TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! INSIDER: PLAZA WINSTEAD'S ON THE WAY OUT AFTER EPIC KANSAS CITY SHAKE SHACK DEBUT!!!
The fate of a historic, beloved burger joint stands at the apex of politics, culture, violence and economics in Kansas City.
To wit . . .
KANSAS CITY INSIDER PREDICTS: WINSTEAD'S ON THE PLAZA DEMISE AMID EPIC SHAKE SHACK DEBUT!!!
This one has implications beyond the very similar artery clogging fair served at both locations . . .
Here's a taste . . .
Violent Teen Flash Mobs Still Threaten Winstead's Biz . . . While the drive-thru biz might be the only real chance at survival. The parking lot has often set the stage for violent confrontation over the past decade where clueless tourists don't know this history of problems with youth violence on the Plaza. Sadly, this location is too far away from the bulk of Plaza patrons and it's often overlooked and left unprotected.
Winstead's tradition might also bring about it's demise . . . The menu hasn't really changed much in a generation. That's part of its charm but also something that limits return biz.
TKC EXCLUSIVE . . . STREETCAR EXTENSION SUPPORTERS DEMAND WINSTEAD'S LAND!!!
Think outside of the box here and realize that Shake Shack hype is part of the plan to put the historic Winstead's location out of biz for good on the Plaza -- Look closely at the PR firms handling their biz which are also aligned with streetcar hype.
Winstead's is bit of Americana sits right along the streetcar line but the spot is too important to improve the fortunes of burger-slinging and toy train developers would rather have the spot for their own schemes. And so, as usual, a bit of burger hype distracts Kansas City from REAL ESTATE SCHEMING as this classic location is certainly enjoying its last days.
Developing . . .
Whatever you do TKC, please don't get the crew from Historic Kansas City involved, they have a nearly flawless record of advocating for buildings right before they're demolished.
ReplyDeleteSorry Winstead's you had your day and now that day has passed.
DeleteOF COURSE Winsteads hasn't changed their menu much over the past 75+ years they've been at that location. Do you really want a kale burger? Does anybody? No thanks. Winsteads will shut down soon, I don't deny that, but I'm not sure anybody will miss it.
DeleteWas wondering when you were FINALLY going to mention this "juxtaposition" and surprised nobody else did. That's kind of the clue that they really do want the restaurant out at this spot. Too bad. But I'm sure Sly will get this one with much more ease than he'll be able to pass that pre-K deal.
ReplyDelete#SaveWinsteadsKC
DeleteDear Peoples of Kansas City
ReplyDeleteThank you for Streetcar and Shake Shack!
If not for that there would be no reason for me to visit your vibrant city and spend my money.
Winsteads will survive. I eat there regularly and it's always busy, in dining room and drive-thru. This is fake news. Winsteads will be around for a long time.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^^ +1
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree. I'll take Shake Shack over soggy Winstead's any day!
@8:36 - You're thinking of the wrong Winstead's the one in Leawood.
ReplyDeleteYou're a city hall troll is what you are and you're Russian fake news. You know there is already a buyout offer on the table. Sly stole that election and you helped. Get off the blog, go back to Sly and tell him that he will NEVER had Cleaver's job.
I'm thankful because of MY president Trump that the streetcar will never get that federal funding. #WinsteadsForever
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure, @8:36 and @6:40 - I've had a chance to eat at four of the six Winsteads locations in the last six months or so, and it sure tastes like Nabil has gone for a cheaper "extender" in his patty mix. They bow have that sour metallic aftertaste that you find in some larger Chains like Wendys, Hardees, and the like.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get the quality that other places like Town Topic provide at Winsteads anymore, and of course the places are uniformly filthy 24/7. The staff at each one of them stopped caring a decade ago.
I think Hadddad will breath a sigh of relief and sell out as quickly as possible. Lord knows he was anxious enough to peddle off the seven or eight other locations!
^^^^^^^^ +100
DeleteGood comment, nice to hear from somebody who knows.
