people; that’s like the easiest thing. So it’s like, they’re gonna pay you to be nice people. Why not?

Could you speak more about your work experience in Kansas City?

When I first moved back here, I was the Assistant General Manager at Nighthawk. I was over there trying to retool the beverage program. 

There were some shake-ups above me. The General Manager left, and then the GM of Food and Beverage left as well. So, there was a lot of fluctuation in responsibilities. When I asked to be compensated at a higher level by taking on more responsibilities, the GM of the hotel told me that that wasn’t in the budget. And I was like, “Well, neither are my talents.” 

In the midst of that time, my business partner was like, “Well, let me show you a place”. We came and saw this building, and I was very intrigued. I was like, “I think this is where I’m supposed to be.” I can work with somebody who’s not gonna value me, or I can value myself. So I chose to value myself.

Cedric Ransburg // Photo by Shea McGraw

Were you always a people person?

No. Even now, I’m an introvert, but I find it super easy to please people. If you can know what someone wants to drink or know their name, it can make them feel happy and comfortable. People’s days are really hard outside these doors, so if they can come to a place where it’s like, “that’s home,” and it’s not home, that’s a good feeling for me.

I found an industry where you don’t have to be technically sound in anything but being a human. So that’s where I feel very comfortable with this job and this industry. Also, there are a lot of facets that you can go into; it’s not just bartending. You can be a brand ambassador. If you are an accountant, you can still work for a brand. There’s a lot of room for people.

What brought you back to Kansas City?

A lot of conversations with Daniel. For the past five years, he was trying to get me back here. I did a couple pop-ups at his house and some other small things for friends and family, and then that idea just kept spilling over. Out in California, it got to a point where I was like, “Do we continue this life, or do we make a change?” I thought this was the time to do that.

What’s the inspiration behind In Good Company?

It is an amalgam of all the good places that I worked at or ever visited, even down to the membership aspect. I borrowed that model from a place in LA. The aesthetics of this place that are leaned into, like, the industrious look? I’ve been in a bunch of industrial places where there are pipes and stuff like that hanging out. It’s about the feel of the place. It adds to that ambiance. 

Leaning into the living room aspect as well, I’ve been to a place called Library Bar, where it felt like a quiet library with the decor, but it was still a bar. So, just taking all the good things that I’ve experienced and bringing it together for people.

We are exclusively inclusive. It’s not that we don’t want people, it’s that we want people who want to be here. If you want to be in good company, you are welcome. It’s a mindset because the cost of the membership washes out with the cocktail credits. It’s about whether you want to be in this space.

As you are a membership-based establishment, what are some ways that our readers can try out In Good Company without having to commit to a membership? 

A big part will be having more curated nights. We will have two in August, and we’ll probably end up having four a month just to have people get a chance to come out once a week. 

As of right now, it’s not super policed member-wise because we understand that we are a new

company, and we’ve expressed to the members we do have that it is not membership only or membership exclusive. So when we do have people who aren’t members, it gives them the chance to experience without it being an open house night.

In Good Company is located at 1518 McGee Street, Kansas City, MO 64108.

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