Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Discuss items in the urban core outside of Downtown as described above. Everything in the core including the east side (18th & Vine area), Northeast, Plaza, Westport, Brookside, Valentine, Waldo, 39th street, & the entire midtown area.
User avatar
DaveKCMO
Ambassador
Posts: 20024
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:22 pm
Location: Crossroads
Contact:

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by DaveKCMO »

food trucks in KC are weird. they don't operate like other cities. there's no street life, so the only time they'll cluster without getting paid is first friday in the crossroads or first weekend in the west bottoms. almost all other times they're getting paid to be there (or some sort of revenue guarantee).
earthling
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8514
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:27 pm
Location: milky way, orion arm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by earthling »

In many cities food trucks do lunch in front of large office buildings that don't have a lot of restaurants nearby. Grand near Pershing used to get food trucks for lunch years ago but haven't seen them in a long time. Martini Corner not really a good spot given it is nearly all eats that it specifically attracts, though no counter eats.
User avatar
grovester
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 4553
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:30 pm
Location: KC Metro

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by grovester »

Went and checked out the new Urban Mining location and saw this coming soon.

Image
Last edited by grovester on Fri Mar 02, 2018 3:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SimplyKC
Parking Garage
Parking Garage
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2017 9:31 pm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by SimplyKC »

Also in the area, a bar called Rock-afire is proposed for the former Empire Room.
moderne
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 5468
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:50 pm
Location: Mount Hope

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by moderne »

Hope they make a go for it. Cafe Europa and Attitude are struggling.
brewcrew1000
Hotel President
Hotel President
Posts: 3102
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 10:10 am
Location: Broadway/Gilham according to google maps

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by brewcrew1000 »

moderne wrote:Hope they make a go for it. Cafe Europa and Attitude are struggling.
Where did u hear that? Attitude always seems busy when I go in and they have a lot of regulars. Not sure about Cafe Europa.
moderne
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 5468
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:50 pm
Location: Mount Hope

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by moderne »

From personal observation and talking to the owners and servers.
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4297
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by smh »

moderne wrote:From personal observation and talking to the owners and servers.
We eat at Europa occasionally, but something about the vibe always seems off in there. My sense is it ought to be dimmer, and a little less sterile--meaning it lacks ambiance. But the food is always good and the service pleasant. I hope they hold out until some of the construction north of them wraps up. Going to be plenty of customers.
User avatar
taxi
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2080
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:32 am
Location: North End
Contact:

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by taxi »

smh wrote:
moderne wrote:From personal observation and talking to the owners and servers.
We eat at Europa occasionally, but something about the vibe always seems off in there. My sense is it ought to be dimmer, and a little less sterile--meaning it lacks ambiance. But the food is always good and the service pleasant. I hope they hold out until some of the construction north of them wraps up. Going to be plenty of customers.
I wish them success, but I share your feelings about the space. I find myself driving much farther to go to the Crestwood location, which feels more intimate, comfortable and, well, European. It reminds me of Macalouso's (R.I.P.).
earthling
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8514
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:27 pm
Location: milky way, orion arm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by earthling »

Cafe Europa is among tops for breakfast, haven't tried lunch/dinner. Try the breakfast sandwich and ask for salsa verde. Eggs benedict great too. Hope they make it, but there is something 'sterile' about the place.
User avatar
smh
Supporter
Posts: 4297
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:40 pm
Location: Central Loop

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by smh »

taxi wrote:
smh wrote:
moderne wrote:From personal observation and talking to the owners and servers.
We eat at Europa occasionally, but something about the vibe always seems off in there. My sense is it ought to be dimmer, and a little less sterile--meaning it lacks ambiance. But the food is always good and the service pleasant. I hope they hold out until some of the construction north of them wraps up. Going to be plenty of customers.
I wish them success, but I share your feelings about the space. I find myself driving much farther to go to the Crestwood location, which feels more intimate, comfortable and, well, European. It reminds me of Macalouso's (R.I.P.).
I think part of it is that they've used an office-style carpet tile if I recall correctly. I find the bar area and seating to be much more inviting than the dining room.

I also have found breakfast to be pretty enjoyable there.
Riverite
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1042
Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:49 pm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by Riverite »

Full Disclosure: I do work at Cafe Europa, however I am leaving in a week so I feel I can be open. It was struggling a bit last year, however within the last three months business has been doing really well. THey also do a lot of catering and private parties which helps. I wouldn't worry about it closing anytime soon.
User avatar
KCtoBrooklyn
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1260
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:01 pm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by KCtoBrooklyn »

Bitterman/Urban Mining building before and after:

Image

Image
User avatar
DaveKCMO
Ambassador
Posts: 20024
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:22 pm
Location: Crossroads
Contact:

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by DaveKCMO »

Jesus, does that stretch need some street trees.
User avatar
FangKC
City Hall
City Hall
Posts: 18132
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:02 pm
Location: Old Northeast -- Indian Mound

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by FangKC »

That is a vast improvement. Is there a reason that the window wasn't put back in at street level on the building on the left?

I agree with DaveKCMO on the street trees.
User avatar
KCtoBrooklyn
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1260
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:01 pm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by KCtoBrooklyn »

The building on the left is the offices of SchoolSmart KC. I'm not sure if the tenant specifically wanted it without windows, or if Butch Rigby just decided there was less of a need for windows with that use vs the restaurant and retail spaces.
User avatar
chaglang
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 4132
Joined: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:44 pm

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by chaglang »

Off topic, but what's with Butch Rigby slapping deck stain on everything?
zonk
Alameda Tower
Alameda Tower
Posts: 1250
Joined: Sun Oct 12, 2003 12:07 pm
Location: downtown

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by zonk »

chaglang wrote:Off topic, but what's with Butch Rigby slapping deck stain on everything?
+1

I love what Butch is doing, but hate that crappy/cheap wood look.
User avatar
DaveKCMO
Ambassador
Posts: 20024
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 6:22 pm
Location: Crossroads
Contact:

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by DaveKCMO »

chaglang wrote:Off topic, but what's with Butch Rigby slapping deck stain on everything?
It looks soooooo bad with brick. With anything, really.
swid
Western Auto Lofts
Western Auto Lofts
Posts: 591
Joined: Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:29 pm
Location: Union Hill

Re: Martini Corner near 31st/Gilham

Post by swid »

A nanobrewery (Ebert Brothers Brewing) is opening inside the Brick House this summer.
Post Reply