I'm not from Kansas City what is Matlock ?
ReplyDelete9:10, Matlock is what KC's BathHouse buttboiz call their fave brokeback mountain style sex position.
DeleteThe day Winsteads started dying was the day Nabil bought all of them. He has ran everyplace he has owned into the ground. Anyone remember Waids?
ReplyDeleteMiss me some cheese soup yo!
DeleteAin’t that the truth!
Deletewe vote to keep winstead's.
ReplyDeleteWinsteads tastes as good as ever. Only sad saps who have pitiful lives like to jump on any potential bad news that affects KC. Not to mention they lived 30+ miles away from KC, and think Hardee's is fine dining. Pfft.
ReplyDeleteLong live Winsteads! Kansas City is better than its ever been! Hooray!
The location is fine. Only pussies who have been neutered through suburban and rural living are "scared" of Plaza-ish midtown area, including Plaza Winsteads.
ReplyDeleteI’m a “close-in” suburbanite and I’m not scared of being attacked or killed at Winsteads on the Plaza. However, I would want a penicillin shot after dining there. We were there a couple weeks ago early on a Saturday evening and the place was FILTHY. As in health department filthy. I love hometown businesses, including Winsteads, but they need to close for a couple of days and do a deep cleaning.
DeleteWinstead's does a nice breakfast business. They have their own parking.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to get into the congestion of the Plaza to go there. You don't have to pay Plaza prices. They have unique items like the Skyscraper Soda and the 50/50 fries and onion rings. Plus, it's not another cookie cutter chain.
Really don't understand how a lot of the people on this blog can turn a great day for Kansas City into something negative! Shake Shack shows us that there is still a lot of life and vibrancy on the plaza despite the naysayers. WHEN the streetcar extension funding arrives we can use that in order to build even more momentum for a wider clientele and new businesses. This is a good thing. The future of Winsteads is up to the owner but we're seeing here is that there transit progress and good promotion will help KC move forward no matter how much negativity that some some people want to bring to these events. It's simply a matter of perspective and a lot of us are more interested in working hard to make Kansas City best!
ReplyDeleteGood God man, it's a burger place. They have them in other cities too. It's not the second coming. Same goes for the streetcar!
DeleteGopher,
DeleteAnyone who knew the Plaza when it was really the Plaza is certainly not going to get a hard on for a burger chain. The Plaza, tragically, is nothing more than an Anytown, USA strip mall with nice architecture. People used to come from near and far for the terrific locally owned/operated restaurants and real world class shopping. But why would anyone see it as a destination for Old Navy and Shake Shack. You’re such a phony the way you talk out of your ass about how great KC is. If you really feel that way, you must be a real bumpkin that doesn’t get out of town much.
we like shake shack but when we go out for a quick burger or grilled cheese, we want parking to be easy.
ReplyDeleteplaza parking is now too hard for us and many other kansas citians.
we just don't care about anything on the plaza but the apple store enough to have to look for parking.
Hey, the location may mean Winstead's is frequented by a diverse clientele, but that's great. Part of the charm is that everyone goes there and likes it.
ReplyDeleteFreudian Slip Go4KC says...
ReplyDeleteReally don't understand how a lot of the people on this blog can turn a great day for Kansas City into something negative! Shake Shack shows us that there is still a lot of curiosity about an overly hyped opening of a chain store. It's a bit like when McDonald's opened in Pushkin Square in Moscow. Everyone had to see this new phenomenon. Once they saw it, that was enough, and Pushkin Square was back to normal. Once people have satisfied their curiosity--it IS a burger joint, after all--life on the plaza (sic), such as it is, will return to normal in a week or two. Despite you nattering nabobs of negativism, WHEN the streetcar extension funding arrives we can use that in order to build even more momentum for a wider clientele and new businesses along the same lines as one-night wonders McDonald's in Moscow and Shake Shak here. Remember my job is on the line, so for me this is a good thing. The future of Winsteads is up to the owner but we're checking into eminent domain. All we need to do is declare that part of the Plaza blighted--it's been done before, and voila!--another subsidized hangout for millennials. It's simply a matter of perspective and a lot of us are more interested in keeping that graft coming than in what you basement-dwelling losers want.
