Business
Plaza Jack Henry Redevelopment Plan Now Includes Endangered Church
By Kevin Collison A big Country Club Plaza redevelopment that will renovate much of the former Jack Henry building as a fitness club has expanded to include an endangered church next door prized by historic preservationists. Matt Pennington, president of Drake Development, recently announced a Chiefs Fit, a joint fitness venture between the Kansas City…
Rightfully Sewn Expands in Crossroads; Grocery Plan Falls Through
By Kevin Collison Rightfully Sewn, a non-profit seamstress training and apparel manufacturer, is substantially expanding its Crossroads space and hiring more people thanks to a pair of big new garment contracts. The expansion however, signals that plans for a gourmet grocery and wine store at the northeast corner of 18th and Wyandotte have fallen through….
Rau Construction Relocating HQ to West Bottoms from OP
By Kevin Collison Rau Construction is relocating its headquarters from Overland Park to the West Bottoms, returning to its Kansas City roots where the family-owned firm was founded in 1905 after migrating from Germany. “We’re high on the West Bottoms,” said Dan Meyer, Rau president. “We think it’s the new up and coming area, and…
Waddell’s New Owner Makes it Official, No Downtown HQ
By Kevin Collison Waddell & Reed and 900 employees won’t be occupying the office tower designed for the firm at 14th and Baltimore after all, dashing downtown’s hopes for a corporate headquarters but opening the door to a long-sought speculative office project. The company’s new owner, Australia-based global financial firm Macquarie, made it official Tuesday…
Crown Center Shops Swaps Crayons for Quesadillas
Adios crayons, hola quesadillas, Crown Center Shops has landed a Tex-Mex restaurant to fill the space once occupied by Crayola Café. The new La Fuente Mexican Street Food is part of a reshuffle at the shopping center that also includes the expansion of Initial, a streetwear shoe and clothing boutique, and a new location for…
Historic Ozark Building at Ninth and Grand Slated for Hotel…Eventually
By Kevin Collison A Little Rock hotel developer has bought the historic Ozark building at Ninth and Grand and plans to ultimately redevelop it as a 240-room AC Hotels by Marriott at some point in the post-pandemic future. Beechwood Pinnacle Hotels purchased the buildings at 906-910 Grand and a nearby parking lot at 710 Walnut…
Town Pavilion Freshens Lobby With $5M Renovation
The 38-story Town Pavilion office building is undergoing what’s described as a $5 million renovation of its lobby and retail space to up its game from its 1980s roots. The tower, which opened as the AT&T Town Pavilion in 1987, is 90 percent occupied and owner Copaken Brooks wants to upgrade its common areas and…
River Market’s Confluence Acquires Denver Firm, Now in Nine Cities
By Kevin Collison Confluence, a River Market-based firm involved in several big downtown improvement plans, has acquired a Denver firm, expanding its office network to nine cities including Chicago and Minneapolis. The landscape architecture firm headquartered at 417 Delaware has bought studioINSITE of Denver, bringing its total number of employees to more than 70, with…
Basketball Coaches Association May Leave, Helps Bring Tourneys Worth Millions
By Kevin Collison City and civic leaders are mounting a full-court press to keep the National Association of Basketball Coaches in Kansas City, a small organization with an outsized role bringing major tournaments worth millions of dollars to downtown. The NABC, which was founded in Kansas City, has been approached by Indianapolis, Dallas and other…
KC Artifact Offers Industrial-Strength Decor
By Kevin Collison Developer Vince Bryant is mining his redevelopment properties including the old Kansas City Star building for salvageable gold and has opened a weekly venue where people can shop for those industrial treasures. The space debuted in mid-December and is called KC Artifact. It’s only open Saturdays and is located on the ground…