Westport

[pstokely]

Blockbuster on Westport Rd/SW Trafficway has going out of business signs up.

what took them so long?

[Midtownkid]

I wish we could demo that whole strip and build a much more urban building...apartments with ground level retail and underground parking!!!

[brewcrew1000]

^Wish we could just demo that entire intersection. I think a roundabout would work well there

[chaglang]

That was studied a couple of years ago. One of the reasons nothing happened is because neither that strip mall nor the strip mall with the covered wagon were willing to sacrifice any parking.

[KCMax]

That was studied a couple of years ago. One of the reasons nothing happened is because neither that strip mall nor the strip mall with the covered wagon were willing to sacrifice any parking.

That strip mall has enough parking to park every man, woman, and child in the greater Kansas City metro area.

[loftguy]

That was studied a couple of years ago. One of the reasons nothing happened is because neither that strip mall nor the strip mall with the covered wagon were willing to sacrifice any parking.

That strip mall has enough parking to park every man, woman, and child in the greater Kansas City metro area.

Spaces too narrow. Distance between rows is inadequate negotiation room. Two of the three entrances and exits are russian roulette by design and placement. Asphalt heaves deep enough to require a crane to dislodge your car once you have dropped into a spot.

Oh, but there's a lot of them.

[FangKC]

One of the reasons a lot of unused parking spaces along the perimeter of parking lots don't get developed is because the existing retail tenants don't want to have a building go up that will block the signage on their building. For the same reason, that is often why you don't see allowance of big trees in the parking lots that might block the signage.

[KCMax]

Coming to 4149 Penn

Locally owned champagne bar to open in Westport

Ça Va, a new champagne bar, plans to open by mid-December in Westport.

“It’s a common check-in in France. Like we say ‘how ya doing?,’ ” said Howard Hanna, a partner in Ça Va and executive chef and co-owner of The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange in the Crossroads Arts District.

Hanna is opening Ça Va with Justin Norcross, who will be the general manager, and Jim Coley, wine director of Gomer’s Fine Wines and Spirits in Midtown.

“I’m excited to bring a lot of interesting sparkling wines to Kansas City,” Coley said.

Ça Va will specialize in champagne cocktails, along with boutique wines from France, Italy, Spain and the U.S.

[chrizow]

looking forward to Ca Va. jim (the wine director at gomer's midtown) knows his wine, and is particularly passionate about sparkling wines from small, family producers. should be a nice addition to the KC scene.

that building with port fonda, julep, and now ca va, will be quite a nice destination for folks interested in wine and cocktails. even port fonda, with all its (mostly) deserved hype concerning the food and cocktails, has some pretty interesting wines.

[earthling]

Looking forward to this though I don't expect it to survive. A wine bar with tapas can do well in KC but this could be too specialized if not careful. Even in SF, Chicago and NYC, most champagne bars come and go within a year or 2. If it feels like a comfortable bar that also serves unrelated items/small eats and not a specialty bar of only champagne, maybe it can keep rolling. Then again, Manifesto is a specialty bar still kicking. Nice to have this addition to Westport even if not a long term thing.

[chrizow]

Looking forward to this though I don't expect it to survive. A wine bar with tapas can do well in KC but this could be too specialized if not careful. Even in SF, Chicago and NYC, most champagne bars come and go within a year or 2. If it feels like a comfortable bar that also serves unrelated items/small eats and not a specialty bar of only champagne, maybe it can keep rolling. Then again, Manifesto is a specialty bar still kicking. Nice to have this addition to Westport even if not a long term thing.

sounds like it is going to have a full bar, and small eats. i don't think it's a sparkling-exclusive place, just a focus or emphasis on champagne (similarly, i doubt Julep is exclusive to whiskey, but it will have a focus on whiskey). it will instantly be a wine-nerd hangout, and if they achieve a good feel with the space, i think it will be an attractive addition for perhaps a more laidback spot in westport. i am pleased to read it will be a small space - KC needs more intimate places for a quiet drink.

[grovester]

http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives ... ity-eat-me

New eats out of the old Torre's kitchen. Sounds intriguing, especially for you night owls with the munchies (4 am close).

[KCMax]

Simply Breakfast is closed

http://www.pitch.com/FastPitch/archives ... y-vanished

[KCMax]

Tivoli Cinemas in Westport needs to raise a lot of money to stay in business

They need $130k to upgrade their equipment to handle digital films, and they've taken to Kickstarter to raise the funds.

[KCMax]

Sandwich shop opens in back space of Westport Saloon

A new sandwich shop has sprung up in the back of The Westport Saloon and it is selling its goods in several different ways.

Eat Me Gourmet’s customers can order at a window inside of the saloon, they can order at an outside window, and they can order from one of Eat Me Gourmet’s roving servers if they are at one of a half dozen Westport bars.

Chef and owner Peter Castillo puts out a big menu for such a small kitchen.

[brewcrew1000]

New bars and restaurants taking over beaumont club. Same guys behind beer kitchen, etc
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/24/47 ... arden.html

[brewcrew1000]

Seems like over the last week there have been a series of Armed Robberies that all seem to be connected. Happened last night all within a few blocks of each other 33/main, 36/wyandotte, Westport Rd/Main as well as 41st/Wyoming.

Tonys KC also posted this on his blog about it happening in Brookside/Plaza as well
SEVEN armed robberies happened last night (January 24) around Brookside, including one on 58th and Ward Parkway between 9-10 pm where one victim was threatened with a gun to his head. 8 young, African American young men/boys, armed with guns, were in a black Jeep and another “white sedan” type car robbing people walking from their cars into area homes. The Jeep has been found but these guys are still on the loose. They beat up a guy on Walnut. Be vigilant and careful and call the police about any unusual activity you see.

[earthling]

Yet another restaurant going into Westport, this one a beer joint with Local Pig ties.

http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/29/47 ... offer.html

Looks to be going into old America's Pub spot - sounds much better than someone who was planning a 'theme' restaurant in that spot.

[swid]

I, for one, welcome our Westport craft beer and charcuterie overlords.

[Demosthenes]

Damn over 600 beers?!? Man Westport is becoming the ultimate food and drink spot of the universe.