All of our visitors from out-of-town are taken to Bryant's and Winstead's.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't everyone realize that the streetcar expansion is not going to happen since it relied on federal funding that does not exist anymore, thankfully. No one in KC has the balls to actually bring this up
ReplyDeleteGo4KC if you think that opened in the worst location ever for a burger joint there can be is going to be a part of what saves Kansas City you're even more delusional than I thought.
ReplyDeleteYou won't see any streetcar funding either so stop repeating that echo that bounces around in your empty head. The street car has proven it doesn't save squat either. I'm sorry it does save those who come to the big city from out of town to ride the funny looking choo choo for free all day.
As 10:09 says, the parking is a nightmare. Nobody wants to spend the time to locate a parking place and then to walk from that location to eat a burger that is essentially a rip off of what Steak 'n Shake has. Capital Grille yes Shake Shack, hell no. I know I will never return to "TRY" and eating there again. Once enough was all I needed to be very unimpressed while dealing with the hassle of the Plaza. My lady friend is still this morning apologizing to me for forcing me to take her down there.
Red Robin serves better burger type food and fries in my opinion and from what I am hearing and seeing a lot of other people agree with me.
Maybe if Shake Shack were to offer valet parking they might then keep the steady crowds coming in that will pay for the rent on that place. I shudder to think what the CAM charges alone a month are for that location.
By “lady friend”, don’t you mean chuck?
DeleteThe first rule of the "KC Streetcar expansion" is, there is no streetcar expansion.
ReplyDeleteis this headline a put-on?
ReplyDeleteFord Pickup knocks streetcar off tracks in Portland. LOL (No one got hurt)
ReplyDeletePORTLAND, Ore. -- A collision between a streetcar and a truck knocked the Streetcar off its rails on Wednesday afternoon.
What's the matter 10:52 can't stand it that other men have women in their lives and you're stuck living at home with Mommy still. Does making Gay remarks about other men make you feel accepted in life? God what a pathetic waste of a human being you must be.
ReplyDeleteShake Shack Day Two
ReplyDeleteFood - Mediocre
Service - Lousy
Netflix can do a Movie on Kansas City's schemes. BY BY MISS AMERICAN PIE .
ReplyDelete@9:46, the only mention of Hardee's was when someone compared the crappy burgers now being served at Winsteads to those shoddy ones at Hardee's! Nobody called Hardees "fine dining", but you wandered off into some rambling incoherency about people who don't live here.
ReplyDeleteIf you are experiencing these hallucinations very often, maybe you should spend less time posting and try to get into the Free Clinic for treatment.
There are some negative responses here and that's unfortunate. I think overall when you look at the positive publicity, excitement, and fun that a lot of people had at the Shake Shack opening, then you have to look at it as a success. What's wrong with that? What we see in the comments here is nothing but outright negativity and cynicism with no cause. What does it get you being so negative and against the progress we are making in our city? Kansas City is on a roll the momentum is real we saw it on the streets yesterday when a lot of very excited people were looking forward to a new attraction in one of our greatest entertainment districts. You people can moan and cry and Inspire fear over a shooting or bad news or some instances of juvenile delinquency but when it comes to looking at the bright spots and new businesses that show KC to be growing then there's nothing but hate. Very hard to understand and I think that the other media sees that a lot of people on this blog are just looking for negativity and really don't have the best interest of KC in their hearts. The question of Winstead's might be valid and I think there are a lot of people willing to talk about historic preservation but when you see all of the good things happening because of the streetcar expansion then you have to admit that we need to think about the future and not the past.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest things touted about SS opening was swag bags. Given the crowds you and your puppet master are used to dealing with, you should know better than anyone that there’s a certain group of people that will stand in line for hours for a bag of free dogshit. Plus, people like yourself get off on telling anyone that will listen every facet of your life (Facebook-itis) so you’re actually excited to publicize that you were at the opening of a burger chain. Wow. Oh, and for what it’s worth, please find a synonym for “momentum.” You have ridden that word harder than Slyme rides you.
