KCRag Forum

longviewmo wrote:Also interesting that the Joe's people are partnering in the new Rye. They don't partner with any other restaurants?

And the Joes people don't set up shop in Missouri

I only went to Rye once but I didn't get the love....and I had the chicken.

KCPowercat wrote:I only went to Rye once but I didn't get the love....and I had the chicken.

I had a very bad fried chicken experience at Rye, but everything else I've had has been great. They took care of me on the one bad experience.

Restoration Emporium going into former Plaza Theater space.

http://fox4kc.com/2017/07/02/restoratio ... a-theater/

Hopefully a good sign new Plaza owners will target more non-mainstream chain retail. Would love for Plaza to go for ethnic counter eats too but maybe that's too out there for regional draw, Westport covers the bases well enough.

In my ideal world... downtown soon draws real comprehensive range of retail (including high end), Plaza fails limping along as a mall, the Plaza owner dumps it dirt cheap and writes off their losses. A locally minded property owner takes it over cheaply allowing cheaper rents, turns it into a quaint village with mostly local eats, converts upper spaces to housing above, adapts to broad range of cultural entertainment (jazz, blues, theatre rooms, folk venues, etc), a local market and leans toward less chain retail where possible (a Walgreens/CVS though).

Think about it, the Plaza could be a really great village instead of a mall.

isn't the market forcing their hand a bit? lots of major retail chains are going bankrupt or downsizing. they are wise to pivot to a more local focus.

Seems so and it will be interesting to see if more locals can afford the Plaza rent, especially cultural venues like performance theatre space and clubs as I'm suggesting. The new owners paid a pretty penny, not sure if rent is even more than when Highwoods owned it. The new owners are still ultimately retail mall operators though. What I'm suggesting is transitioning the Plaza from a shopping/restaurant district into a residential/cultural village as a strategic vision. Am implying that if new owners flop because mall concept isn't working for Plaza anymore, they theoretically could dump the property with a write off and the following owner (ideally local) gets it cheaper and can potentially attract more local cultural spaces, mix some urbane ethnic counter eats places with cheaper rent. As well as some nice sit down places ideally not Cheesecake Factory/Changs like chains. If I managed it, would also transition most if not nearly all the second+ floor office spaces of Plaza buildings to residential, which would give it more of a village vibe. The bones are there to become an awesome village but under this scenario it would need an owner that focuses on that vision.

Alternatively, Fang mentioned one time about impact of Plaza being sold off in chunks. The Plaza has run its course methinks with a single owner and something that drastic would probably be a good long term if not permanent shakeup, a new direction to become an urban neighborhood with various visions rather than a manicured shopping/restaurant district.

What was the piano bar that was on the second floor space above where Restoration Hardware was?

^The name is escaping me but the Plaza has usually been light on cultural nightlife with clubs, performance theatre, etc. Has especially been downplayed last 10+ years. Plaza III still has jazz downstairs but only Saturday nights. The Plaza seems to be loosing its luster lately and a shakeup from a pure retail/restaurant district could give it new life. Could target about a dozen spots towards nightlife, target mix of urbane Euro/ethnic counter eats and smaller cafes, convert at least half of above office space to residential, etc. Maybe target approx as 1/4 regional draw, 1/2 local residential village and 1/4 nightlife focus (not party bars) or 1/3 each and adjust over time with whatever is working.

The challenge is Plaza's high rent and the high value new owners paid for the district. They'll want a return and drawing local operators could be difficult with high rents.

beautyfromashes wrote:What was the piano bar that was on the second floor space above where Restoration Hardware was?

Harry Starkers

Harry Starkers

Yep. That was a great space. So sad when it was leased to a law firm - the end of a long restaurant/entertainment run.

^Highwoods broader goal to change the Plaza into an office park with a mall attached.

earthling wrote:^The name is escaping me but the Plaza has usually been light on cultural nightlife with clubs, performance theatre, etc. Has especially been downplayed last 10+ years. Plaza III still has jazz downstairs but only Saturday nights. The Plaza seems to be loosing its luster lately and a shakeup from a pure retail/restaurant district could give it new life. Could target about a dozen spots towards nightlife, target mix of urbane Euro/ethnic counter eats and smaller cafes, convert at least half of above office space to residential, etc. Maybe target approx as 1/4 regional draw, 1/2 local residential village and 1/4 nightlife focus (not party bars) or 1/3 each and adjust over time with whatever is working.

The challenge is Plaza's high rent and the high value new owners paid for the district. They'll want a return and drawing local operators could be difficult with high rents.

They just signed on Nike. The blurb I read said they wanted to make the plaza more attractive to a broader spectrum of people. Not sure what that means, Highwoods was already going down that route and its 180 degrees from what I had read earlier about the new owners - that they wanted more exclusive local places. I think Rye was a step in the right direction. Nike is ho hum.

Locally owned 'Hogshead' moving into former California Pizza Kitchen space. Looks like new owners are moving in the right direction!

Wouldn't it be great if a resurrected Jardines Jazz restaurant/club or similar restaurant went into the old Houstons location?
Jardines was packed every night and served up live music 5 nights a week.
Besides the coke-snorting non-local owner (she spent most of her time out of town), the only other issues was it was too small and parking was tight.

I think the Houstons location would be perfect for a similar place as parking (especially at night) is plentiful and the room is already set up with old skool dark decor and acoustics. Blow out the booths on the east side of the bar and build a small stage extending just slightly above and into the main dining area. The bar would be packed on one side of the stage and diners the other side. Move the dining booths to the back room for those that want a quieter, dining experience and use small bistro tables up near the stage.
The back room with booths would be perfect as you can still see the stage but not have to be near it. The additional alcohol profits from live music would make this smaller place work.

More signs of Plaza going local when possible, a good direction but still restaurant/retail mall theme. Jardine's revival or something similar would add nightlife and yeah, Houston's would be a good spot.

Went into the new "Nike Store" on the Plaza today. I'm actually pretty sure the the outlet version at The Legends is better. Lol. What a joke.

MidtownCat wrote:Went into the new "Nike Store" on the Plaza today. I'm actually pretty sure the the outlet version at The Legends is better. Lol. What a joke.

Ouch, I was wondering how it was. When it was first announced I, like some, was disappointed.

MidtownCat wrote:Went into the new "Nike Store" on the Plaza today. I'm actually pretty sure the the outlet version at The Legends is better. Lol. What a joke.

Dang. There is a really nice store in downtown Portland. I was hoping this would be like that. The store at the Legends blows.

bobbyhawks wrote:

MidtownCat wrote:Went into the new "Nike Store" on the Plaza today. I'm actually pretty sure the the outlet version at The Legends is better. Lol. What a joke.

Dang. There is a really nice store in downtown Portland. I was hoping this would be like that. The store at the Legends blows.

Right. The hope was that it was actually going to be one of their experiential Nike stores or at the very least one of their boutiques. They literally rolled out their outlet version. I actually think the Legends store may be a step up. I guess Highwoods was hard up to find something.