Chaos Outside of Zen!!!

They say that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions . . . Sadly, this phrase seems to apply to a Kansas City Club that started out for all the right reasons and now has become a major nuisance for Kansas City residents.

Zen is located at the north of the corner of 39th and Main (the old Grand Emporium) and upon reading a message from their owner, Stuart Salomon, I was somewhat inspired. Check it:

One year ago, I was talking to Marquise Simmons, who is a young African-American entrepreneur. He owns a security company that provides security to clubs around Kansas City. Marquise and I had a frank, open and honest conversation, about race issues, about clubs, prejudices, inner city culture, social issues and the list goes on. We told each other we were going to lay things out on the table, be honest, not dance around issues, and just try to come up with solutions to why the city had very few clubs that catered to African- Americans. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with this young man. He was articulate, intelligent, and well spoken, he did not make excuses, and we both admitted that no matter how much all of us say we do not have prejudices, or preconceived notions- we all do, all of us, black and white. What I learned from my conversations with this man made me realize something, no matter what notions we have about people from other cultures, so many barriers can be erased by simply interacting with people, by educating ourselves about others by asking them questions, and by learning about where they came from – because it may have been a very different place then where we were from.

Marquise came to me with an idea, to start a club, which welcomed African-Americans, instead of making up excuses to exclude them.

Apparently, things started well:

At this point, I made a decision, I was going to take on this project. With the support of an incredible and understanding landlord, Brent Lambi, I decided that despite how many “people in the know” warned me not to do it, this project needed to be done!

I have been open three weeks, and I have seen beautiful people, People dressed up, college educated people, professionals, and articulate, well mannered people. Imagine this...they were all listening to hip-hop music . . .

Again, from the looks of it, the club seemed to defy stereotypes and proved that an upscale, urban, hip-hop club could make it Kansas City proper . . . I've not only selected and commented on a few choice party pics of the visitors inside the VIP club in order to note the hottie broads the clubs hosts but also to demonstrate that at one time the club had the right idea:









Then, like all things hip-hop in Kansas City . . . It turned to crap.

REPORTS TO TKC FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SOURCES COMPLAIN THAT THE SCENE OUTSIDE OF ZEN, IN THE PARKING LOT, IS OUT OF CONTROL FROM THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY!!!

At this point it's only a matter of time until there's a shooting, from what I've heard the police aren't too quick to answer calls regarding this club. However, the police helicopter hovering above for hours upon end is a constant nuisance to the neighbors in the Main Corridor.

TKC hopes the club owners can take care of their problems quickly, before someone gets hurt and so neighbors won't be so concerned with stray bullets flying through their windows . . . The goal of a viable hip-hop club in Kansas City is noble but as of yet very few ventures have found any long-term success. Here's hoping and knowing that listening to Kanye West isn't worth risking a violent death!!!