Possible future multi-use development
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:30 pm
I was born in KCMO and as I age I have this “soulful tugging’ or “inner desire” to one day return to my roots so when the time comes that I pass away I can be buried in my home soil. Call it nostalgia or just old age but it is what it is.
I registered here at KCRag as part of my ongoing research into everything currently “Kansas City MO.” (Changing demographics, business, trends, etc and my overall investment options) Part of my options are either purchasing an older building to completely renovate or just buying one of the many surface parking lots which dot the city and starting fresh from ground up.
My desire is a mixed-use building that will house a restaurant, a bar, a few small office spaces, small sq foot affordable apartment units, and possibly a retail location for a business such as a specialty mens apparel clothing store on the main level next to the restaurant and bar. I’d want to actually own and operate all three of the businesses within the building development as well as live in the building itself. I am not doing anything even remotely related to or themed as lofts! Kansas City needs another “loft” project as much as it needs another Starbucks.
The question that keeps arising for me is where In KCMO (preferably downtown / South Crossroads) is the best fit for such a development / investment. I am not interested in a trendy section of town like the P&L district simply due to the fact I feel P&L is just not a good fit for my ideas, nor for me. I’m also unfamiliar with all the zoning laws or mixed -use zoning areas so any help there is appreciated.
I feel the restaurant and bar will work anywhere the development eventually gets erected. The apparel store would be a destination place, not a convenience mall type of store, meaning that customers would search out the apparel store and travel to it to purchase the types of clothing that are specifically sold there regardless of its location. (Higher end men’s clothing and accessories without the Plaza prices)
The restaurant theme I’m still undecided but leaning towards is a combination Pizza / diner type of place that can operate 24 hours a day. Not a greasy spoon type of diner but still an affordable griddle type diner that offers fast cheap traditional Waffle House type diner / breakfast food.
Food that’s not over priced like in a trendy “over the top” restaurant where a fried egg goes for 5 dollars and you feel like you got stiffed. I want a customer to be able to eat and pay as if they were at the Waffle House but in a slightly nicer setting. (Ok a much nicer setting)
The handmade pizza would also be offered 24 hours and be made with all fresh traditional ingredients but nothing super fancy like goat milk cheese or trendy ingredient’s like hand carved exotic wildebeest meat, blended sprouts with evergreen twinkles and sparkling organic vices from roof top gardens. Such “hipster” menus in trendy restaurants always cause me to personally roll my eyes when reading such descriptive menu “specials”. For me it’s KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid, keep it good, and keep it affordable and customers will return regularly and tell their friends.
The bar on the other hand I want to be small with a much more upscale feel to it where residents of the building and the locals from the neighborhood (or visiting the neighborhood) can have a nice relaxing place to have a drink and meet. The bar theme I would like to achieve is similar to the Black Hound Bar & Lounge in New York.
Here are images of the Black Hound so readers here have an idea of the type of bar style I’m interested in:
I am open to questions, suggestions, and Ideas from KCRag members regarding this development and I’m even open to other parts of the KCMO area as long as they are NOT in the Country Club Plaza or too far outside of the downtown area. Like I said, I’d prefer to help do my small part in helping to revitalize downtown should I decide to make such a transition or investment.
Please no real estate agents, or soliciting me, just discussion. Thank you!
I registered here at KCRag as part of my ongoing research into everything currently “Kansas City MO.” (Changing demographics, business, trends, etc and my overall investment options) Part of my options are either purchasing an older building to completely renovate or just buying one of the many surface parking lots which dot the city and starting fresh from ground up.
My desire is a mixed-use building that will house a restaurant, a bar, a few small office spaces, small sq foot affordable apartment units, and possibly a retail location for a business such as a specialty mens apparel clothing store on the main level next to the restaurant and bar. I’d want to actually own and operate all three of the businesses within the building development as well as live in the building itself. I am not doing anything even remotely related to or themed as lofts! Kansas City needs another “loft” project as much as it needs another Starbucks.
The question that keeps arising for me is where In KCMO (preferably downtown / South Crossroads) is the best fit for such a development / investment. I am not interested in a trendy section of town like the P&L district simply due to the fact I feel P&L is just not a good fit for my ideas, nor for me. I’m also unfamiliar with all the zoning laws or mixed -use zoning areas so any help there is appreciated.
I feel the restaurant and bar will work anywhere the development eventually gets erected. The apparel store would be a destination place, not a convenience mall type of store, meaning that customers would search out the apparel store and travel to it to purchase the types of clothing that are specifically sold there regardless of its location. (Higher end men’s clothing and accessories without the Plaza prices)
The restaurant theme I’m still undecided but leaning towards is a combination Pizza / diner type of place that can operate 24 hours a day. Not a greasy spoon type of diner but still an affordable griddle type diner that offers fast cheap traditional Waffle House type diner / breakfast food.
Food that’s not over priced like in a trendy “over the top” restaurant where a fried egg goes for 5 dollars and you feel like you got stiffed. I want a customer to be able to eat and pay as if they were at the Waffle House but in a slightly nicer setting. (Ok a much nicer setting)
The handmade pizza would also be offered 24 hours and be made with all fresh traditional ingredients but nothing super fancy like goat milk cheese or trendy ingredient’s like hand carved exotic wildebeest meat, blended sprouts with evergreen twinkles and sparkling organic vices from roof top gardens. Such “hipster” menus in trendy restaurants always cause me to personally roll my eyes when reading such descriptive menu “specials”. For me it’s KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid, keep it good, and keep it affordable and customers will return regularly and tell their friends.
The bar on the other hand I want to be small with a much more upscale feel to it where residents of the building and the locals from the neighborhood (or visiting the neighborhood) can have a nice relaxing place to have a drink and meet. The bar theme I would like to achieve is similar to the Black Hound Bar & Lounge in New York.
Here are images of the Black Hound so readers here have an idea of the type of bar style I’m interested in:
I am open to questions, suggestions, and Ideas from KCRag members regarding this development and I’m even open to other parts of the KCMO area as long as they are NOT in the Country Club Plaza or too far outside of the downtown area. Like I said, I’d prefer to help do my small part in helping to revitalize downtown should I decide to make such a transition or investment.
Please no real estate agents, or soliciting me, just discussion. Thank you!