DeleteWhere the herd goes, I go the other way. Latest fad, "it" things pass, then another b.s. fad thing comes along. Yawn.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, marketers have conducted gazillions of blind taste tests for a variety of products for decades and only a very small number of people can actually pick out the higher-priced, "better", etc., food item or drink.
Once you realize this, your life gets a whole lot easier and less cumbersome.
Shake Shack; really, who gives a damn? Support local; eat at Winstead's.
ReplyDelete^^^^^
ReplyDelete@12:06 Go4kc
I'll tell you whats wrong with that you idiot! Shake shack is a franchise from NY and Winstead's is local and not only local but a part of Kansas City history.
Because Shake Shack is a franchise no one can say it's good or bad because every owner is going to make things different.
Shake Shack is nothing more than a greasy spoon that is not part of Kansas City nor is it an asset to the already dying Plaza.
Where's your community spirit Go4KC Everytime I go to Atlanta there's a K.C. native that always ask about Winstead's
Shake Shake is fine to come here but maybe in the mall where it belongs Winstead's needs Kansas City support.
Winstead's is going away, look at what the Haddid's have done with their restaurant empire. At one time there were 10 Winstead's and no Steak and Shakes, or Freddy's no one else was selling steak burgers, they also owned 3 or 4 joints on the Plaza, all gone. The Haddid's have a golden touch of death when they buy a restaurant. No marketing just living off the reputation of the previous owner's till the well runs dry, then bail. The clock is ticking, with the right offer Winstead's on the Plaza is gone.
ReplyDeleteI swear Go4KC do you really believe the insanity you say at times? If lets say only 25% of those who went to Shake Shack didn't care for the place that's not a good position to be in for any business. So far I have not talked with one person as of 30 minutes ago who cared about the place at all with most saying they'll never drive back to just eat there.
ReplyDeleteKansas City isn't growing, in fact it has gone stagnant. Huge amounts of money are being wasted on projects that don't benefit the taxpayers who by the way are your real boss and who you should really be showing some respect to and listening to what they say and not your fake ass so called special voting districts and developers. Instead you push out these fairy tales of what great things the city has done while folks are looking to move because they no long feel safe or can afford to pay the taxes let alone a water bill, a much needed basic need.
As I said I won't be returning to eat at Shake Shack again because I see no reason to do so when I have much finer places to eat at much closer to me. So you see that has cost the city those taxes I won't be paying. And guess what I spend less in KC every year. Gee I wonder why that is and I'd would tell you why but as the old saying goes, "You can't handle the truth." From the looks of as I said what I am hearing earlier I am not the only one who feels that way. So a burger joint opening where it did just might not be the so called super cool event you'd like to make or believe it is. How many restaurants have failed in the Plaza area in the past year? You ever wonder why?
We are not being negative as you like to view it as being, about the Shake Shack. We are being very factual about what we saw and experienced. Unlike you we will not try to blow any smoke up anyone's behind.Just because something is new and shiny does not make it the grand event of the week. How many more new places opened this week that didn't get lots or this kind of free media attention? . Many people post many good comments about the issues here in Kansas City offering good solutions as I have myself and we do it because we are the ones who really do have the cities best interests in our hearts and it's not in hand outs to developers and special money grabbing groups who don't add one thing to creating a great city and happy residents at all and for all.
In fact right now I have about as much respect for you as I do that jerk who was supposed to have written that letter to the NYT attacking the POTUS. And to that I say, and to you I will say, if you can't say who you are and who you work for then what you say should be looked at as the meaningless garbage it is. If you think that what the readers here say all the time in so many words is garbage then the same should apply to you. By the way I am known as Super Dave and no you don't know me because I have a better class of friends than you do it appears and they do know me.
