Food & Drink
Friction Beer Getting Hoppy in East Crossroads This Spring
By Kevin Collison The East Crossroads “neigh-brew-hood” will be even hoppier late next spring with the opening of Friction Beer Co. at 1701 McGee. Partners Brent Anderson and Nathan Ryerson hatched their microbrewery plan two years ago while watching soccer in Ryerson’s basement and sharing one of their favorite beers, a hazy IPA from The Brew…
Hyatt House Hotel Wins Incentive Approval, Work to Begin This Spring
By Kevin Collison Construction of a 13-story Hyatt House hotel on a parking lot at Ninth and Broadway is expected to begin this spring after its Colorado developer was approved for incentives last week–but not before a two-hour debate by the development agency involved. Boulder-based Pedersen Development won approval for a 15-year property tax break,…
Fox and Pearl Expanding ‘Midwestern Bistro’ Quarters on West Side
By Kevin Collison A 110 year-old building on downtown’s west side that’s seen its share of culinary reincarnations since starting life as a Swedish social hall is slated to become the new home of the Fox and Pearl “Midwestern bistro” this spring. Owners Vaughn Good and his wife Kristine, with the help of the inimitable…
East Crossroads Mainstay ‘Thou Mayest’ Seeking New ‘Flagship’ Location
(Editor’s note, update on Thou Mayest from El Honcho Bo Nelson) Thou Mayest is at the beginning of a really exciting era. We are still weighing options on various properties for landing our location for our new and larger flagship store. The first project now under way is within Family Tree Nursery in Shawnee (7036…
Michael Smith’s Italian Restaurant ‘Farina’ Opening Late January
Celebrated chef Michael Smith’s new restaurant concept “Farina” is scheduled to open in late January at 19th and Baltimore in the Crossroads Arts District. The restaurant, which took over the former Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art space, originally was expected to open by Thanksgiving, but renovation delays have pushed that date back about two months….
Made in KC Artisan Cooperative Pulling Into the River Market
By Kevin Collison Made in Kansas City is pulling into the River Market, occupying the vintage streetcar permanently parked at the corner of Fifth and Delaware. The new outlet, the cooperative’s third downtown location, is expected to open in January and include the eclectic mix of locally-made products that has made the venture a success…
Historic KC Club Reopens as Event Space Following $3M Renovation
By Kevin Collison A former downtown gathering place for Kansas City power brokers back in the day has reopened as spiffed-up venue for a new generation of festive occasions and business gatherings. The historic University Club building at 918 Baltimore, which opened in 1923, has been converted to a four-level event space that can accommodate…
Meddys Bringing Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine to Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Meddys, a popular Wichita restaurant serving healthy dishes from Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean region, plans to open its first out-of-town outlet in the Crossroads by next summer. “We love that market and we feel there’s a lot of energy in it,” said Alex Harb, founder of Meddys. “It’s a beautiful city…
Wonder Shops + Flats Add Yeast to Ongoing Troost Revival
By Kevin Collison The Troost revival is continuing to rise with the Wonder Shops + Flats mixed-use development nearing completion in the former Wonder Bread bakery at the corner of East 30th Street. The 150,000 square-foot building, which opened in 1909 as Continental Bakers before shifting to Wonder Bread, has been restored with 87 apartments,…
Crossroads Hotel a Striking Addition to Downtown Hospitality Scene
By Kevin Collison The bland exterior of the new Crossroads Hotel at 2101 Central may fool you, but once inside the historic brick shell you’ll discover and enjoy a post-industrial chic vibe that’s right out of New York’s famed SoHo District. The partnership between Chicago-based Simeone Deary Design Group and el dorado architects has created…