TKC SATURDAY NIGHT PLAYLIST!!! FRUSTRATED KANSAS CITY RETAIL WORKERS COMPLAIN AFTER WILLIAMS-SONOMA SHUT DOWN REPORT: COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA FADING INTO THE PAST???
Word of the Williams-Sonoma shutdown on the Plaza has been circulating since Thursday night this RETAIL FAIL might not be important in terms of the supply of overpriced crockery, but there are greater implications for Kansas City's crown jewel entertainment district.
A quick round-up for those who have forgotten Christmas past . . .
Violent teen flash mobs have plagued the Plaza for years and now they're all grown up and suspected of killing people in surrounding neighborhoods.
Longtime local upscale merchants have already moved out and lamented the changes in the district over the years.
Bank & biz robberies have increased near the Plaza amid an overall crime uptick in Kansas City.
There was recently a NUDE DUDE running through Plaza parking lots that was downplayed nearly as much as the current guy who carries a sword through Country Club party district streets or word of a few robberies around the area during the recent lighting ceremony.
Factor all of these problems into tough times for retail overall as Amazon is now the top destination for shoppers.
And so we ask . . .
IS THE KANSAS CITY COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA FADING INTO THE PAST???
We're hoping that some of the insights from our blog community will spark a productive conversation about how to save this centerpiece of Kansas City history as both crime and the reality of online commerce threaten not just change but obsolescence.
And all of this inspires our playlist for tonight . . .
As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe and fun Saturday night . . .
Stick a fork in the plaza, it's done.
ReplyDeleteYou're forgetting that Amazon's weakness is the U.S. postal service.
DeleteThey can't handle the traffic and even Amazon's own shipping is crumbling under their own weight. People aren't getting their stuff in time for Christmas, this is the weakness of their model and new technology is too slow to catch up yet. Sorry but going to a store and buying what you need now is still the best option.
Those who think of the holidays only in terms of retail numbers are either getting over on the rest of us or getting ripped off.
DeleteIt's not about the gifts, people.
Stumbled upon a fact here. The problem with places like the Plaza is that people might go to enjoy a coffee or a nice lunch and visit the stores to browse but then go back home and make their purchase online. Smart retailers will capitalize on this model and use their stores more like showrooms. In this model, there's still a place for the plaza IF it can keep customers safe.
ReplyDelete807, we're have the same experience with slowness this year.
ReplyDeleteWatching the Plaza slowly change from a hometown venue to a tourist mall for out-of-towners is sad.
ReplyDeleteFuck, where am I gonna get that $15 spatula plus 10% sales tax when I really need one NOW?
ReplyDeleteThe blacks ruin everything. They want ghetto stores down there
ReplyDeleteDuh capitalism is a failed experiment.
ReplyDeleteAmazon is a much better shopping experience, sorry.
ReplyDeleteUntil they have a zero tolerance for dealing with the riff raff down there it will continue to decline, but that will not happen as long as Sly is the mayor and Mean Jean is the DA. Both are soft on crime and pander to the thugs. To hell with KCMO let it rot and head for the stores in JOCO where they still have cops that will enforce the law.
ReplyDeleteWho invents everything John cafery not socialist countries dumb fuck
ReplyDeleteOne word. Ghetto
ReplyDeleteCall it the Playza.
ReplyDeleteWe need an ethno virus
ReplyDeleteToo late, it's called type-2 diabetes and it's killing all of the poor people.
Deleteall of you broke-ass losers are overlooking the tax abated luxury office and living space that's going up. The retail fight over the Plaza is a red herring. It's just a transition to price out anyone earning less than a quarter of a million dollars a year. Good luck guys, the future doesn't belong to low wage Americans.
ReplyDeleteSez the lawyer/dentist/acct.exec./etc., who lives in Leawood and has the low wagers clean his home and office, teach--coach--bus his private school kiddies, cut his lawn, valet his rides, tailor his suits, change his granny's diapers, etc.