Well said, Super Dave!
Deleteremember the krispy kreme fad?
ReplyDeleteit quieted down and local donut shops stayed, evolved, and thrived.
11:48: I could get excited if Hardee's opened a location in town. I can't get excited about another overpriced burger joint on the Plaza.
ReplyDeleteJeffery Dalhmer ate five guys before it was a restaurant
ReplyDeleteJeffery Dalhmer ate five guys before it was a restaurant
ReplyDeleteGo4KC stated "don't understand how a lot of the people on this blog can turn a great day for Kansas City into something negative."
ReplyDeleteThe people on TKC always have great days turned into something negative by city government.
Failed infrastructure is a prime example. This has been mentioned many times and many solutions have been given. Somehow Go4KC chooses to ignore these.
Dave, except for the last paragraph, that was the smartest thing you have ever written.
ReplyDeleteNow, the you have a Republican President, you're a patriot, but when Obama was President you said my avatar was disgusting. It was a picture of Obama as a child with his mother. There was nothing disgusting about it, just you being a hater. Why can't you see that Der Fuhrer is a whack job? You don't want to, because you think he's going to make America White Again. The op-ed was wonderful! You don't seem to have a problem with everyone on here being anonymous.
How much of your disdain for Sly James is simply racial hatred?
You have openly called for genocide. The logical conclusion is that you are a white nationalist.
How much of your respect for Sly is simply a desire to appear non-racist? Sly, in any race, creed, gender, nationality is a lying, incompetent thief.
DeleteYeah, he is a thief. Anybody who can’t acknowledge that is a blind asswipe.
DeleteB'lie'RON told on his white apologist self that he is racist. Anyone who automatically broadbrushes by asserting that only an ALL BLACK jury's verdict is acceptable to him IN ANY LAWSUIT, much less, a white woman's, IS A BIASED BUTTHEAD!
DeleteWinsteads or Steak&Shake is better than Shake Shack
ReplyDeleteThank You Byron for continually proving what an idiot you are.
ReplyDelete^^^^Says the idiot who continually proves what an idiot he is every time he posts.
Deletemcdonalds didn't put winstead's out of business.
ReplyDeleteSHAK (NYSE) $57.90 +0.04 (+0.07%)
ReplyDeleteThe shakes seem to be made of frozen custard that’s so dry it’s like sucking on a pile of dust. I’m not even sure how it comes out of the machine.
ReplyDeleteShake Shack, like Chipotle, exists in that Fancy Fast Casual category where you get to pretend you’re being smarter and healthier for plunking down $4 extra to consume 1,500 calories worth of food inside the spiritual equivalent of an Apple store.
ReplyDeleteSmart 5:00 gets it!
DeleteGopher, has your career really come down to flogging overpriced burger joints? Have you no shame?
ReplyDeleteWinsteads is garbage.
ReplyDeleteShake shack-another place none of you geezers will ever go to.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day it is in killa shitty! Gopherkc and bLIEron both showed how truly stupid they are! Awesomest. Day. Ever!
ReplyDeleteI didn't see any skinny jean hipsters and gender neutrals at the opening.
ReplyDeleteJust the usual uniform of the Midwest. Baseball cap and Cargo Jeans. Some yuppie mom's pushing baby strollers.
How long till SS makes the this weeks restaurant closings or closes as a non performing location is anyone's guess. I suppose the 25 million tourists may help it break even.
From Sak's Fifth Avenue to Shake Shack
ReplyDeletePlaza has really come a long way. Really advancing as a world class shopping and dining destination.
^^^^ I agree, this is really really moving forward and making our city the bestus in the land. what’s sad is all the money they give away and this is the best they can do, sad........
ReplyDeletePlease god, help us from these idiots.
With all that parking and subinner city location it would make a perfect title loan location.
ReplyDeleteKC needs a White Castle.
ReplyDelete