"Official" Plaza at the Speedway

[the_shadow]

I heard Best Buy is supposed to open March 15.

[davidc]

While the BestBuy store proper looks mostly done - it has no parking and there is no way to get to it.

I did notice today that the structural steel is going up on the Walmart.

[davidc]

Just another quick update - the walls of WalMart are now going up.

[kcdcchef]

Just another quick update - the walls of WalMart are now going up.

that will help the area by the speedway, a walmart. that will continue to make it a destination shopping area.

[Highlander]

that will help the area by the speedway, a walmart. that will continue to make it a destination shopping area.

Ironic you should say that because it's probably the first and only thing out there that will be able to survive off local business without a constant influx of Johnson Countians. 

[davidc]

My understanding is that the whole point of this project (unlike the Legends itself) is to provide the basics for those of us that live in this area. Hence, WalMart, BestBuy, office supply store, sit down chain restaurants, etc.

[chrizow]

and the endless zombie march of sprawl continues....

[DaveKCMO]

say goodbye to whatever wal-mart is closest in proximity.

[kcdcchef]

My understanding is that the whole point of this project (unlike the Legends itself) is to provide the basics for those of us that live in this area. Hence, WalMart, BestBuy, office supply store, sit down chain restaurants, etc.

because god knows driving to the wal mart all of 8 miles away is bloody murder. subarbanites, gotta have everything within reach!!

[GRID]

say goodbye to whatever wal-mart is closest in proximity.

There is a walmart serving the population along K-7 and one serving the vast majority of the populated portion of KCK at 635.

Walmart was going to build a new supercenter at 70th and State Avenue.  That’s a great location and that’s where it should have been built to help stabilize that area of KCK and provide basic retail to regular KCK residents.  Instead, they not only built in a very rural area, they used tax breaks to do it.

If they close the walmart on State and don’t build a new walmart somewhere in that corridor.  This was a horrible planning move by the city.

I have to wonder if those that live in KCK around 70th and State or 65th and Parallel, or in Westheight, really look forward to driving to the speedway to go to walmart or target?

[WyCo]

Were you ever in that Wal Mart, it is a hell hole.
Come on guys, you get all excited about a nail salon opening, but we can't be happy about a Wal Mart Super Center?  The area around the site is suburban, not rural.

[Stockton]

Hopefully a second Supercenter will come to the Indian Springs redevelopment assuming it ever takes place. That will provide a good balance.

People who aren't familiar with western WyCo rightfully think the area is more rural than it is, it looks so, but there is a lot of suburban housing in the area, it's just hidden and spread out. The most upscale newer housing in WyCo is a few miles north of the Legends, but there's a ring of suburban housing all around in Bonner Springs, Edwardsville, Basehor, and even Lansing. Not to mention there's still middle-class housing a few miles east of 435 that nobody here seems to acknowledge.

It is nonsense to suggest a county of 150,000 can't support teenybopper clothing stores, a few outlet stores, a dozen or so chain restaurants, a JCPenney, etc.

Even if the touristy stuff didn't survive, who is to say the area wouldn't survive as an everyday shopping destination for the locals who have been underserved and leaving the county for so many years prior? I see the touristy stuff surviving though. I mean, with Kansas Speedway, NFM, Great Wolf Lodge, Schlitterbahn, a casino and the T-bones as draws? Suburban development seems hear to stay and it seems Western WyCo has more going for it when it comes to being around in 20 years than typical suburban retail areas.

~Stockton

[trailerkid]

Even if the touristy stuff didn't survive, who is to say the area wouldn't survive as an everyday shopping destination for the locals who have been underserved and leaving the county for so many years prior? I see the touristy stuff surviving though. I mean, with Kansas Speedway, NFM, Great Wolf Lodge, Schlitterbahn, a casino and the T-bones as draws? Suburban development seems hear to stay and it seems Western WyCo has more going for it when it comes to being around in 20 years than typical suburban retail areas.

The entire point/concept of Legends was a TOURIST destination. It's great if WyCo finally has some shopping options, but you need STAR bonds to build a Wal-Mart, Hooters and a shoe outlet?

The "everyday" stuff for the residents should go in the areas where they live-- not in some rural/exurban sprawlplex.

[Stockton]

The entire point/concept of Legends was a TOURIST destination. It's great if WyCo finally has some shopping options, but you need STAR bonds to build a Wal-Mart, Hooters and a shoe outlet?

The "everyday" stuff for the residents should go in the areas where they live-- not in some rural/exurban sprawlplex.

