No Vacancy Offers Cozy Stay in the Crossroads

By Kevin Collison

The Crossroads is home to some unique, eclectic businesses, and Spencer Sight’s new hotel venture at 1717 Wyandotte certainly qualifies.

It has only eight rooms.

“It’s quaint enough to be furnished like a well-appointed loft, while offering the comfort and consistency of a boutique hotel,” he said.

“Each guest room has a distinct personality, while a cohesive aesthetic is sustained throughout. People often claim that they feel they are transported elsewhere.”

The new hostelry is called No Vacancy and it occupies the upper floor of the historic building purchased two years ago by Sight Realty. It opened in July.

Guests can book one room or have their own personal hotel and book all eight, Sight said. They also have access to a lounge and a second floor courtyard.

The building at 18th and Wyandotte opened in 1923 as part of the Film Row district. A second level was added in 1929.

Sight said the property was in rough shape when he and his father, Dan Sight, purchased it in 2018.

“We set out to add another 100 years to it’s history,” he said.

“No Vacancy offers the chance for the maximum amount of people to enjoy being in this beautiful building on the most charming corner in Kansas City.

“In an alternate universe, if I were visiting Kansas City — this is the part of town I would want to anchor.

“It is centralized, and dotted with some of the city’s best gardens, galleries, restaurants, cafes, breweries, and shops.”

The rooms are furnished with antiques and other funky decor acquired by Sight at auctions, estate sales and Craigslist.

Works by dozens of local artists also decorate the spaces.

“Each guest room has a distinct personality, while a cohesive aesthetic is sustained throughout,” he said.

The owner believes the unique aspect of being able to either book a room or the entire space for guests will help distinguish at a time the hospitality industry is languishing because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The ‘hotel buyout’ allows guests the space to host modest sized receptions, happy hours, brunches, photoshoots or even small ceremonies,” he said. “Guests enter a clean and curated environment and trace who all comes in.”

Rooms can be booked at the No Vacancy either through AirBNB or on the hotel website.

The Monogram building where No Vacancy is located opened in 1923 in what was then known as the Film Row District