DeleteI HATE what is happening to the Plaza and other iconic areas of our city. It's beyond sad.
ReplyDeletesLIE is diversifying the city for his people, run everything down so they feel at home
ReplyDeleteNothing there worth the risk of getting robbed mugged raped carjacked assaulted beat down shot murdered by the inner city youth scholar's hood rats that are free to do whatever they want to KILLA CITY CRIMINAL BOYZ do . Hell , even the HOMOSEXUALLY ABOUNDS TRANNY BITCHES that occupy Diebels on the Plaza dump are becoming afraid to go there !¡!¡
ReplyDeleteNormal human beings white people should be avoiding the hood humping bitch predators plaza tonight and in the future . GO TO the Golden Ghetto of overland Park leewood or Olathe , mucho safer and cleaner without any drama and hood humping bitch predators trying to rob you and hurt you and your family. Plus you can open carry a gun to make you feel better and defend yourself if needed !
ReplyDeleteI’m with 815, and I know we’re not alone in missing the old Plaza. The mix of locally-owned businesses and high-end retail made for a truly unique entertainment district. Now, despite the beautiful architecture, the Plaza has become the epitome of any run-of-the-mill shopping mall.
ReplyDeleteAgree with @5:13, it's now just another run-of-the-mill Mall, but its air conditioning system is really lousy, much worse than other malls in the area.
ReplyDeleteKILLA CITY IS DONE
ReplyDeleteListen to these pants-shitters go! Fact: none of you go to the Plaza, none of you go out. You post idiotic drivel like this because it fits your idiotic narrative. You post a false equivalency like Williams Sonoma closes, it’s because of crime! Nothing could be further from the truth. Brick & mirror stores are dying. Especially overpriced kitchen ware. Grow up geezers. Get out in the real world. Check that...don’t. You fuck up everything. You don’t belong here. Stay inside.
ReplyDelete^^^ Good point.
ReplyDeleteBut crime is a factor because the Williams-Sonoma in Leawood is doing great with a lot less traffic.
Losing W-S is no big deal. Pryde's in Westport is better anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe old Plaza used to have a bowling alley, grocery store, drugstores, and movie theaters that DIDN'T attract to free-range boon children. It is too close to BOON-CENTRAL and that dooms the area. If retailers are smart, they will move way south and put up a fence.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAmusing to read that Amazon.com is choking on delivery problems. I buy almost everything from Amazon, and except for a few items from overseas, it's all here in one to three days. My local retailers got the state legislature to free them from paying taxes, pushing the burden onto people like me. That's over now, but I'm still thanking them for their greed and selfishness. They can all go broke and go to hell for all I care.
Amazon will do one third of ALL Christmas retail dollars this year. that leaves 70 percent for every other brick and mortar and online retail operation in the world. There isn't a carrier out there that wont kiss Amazons ass for that kind of business.
ReplyDeleteIn a few years you will have hardware, groceries, bars, eateries and some specialty merchandisers and when the boys at Amazon focus on polishing grocery delivery and the remainder of the retail space commercial landlords and brick and mortar retail will be all but finished. Next Hollywood will start making deals for PRIME to open movies online.
The only thing consumers need to figure is how high prices will go when online commerce is damn near the only game on earth. Within the next 4 years Sears, Kmart, Macys, Penneys and many smaller operators with disappear or be very close to it..
The idea that the Plaza was sold reflects smart business given the fact that those retailers wont be doing shit for the property owners in a few years. The only question is what the hell can you do to re-purpose and area that will turn to ghetto land before the last retailer turns off the lights
Just like Bannister and Indian Springs.......when the porch monkeys show up, the doors close.
ReplyDeleteKilla City is a "boon shit hole." No groids in the Ozarks.....just shine and wild "weed".
Hey rumor has it your wife was giving head today at the Chiefs game?
ReplyDelete