KCRag Forum

Going to be a beautiful parking lot.

PIEA, Rieger seek to create East Bottoms CID

As the $10 million redevelopment of the new J. Rieger & Co. distillery continues to move forward, the Kansas City-based company, in conjunction with the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority, has filed a request with the City Clerk's office to establish a Community Improvement District, or CID, around the area to improve landscaping and infrastructure.
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The land, which includes nine parcels, is all owned by J. Rieger and will make up what is now being referred to as the Electric Park CID, a reference to the amusement park that previously was in the area. The CID would improve sidewalks, marketing and signage, as well as maintenance and administrative costs. It is expected to have expenses of about $140,000 after it is established.

J. Rieger's project will include a museum, gift shop, small movie room and a tasting room for tours as well as a basement speakeasy. An outdoor patio area will be developed later. The museum will share the history of J. Rieger, the Heim building — Ferd. Heim Brewing was the largest pre-Prohibition brewery in Kansas City — and Electric Park — an amusement park the Heim family constructed in 1899 that inspired Walt Disney.
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https://tinyurl.com/yxpz3a2n

How are CIDs comparable to HOAs? I'll take my answer off-air, thank you

Is there any other development in Electric Park or would the Reiger basically be taxing itself for the improvements? I get that there are financial implications with a CID versus paying out of pocket, just wondering what other properties (Knuckleheads?) might be included.

WinchesterMysteryHouse wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2019 8:34 am How are CIDs comparable to HOAs? I'll take my answer off-air, thank you

CIDs are special taxing districts that can impose up to a 1% sales and use tax on transactions happening within the district boundaries. That money is typically spent on improving public infrastructure (i.e. trash services, recycling, public art, landscaping) or offering services to do the same (think the Downtown CID yellow jacket crew). Depending on the nature of the work, money can be spent on improving private-owned infrastructure as well but there are a number of limitations.

Also, CIDs typically do not impose annual assessments like an HOA would (though they can, if that power is retained in their formation petition). Their main funding mechanism is through the sales tax, though I believe they can also issue tax-exempt bonds since a CID is a political subdivision.

kcjak wrote: ↑Fri Apr 26, 2019 8:48 am Is there any other development in Electric Park or would the Reiger basically be taxing itself for the improvements? I get that there are financial implications with a CID versus paying out of pocket, just wondering what other properties (Knuckleheads?) might be included.

Not sure what the boundaries of the CID would be, but in the event that no other sales tax generator is within them, Reiger would be taxing itself but the CID would be able to spend that money on adjacent public improvements that are not on Property that Reiger owns. This gives them the ability to maintain and beautify the surrounding land and infrastructure, where they wouldn't be able to do that but for a CID.

Very helpful! Thank you!

This KC spot made a national ‘best new attractions’ list

J. Rieger & Co.’s multimillion dollar distillery expansion won’t debut in the East Bottoms until July 12.

But Thrillist has already put it on its short list of the “Best New Attractions in America in 2019.”

The website — which covers food, drink, travel and entertainment — said it “scoured the country for the latest and greatest attractions we’re most curious about: the restaurants, hotels, parks, museums and entertainment we’d hop on a plane to check out this summer.”
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Thrillist says: “If Kansas City isn’t at the top of your travel list this summer, you might want (to) reconsider — if not for the fantastic BBQ and nightlife, then for this ambitious new distillery experience ...”
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https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 12638.html

Get your first look at the J. Rieger distillery in KC’s East Bottoms as it nears opening

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A July 12 opening is planned for the expanded distillery, at 2700 Guinette Ave., in the historic Electric Park district.

At the heart of the 60,000-square-foot complex, located at 2700 Guinette Ave. in the historic Electric Park district, is the glass-enclosed distillery. Customers can hang out in the second floor Monogram Lounge as they take in the distilling process.
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https://www.kansascity.com/news/busines ... 80713.html

J. Rieger Rolls Out Top-Shelf Destination Distillery in East Bottoms

Andy Rieger is betting big his splashy, new distillery and entertainment destination in the historic Heim Brewery Building will be a major East Bottoms draw, and it all gets started today.

Rieger, who along with partner Ryan Maybee revived his family’s 130 year-old distillery Jacob Rieger & Co. five years ago, has converted the 60,000 square-foot former brewery building into an entertainment complex centered around his distillery operation.
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https://cityscenekc.com/j-rieger-rolls- ... t-bottoms/

Cool space, sort of steampunk.

What an amazing space, a lot of money had to be put into this. Do they not really care about attracting people to the bar portion? We walked out at first because we were thinking it was just a distillery only. The bar space is huge maybe too large. I don't know if i like that most of the drinks just come from a tap and they fill it to a specific line (The Pendergast was still great).

Agree that the Reiger Distillery is an amazing space and a wonderful new addition to the KC scene. Essentially a boozy version of the awesome Boulevard Visitors Center/tap room. Loved the amount of effort they put into the historical piece, for a brand that has really only existed as-is since 2014. Nice to have the backstory.

Cocktails solid, albeit limited menu I'm sure to enable higher volume. Loved the KC Bier Co "Heim Beer" throwback. Even thought the charcuterie board was quite good. Enjoyed it all with a view of the trains rolling by out the window between Rieger and Knuckleheads, which actually caused some major disruption issues when we attended due to Guinotte Ave being closed. Otherwise access is super easy from City Market or down Chestnut.

Not sure who the primary investors were but they surely spent a pretty penny on the beautiful build out. Looking forward to trying the smaller Hey Hey Club on-site, and outside garden once complete. That area could really use another couple of small venues, specifically a decent restaurant in the old Local Pig space, and with the Rieger's pull might actually become a neat little destination ("Electric Park").

brewcrew1000 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:38 am What an amazing space, a lot of money had to be put into this. Do they not really care about attracting people to the bar portion? We walked out at first because we were thinking it was just a distillery only. The bar space is huge maybe too large. I don't know if i like that most of the drinks just come from a tap and they fill it to a specific line (The Pendergast was still great).

I like that it's big enough that you don't feel overwhelmed when the Knuckleheads crowds start rolling in.

Do people from Knuckleheads really go to the Distillery?. I figured the knuckleheads crowd would scoff at a place like this because of high prices and maybe an upscale feel?

The Reiger restaurant should move into the old Local Pig Spot

Then the Reiger can buy another building and have some kind of hotel

I had the distinct impression that the folks rolling in around 7 were ready to partaay all night, and not at the distillery.

Older, suburban demographic likes craft cocktails too.

J. Rieger & Co. will kick up its heels in new Hey! Hey! Club

J. Rieger & Co.'s new welcome center just got a standalone venue in its basement.

According to a Tuesday release, The Hey! Hey! Club will open for business on Thursday. The 51-seat club lounge is open to the public from 5 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Saturday. The space also can be rented for private parties.
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https://tinyurl.com/yxkvlx5o

Raise a Glass! J. Rieger & Co. Announces Its New Electric Park Garden Bar

https://www.inkansascity.com/arts-enter ... arden-bar/

Wonder how this place is doing, its such a massive space but feel like it wouldn't draw as many people compared to a place like the BLVD beer hall which is almost always packed on weekends

Really hope this does well. Access can be a bit tricky because of roadwork and trains, but essentially not difficult. I’d like to think with the momentum going on in Berkeley Riverfront & Casino makeover some of this can spill to the SE and help out this area more. Would be neat to have distinct neighborhoods/districts like East Bottoms, Electric Park, Riverfront, River Market all be the doorstep to downtown and points South