KCRag Forum

Before it was the Western Auto Building, it was the Coca-Cola Building.

https://www.flatlandkc.org/curiouskc/qu ... like-that/

Would like to see that old Coca Cola signage. I remember the fancy illuminated Coke sign on the west side of I-35 and SW Tfwy. I had no idea McGee had a loess canyon where the Sheraton now is.

Vogue Theater, 3444 Broadway in 1940.



https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0649533 ... 384!8i8192

The Empress Theater was designed by architect Louis Curtiss, who had his studio next door. The photo is from 1926. In the background, you see the decorative tower of the Pantages Theater, which at one time was called the Tower Theater.



https://jchs.odyssey.historyit.com/item ... 08/gallery

A photo from 1922.



From 1928. Note the marquee has been changed.



Today.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0998086 ... 384!8i8192

12th Street and McGee at night. Photo: 1927.



https://jchs.odyssey.historyit.com/item ... 94/gallery

Lots of these buildings were still standing in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Going downtown was kind of like an archaeological dig back then (it was slightly seedy, but kids from school would go down there during daylight hours). Never heard of any serious crimes except for the brief period of the riots, which were really more south and east, around Troost in midtown.

For better or for worse, once Halls started all the work on Crown Center, it seemed to open up the floodgates for demolitions of the intact but unused buildings that had been left standing after the highways went in.

I wish the Trader’s garage hadn’t wiped that corner. Nice row of Curtiss buildings. At least the studio (barely) survives. I’ve heard that it had a secret passage to the theater next door, so curtiss could watch the shows!

Was the bldng on the nw corner of 12 & McGee also Curtiss? It looks like a prequel for the Boley.

Yes, that two-story retail building on the NW corner (next to the Empress Theater) was a Curtiss-design. It was called the Missouri Building at one time. There was also another building called the Missouri Building on the block of 10th, 11th, Grand and McGee. It was next to the Shoppers Parkade garage. I don't think they were called Missouri Building at the same time though.

I've always suspected that the remaining building (where Zoo Bar is) on the SW corner of 12th and McGee is an early Curtiss design as well, but I've never been able to substantiate it.

Here is a postcard of the retail building on that corner next to the Empress Theater.

https://kchistory.org/islandora/object/ ... m/OBJ/view

Photo:

https://jchs.odyssey.historyit.com/item ... 25/gallery



This is the only image I can find that shows that the building was called the Missouri Building.

Fang, your pictures are not displaying in the thread. Good finds though!

Sorry, apparently IMGUR did an update and it's changed how to link to images.

Palace Clothing Company at Night, 1924.

I've got several neckties and a couple of suits from Palace (borrowed from my Dad). It used to dominate the men's clothing retail space in KC, but it did not make (attempt to make) the transition to the suburbs. The company, and that building, closed in 1964.

There was a Palace branch store at The Landing at 63rd and Troost.

moderne wrote: ↑Thu Jul 22, 2021 2:01 pm There was a Palace branch store at The Landing at 63rd and Troost.

Metcalf South (1967) opened three years after the owner retired (1964). The closest notable malls was Mission Center (1956) and Antioch Center (1956)

63rd and Troost wasn't more of less suburban in that era than those other locations.

If the store has lasted another decade with new ownership/management maybe it would have opened more locations and been absorbed by a bigger chain in the 1980s or 90s

The Palace Clothing Company store originally was in the Ridge Building at 909-919 Main.

https://kchistory.org/image/ridge-build ... ffset%5D=4

Today we are going to see what used to be on the northeast corner of 12th and Walnut where Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park is now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenstein_Brothers



This photo is of the Rossman's department store, and is from 1922.



Rossman's at night, 1924.



Later Rossman's moved across the street to the southeast corner of 12th and Walnut, and Foreman & Clark occupied the northeast corner in what appears to be a vastly-changed structure. It appears that the building was either rebuilt completely, or got a drastic re-skinning. The corner of the building looks completely different. This photo is from 1940. Foreman & Clark had previously been in the Boley Building across Walnut to the west.



Rossman's is on the SE corner of 12th and Walnut by 1929.



Rossman's had stores in Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.

https://books.google.com/books?id=SQQdA ... ty&f=false

Foreman & Clark was a department store based in Los Angeles that had as many as 90 stores in multiple cities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreman_%26_Clark

Further north on the block next to the building that housed Rossman's and Foreman & Clark was the building occupied by McClintock's restaurant. This photo is from 1914. The restaurant had three levels -- presumably the basement was used as well, and was open all night.



https://kchistory.org/image/rs-mcclinto ... ffset%5D=2

The predecessor to Danny Edwards' BBQ place on Southwest Boulevard was his father's place, Jake Edwards' Old Southern Pit Barbecue, at 12th and Main. Jake started his BBQ business in the 1930s during the Great Depression. The 12th and Main restaurant was Jake's second location. Jake would later have five locations, including one near 51st and Main. A restaurant in Waldo operated under that name, but I think Jake had sold out by then. Anyone want to pipe in on that?

Below: Jake's first barbecue restaurant at 1018 Baltimore.



In 1940.



In 1954.





A new expanded restaurant at 1018 Baltimore in 1963.



Below: Jake's second restaurant near the southeast corner of 12th and Main -- fronted 12th Street. One Kansas City Place is there now. It appears Danny reused his Dad's sign, or retained the shape in his own signs.



Danny learned from his father, and later opened his own place. The place many remember at 13th and Grand was Danny's second location--after being pushed out of his first location at 1018 Baltimore by the construction of a parking garage. Danny's first place was called Lil' Jake's Eat It and Beat It. Danny took over the 1018 Baltimore location when his father sold out. When he moved to 13th and Grand, the name changed to Danny Edwards' Famous Kansas City Barbecue. The restaurant on Southwest Boulevard was changed to Danny Edwards' BLVD Barbecue.



https://www.dannyedwardsblvdbbq.com/

I only recall the space at 13th and Grand and, despite the signage, I always knew it as – and it seemed to always be called – Lil' Jake's Eat It and Beat It. It was very good and I'm embarrassed to say I haven't visited the SW BLVD location.