KCRag Forum

I need to mute this thread. I hate seeing it light up.

Julep hibernating and "hoping" to reopen in the spring. Focusing on new place this winter.

Westside Local but hedging they could reopen.

Jimmy Johns on Grand is either closed or doing a big renovation.

PV Blue Moose now not closing.

Ollie's Local, I always liked this place for some reason. Probably cause it was so quiet compared to Brick house or Sol Cantina and the beer selection was really good

Their FB post announcing the closure strongly alluded to years of landlord awfulness being the root cause.

Even though I know the correct answer (retail landlords aren't generally known for their kind, generous souls and thinking about anything else beyond cashing this month's checks), I don't get why so many building owners seem gleeful to boot their restaurant tenants right now, as I fail to see the business sense in preferring to have a vacant storefront (that will also certainly require some time/effort to refurbish for whoever eventually moves in) for the foreseeable future vs. sucking it up, keeping your current tenant, and taking the hit on rent until things get back to normal-ish in the same amont of time that's going to elapse anyway.

(Over/under on the time that elapses between this post and getting a technically-correct response from...someone...along the lines of "something something free market": 45 minutes)

swid wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 12:26 pm (Over/under on the time that elapses between this post and getting a technically-correct response from...someone...along the lines of "something something free market": 45 minutes)

Ignore free market, it could be simple greed.

A new lease could lock in losses for years. The restaurant could be demanding five years at a lower rate than the landlord is willing to accept.

The risk they're clearly willing to take is keeping it empty for 12 months results in more income in the long run when they can get a market rate lease at terms favorable to the landlord.

The free market would say they should accept what the market will pay, and that clearly didn't happen.

24 minutes - should have taken the under.

This is surprising because it is a new landlord as of late 2019/early 2020 (Exact Partners).

There are actually quite a few restaurants looking for spaces right now. You have a bunch of new vacancies opening up with kitchens already built-out, so it's not the worst time for an aspiring or current restaurant owner to try and open up a new concept for probably cheaper rent and no huge initial build-out.

Yeah now is a great time for a restaurant to get started in my mind.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:42 pm Yeah now is a great time for a restaurant to get started in my mind.

And a horrible time for landlords who think they could get a better rate in a year.

A new lease could lock in losses for years. The restaurant could be demanding five years at a lower rate than the landlord is willing to accept.

If there was space with demand to fill it there shouldn't be a bunch of restaurants looking for spaces, there would be new restaurants advertising their new location and looking to hire staff.

The kitchen build out is the major part of the process. Once it's done it really only should take 3-5 weeks to open.

Anton's...again....maybe?

Quality hill convenience store and quiznos have disappeared.

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Mon Jan 11, 2021 9:32 pm Anton's...again....maybe?

Rage post deleted.

https://twitter.com/lizcookkc/status/13 ... 0805554183

Shocking

Only thing surprising here is that Anton never, as far as I know, got the opportunity to act like an insufferable man-child on national television and instead had to resort to acting out on social media for his negative attention fix.

Every time I see that a new entry into this thread has been entered it makes me a little anxious - as in what urban dining institution are we losing now? I enjoyed Anton's; thought it was a bit overpriced but I hate seeing so many restaurants in this area disappear. Especially Rieger's.

gfenn11 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:43 pm Bluestem is closing 12/19.

on the rumor mill- Betty Rae's (Not exactly COVID related).

Betty Rae's is now closed indefinitely at both locations.

Bring back Cafe Al Dente! (har har)

mean wrote: ↑Wed Jan 13, 2021 4:27 am Bring back Cafe Al Dente! (har har)

I had to search my memory with that name.

Word of mouth says Barnes & Noble Independence Center is closing. A bit out of our usual scope, but significant square footage to go dark in that spot.