Plaza move-ins (ongoing)

[brewcrew1000]

We are just a few years from Harold Pener Mens Wear and 7th Heaven taking over Tiffany's and Urban Outfitters

[nomadcowatbk]

We are just a few years from Harold Pener Mens Wear and 7th Heaven taking over Tiffany's and Urban Outfitters

will they be able to afford the rent?

[horizons82]

Gap is no longer moving to a different space - the plans 'fell through' due to lease negotiations not working out. Something doesn't sound right - the relocation had been communicated for months and at the last minute falls apart because they couldn't agree on a lease?

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/ga ... h-old-navy

It's likely nothing crazy. Those tenant contracts can have lots of pitfalls, especially for a high-profile location like the plaza. It could have been that Gap revised its sales projections, or perhaps the plaza didn't offer enough incentives in the way of improving the old Ann Taylor space.

It also doesn't help that Gap has been lackluster profits wise, compared to Old Navy and Athleta:
http://fortune.com/2018/02/20/gap-ceo-jeff-kirwan/

[brewcrew1000]

We are just a few years from Harold Pener Mens Wear and 7th Heaven taking over Tiffany's and Urban Outfitters

will they be able to afford the rent?

It was more of a joke to imply that the Plaza is no long a premier shopping area which i don't really care, i would rather see it be a neighborhood with grocery stores and pharmacy's

[MidtownCat]

But hey we are getting a Shake Shack!

Nothing washes down the memories of The Plaza being the premier shopping district in Kansas City like a burger and a milkshake!

[MidtownCat]

Not gonna lie guys, a sweet Rite-Aid accross the street from Tiffany would be pretty amazing. The time is now to seize this golden opportunity.

[FangKC]

I'm surprised that Block Real Estate Services isn't putting a retail space on street level at 47Madison on of that triangle wedge of land between Madison, Belleview, and Roanoke Parkway, and going after a drug store operator.

When a monolithic property owner, like that that owns Plaza retail buildings, isn't providing what the neighborhood wants, you would think that Plaza-adjacent developers would.

That triangle wedge would be a good location for a Plaza drug store since there is a lot of residential around it. The site is big enough for a drug store with a garage and apartments above.

[kcjak]

I'm surprised that Block Real Estate Services isn't putting a retail space on street level at 47Madison on of that triangle wedge of land between Madison, Belleview, and Roanoke Parkway, and going after a drug store operator.

When a monolithic property owner, like that that owns Plaza retail buildings, isn't providing what the neighborhood wants, you would think that Plaza-adjacent developers would.

That triangle wedge would be a good location for a Plaza drug store since there is a lot of residential around it. The site is big enough for a drug store with a garage and apartments above.

Unless the plans fell through, they announced that parcel would be developed as apartments.

[MidtownCat]

The Plaza may have zero quality, high end retail at this stage but again we are getting a Shake Shack.

So, if you’re heading out to 119th and Nall or Oak Park Mall to do some shopping at all the stores that used to be on the Plaza, pop on over and grab a delicious burger and milk shake before you make that 20 mile trek south.

[kucer]

Why do people have a beef with Shake Shack? Putting it in a prime location may be rare, but I think spot will be well done.

[beautyfromashes]

So, if you’re heading out to 119th and Nall or Oak Park Mall to do some shopping at all the stores that used to be on the Plaza...

You obviously haven’t been to Oak Park Mall recently. It’s nosediving fast, like most all the other malls in America. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s shuttered within the decade.

[KCPowercat]

Wonder if p&l have phoned the gap people?

[MidtownCat]

So, if you’re heading out to 119th and Nall or Oak Park Mall to do some shopping at all the stores that used to be on the Plaza...

You obviously haven’t been to Oak Park Mall recently. It’s nosediving fast, like most all the other malls in America. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s shuttered within the decade.

I wouldn’t be too critical. The Plaza might be shuttered in the next decade at this rate. And a freaking pharmacy isn’t the silver bullet.

[chrizow]

seems like brick and mortar retail is circling the drain at this point. so what's the plaza's next move, if not more neighborhood amenities?

[earthling]

The Plaza needs a mixed-use overhaul, not focused as a mall. Is strange some don't want to see the Plaza diversify with things like neighborhood amenities, broader nightlife, counter eats, residential mixed above, etc. Malls are not the future.

[smh]

Wonder if p&l have phoned the gap people?

STRANGERTHINGS ARE YOU LISTENING

[beautyfromashes]

Main St, and particularly the RM, have seen a substantial boom with the buildout of the streetcar. I think a similar renessaince will happen with the Plaza once the extension comes on line. If Nordstrom does move like they have planned then retail should be stable yet uninspiring. Focus on having a good 'front door' connection to Main St and transition restaurant stock to reach a younger demographic instead of corporates. I know people want neighborhood amenities, but I don't know if the walkable population around the Plaza is enough currently to sustain it and the demographic for those living around the Plaza is quite 'mature'. Most young people wanting to live in the core are choosing DT or Midtown due to price and activity.

[earthling]

^This conversation goes in circles and that's OK but before Highwoods the Plaza did have many neighborhood amenities (market, drug store, barber, video store, dry cleaners, etc). Is mind boggling one of the highest pedestrian active areas of city doesn't have the basics anymore. But even stranger some on a pro urban site think it's odd for Plaza to target the basics, as if it specifically should be avoided. High rent isn't an excuse as every major high end urban retail/visitor destination center has _several_ drugstores, the prices are just a bit higher (as is Brookside CVS).

It will probably change for the better once streetcar goes by but that's still years away. Is pretty clear that malls are dying and the Plaza will not survive trying to be just a mall/restaurant center. It needs to diversify or will (should) die. And KC is light on true pedestrian scale urban neighborhoods. The Plaza would be the shortest path to creating another full service urban neighborhood that is also a regional destination.

[horizons82]

I wouldn’t be too critical. The Plaza might shuttered in the next decade at this rate. And a freaking pharmacy isn’t the silver bullet.

It's the plaza; if it's shuttered in a decade, then we're likely in the end times.

It's a shame for the urban core to lose unique retailers, but get a grip.

^This conversation goes in circles and that's OK but before Highwoods the Plaza did have many neighborhood amenities (market, drug store, barber, video store, dry cleaners, etc). Is mind boggling one of the highest pedestrian active areas of city doesn't have the basics anymore. But even stranger some on a pro urban site think it's odd for Plaza to target the basics, as if it specifically should be avoided. High rent isn't an excuse as every major high end urban retail/visitor destination center has _several_ drugstores, the prices are just a bit higher (as is Brookside CVS).

It will probably change for the better once streetcar goes by but that's still years away. Is pretty clear that malls are dying and the Plaza will not survive trying to be just a mall/restaurant center. It needs to diversify or will (should) die. And KC is light on true pedestrian scale urban neighborhoods. The Plaza would be the shortest path to creating another full service urban neighborhood that is also a regional destination.

[beautyfromashes]

Earthling- Are you picturing a small place like The Sundry or a larger grocery like a Whole Foods size?

Honestly, the Plaza just seems so old to me. It’s where people go that don’t know KC is so much more than it was in the 80s. The towers along Brish Creek are basically retirement communities and the stores/restaurants are geared towards them, Christmas shoppers in season and suburbanites scared to try a restaurant that isn’t in Everywhere, USA. A pharmacy’s not going to change that. They have to get much, much younger.