Dude, apparently there was a need for incentives to bring even everyday stuff back to KCK. It had been years since Indian Springs kicked the bucket, years that KCK was underserved or rather flat out not served by typical suburban retail. And this type of development is mostly on the fringes wherever it exists. What's new? Besides, it is central to the best demographics in the county and surrounding area, central to where people live. The Indian Springs redevelopment will balance things out nicely when it comes along and if it has a significant retail portion, which can't be much more than a Walmart. There's already existing retail east of 435 though. 2 Price Choppers, Lowe's, Kmart, Hen House, CVS, Walgreen's, Radio Shack, fast food. I really can't see mid-WyCo supporting much more. Businesses go where they can stay in business. The population density is weak and the people are poor. I live here and have seen the area go down hill, seen an incredible amount of people leave the area. And without a better school district, people aren't rushing in to replace them. I don't get why there isn't a CiCi's or Pizza Street and Ryan's and other stuff like that in KCK though, seems like it would do good here. I just don't see what else you expect to locate further in KCK "where the people live".

I wouldn't take the word "tourist destination" too seriously, but it is half true. Didn't NFM rank as a top "tourist" attraction in Kansas? Haha. Get real.

[trailerkid]

Dude, apparently there was a need for incentives to bring even everyday stuff back to KCK. It had been years since Indian Springs kicked the bucket, years that KCK was underserved or rather flat out not served by typical suburban retail. And this type of development is mostly on the fringes wherever it exists. What's new? Besides, it is central to the best demographics in the county and surrounding area, central to where people live. The Indian Springs redevelopment will balance things out nicely when it comes along and if it has a significant retail portion, which can't be much more than a Walmart. There's already existing retail east of 435 though. 2 Price Choppers, Lowe's, Kmart, Hen House, CVS, Walgreen's, Radio Shack, fast food. I really can't see mid-WyCo supporting much more. Businesses go where they can stay in business. The population density is weak and the people are poor. I live here and have seen the area go down hill, seen an incredible amount of people leave the area. And without a better school district, people aren't rushing in to replace them. I don't get why there isn't a CiCi's or Pizza Street and Ryan's and other stuff like that in KCK though, seems like it would do good here. I just don't see what else you expect to locate further in KCK "where the people live".

I wouldn't take the word "tourist destination" too seriously, but it is half true. Didn't NFM rank as a top "tourist" attraction in Kansas? Haha. Get real.

Everyday stuff was NEVER the intent for Village West...not in the least. It's complete backtracking to now say..."well, at least we have the same shopping as Merriam." Village West is a tourist district and that's why the state of KS stepped in. Something was off with the plan and that's why the touristy restaurants in the Legends are going belly up and they're negotiating with KC Hopps. You don't name a shopping center Legends and spend the kind of money they did to have the exact same tenants as what Blue Springs will have 2 months. 

BTW, I don't have any problem with the big box center across the street as that complements what is happening at Village West.

[kcdcchef]

I wouldn't take the word "tourist destination" too seriously, but it is half true. Didn't NFM rank as a top "tourist" attraction in Kansas? Haha. Get real.

it did. it shows you how pathetic the state of kansas is. a furniture store is the location of choice for their residents to hang out at.

[Stockton]

Chef,
I don't know that Kansas is pathetic. The people who had the power and chose to publish a list with a retail store as a tourist attraction are pathetic. Although, it is a unique store.

Trailerkid,
I don't think anybody ever thought the list of Legends tenants would be exclusively tourist destinations. Mall of America is a "tourist" destination and I'd say the bulk of the tenants there are typical suburban retailers. I just don't see what else you expect to be out there to meet your ideal definition of a "tourist destination". I think the family-oriented stuff is most appropriate out there, just like at Mall of America. Aren't the restaurants that have gone belly-up stuff that is more appropriate in the city or maybe Leawood?

BTW, I think the retail at the Legends is a bit more mall like than what you'll find in Merriam. I'd compare the tenants more to Zona Rosa.

I admit I don't keep up with the Legends and on here pay more attention to the to the urban threads.

Which restaurants or other tenants have gone belly up at the Legends?

[davidc]

At least back in 2002, Cabelas (at the Legends) was the #1 tourist destination in the state of Kansas.

http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansa ... ily38.html

[mgsports]

Merriam just has Merriam Town Center at the moment. The other 2 Village and something else no Teneats yet other then Car Dearlership.
Indian Springs Mall will probley become Offices.
The existing Wal-mart will close when the new opens. Shawnee has a lot.
The closet Neighborhood Market is Lenexa.
With Sears Grand Central closing in Lenexa that area needs more Department Stores.

[Stockton]

Okay, so it was Cabela's that made #1. A bit more valid but still questionable. I bet Bass Pro in Springfield ranks highly too in sheer numbers if considered a tourist attraction. I would think the Arch is #1 in Missouri though.