Ward Parkway Celebrates Renaissance Beyond Fading Retail

It turns out that public spaces can survive by adapting to new biz climate.

Or at least . . . For the moment, Amazon robots aren't able to deliver food quick enough to consumers without a conscience. 

Of course . . .

We share the more optimistic perspective . . .  

Only 40 years ago, the US had 2500 indoor shopping malls. That number has decreased to around 800. Ward Parkway Center is one of the few that has experienced a revival. The addition of Trader Joe’s in 2011 and state-of-the-art movie theater improvements in 2012 created filled parking lots on the north end. The addition of outdoor-facing retailers, such as Home Goods, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, followed. Finally, an award-winning outdoor restaurant pavilion was built in 2019 on the south end, replacing a vacant Dillard’s department store. 

The indoor retailers and south pavilion restaurants have struggled, while the rest of the Center has thrived.

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

Something new and refreshing is happening at Ward Parkway Center

"This was an opportunity to fix things that needed to be done, bring my experience in and reimagine what this place could be."