Kansas City Country Club Plaza Celebrates Centennial Amid Uncertainty

Recently, our blog community talked about the future of Kansas City's Country Club Plaza and our conversation was more relevant, honest and informative than most.

Readers might not agree with all of this sentiments . . . But, from our vantage, they represent a cross-section of opinion regarding the fate of this iconic entertainment district. 

Here's the word . . .

A note about power . . .

"The Plaza was much better when Plaza Security was working hard to keep the quality ambience at a high level. They didn't allow any shenanigans. I'm sure the powers that be at City Hall have crimped any remaining power that Plaza Security has and reminded them who's the boss. "

COVID-Theory shared . . .

"The PANDEMIC is what killed off the Nordstroms deal -- after first destroying a big area set aside for the store.. That did do real damage to the west end of the district by eliminating both foot traffic and parking options.. The unholy conspiracy between Jackson County and the KCMO School District to raise property taxes by 50-60% forced a rent increase that did even more damage."

A retort from skeptics . . . 

"Nothing like hundreds of unsupervised youths running rampant through the plaza, jumping on cars, breaking off car antennas, dining and dashing, intimidating those with actual disposable income to spend... You can blame it on the pandemic, and I'm sure that had a role in it, but the pandemic is over, so where are the crowds? The reason people don't go down there is because of the threat of violence, the chance that their cars will get broken into, and having to rub shoulders with all of the unsupervised, wild kids that parents turn loose down there. So all you have to be very careful about going to worlds of fun, or the zoo."

Deets from a historical perspective . . . 

"The riots didn't help but the Plaza has been headed this way since the mid 90s. I used to live on Jefferson two blocks from the theatre and trust me about 95 or 96 there were alreadyunmistakeable signs of decline.

"Absentee landlordism, cultural decline among the patrons--anyone remember the body sushi bar the Chiefs used to infest?--deferred maintenance, the "youts" allowed to fight in front of the theatre, no grocery store for three or four years--and none at all again now!--local businesses crowded out for the chain stores with no local loyalty.... the list goes on. I'd even add the flood control project for sterilizing the ambiance and the losing battles over preventing skyscrapers from being built on the top of the hills around, which go on to this day.

"Yeah the riots put an ice pick in it. But it was wounded to death already."

By far this is our FAVORITE TKC READER COMMENT on the fate of The Plaza because it's realistic, yet hopeful and offers solutions for managing the crisis with acknowledgement of economic reality  . . . Check-it . . . 

"In the middle of COVID, the plaza raised rents on several tenants. The tenants, some of whom had been there since the 70's. 'Among them was Fred P. Ott's, may the place rest in peace, which could not afford paying $40 grand a month. It still sits vacant. The Plaza never understood that Amazon devalued commercial property everywhere. They continued to act like it was still 1995. The only way commercial real estate companies can compete is to provide bargain basement prices on space. The high end of retail is over. What is so wrong with turning the Plaza in to affordable space for local niche service shops, and entertainment establishments? The corporate owners of the Plaza just want to wring all the profit out of it until it runs into the ground, then find another shopping center to rinse wash and repeat."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Neighbors reflect on 100 years of the Country Club Plaza

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Country Club Plaza turns 100 this year, a huge milestone in the outdoor retail space's life. Everyone has a special memory and tradition associated with Kansas City's popular destination. We asked neighbors and shoppers to share theirs.