Ward Parkway Center announces new tenants

Ward Parkway Shopping Center announces three new tenants

South KC sees increase in new businesses

By Kathy Feist

South Kansas City has seen a proliferation of new businesses during the pandemic. Waldo, Brookside, Martin City, and other shopping districts have reported more businesseses opening than closing. Most had plans to open prior to the pandemic and have slowly followed through. Others have taken advantage of discounted lease agreements negotiated by landlords concerned about the Covid influence. 

One shopping center experiencing an increase in tenants is Ward Parkway Shopping Center. The shopping complex at 8800 Ward Parkway has recently announced three new tenants and a pop-up. 

The shopping center may also see new neighbors with the development of a nearby mixed use project. 

Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill

The much sought after franchise Hawaiian Bros. Island Grill will move into a 5845 square foot space on the north side of the center’s outdoor restaurant pavilion. 

Hawaiian Bros. serves a traditional plate lunch familiar to the natives of Hawaii, consisting of marinated meat, rice and macaroni salad. 

The first Hawaiian Bros. restaurant opened in 2018 in Belton by brothers Cameron and Tyler McNie. The savory/sweet meats and easy food styling became an instant hit. The Belton restaurant is on pace to make $2 million in annual sales, according to Worcester Investments. The brothers partnered with Paul and Joel Worcester of Worcester Cos. to grow their brand and have opened several more restaurants in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Texas. The south Kansas City location will be their sixth restaurant in the metropolitan area. 

The restaurant is projected to open in April. 

Todd’s Clothiers & Tailor

Todd’s Clothiers & Tailor Shop joined the shopping center’s roster of stores in early December. 

“I love the location of the mall and all that it has to offer,” said owner Todd White.

Todd’s Clothiers relocated from its current location off 103rd and 69 Hwy in Overland Park to the space formerly occupied by Kay Jewelers, near Starbuck’s at the west entrance. 

Todd’s Clothiers offers high-end men’s fashion and dress attire at competitive prices. Guests visiting the 2,060 square-foot space are able to purchase suits, business apparel, footwear, and accessories. The Ward Parkway location will continue to offer the

professional tailoring and relationship driven one-on-one consultations that Todd’s patrons are accustomed to.

White, who grew up in the Waldo area, says his familiarity with the 60-year-old shopping center made the decision to relocate an easy one. “Needless to say, once I walked through the doors a wave of emotion came over me and I knew this was the perfect fit.”

Carbon Health Clinic, based out of San Francisco, is investing in over 100 clinics around the country, including Kansas City.

Carbon Health Clinic 

Word is out that a San Francisco-based health clinic will open at Ward Parkway Shopping Center. Carbon Health Clinic, which focuses on primary care, has also introduced virtual care options, offering services in whatever method is most convenient for its patients. In the past year, the health care clinic has grown from seven clinics to 27. In the past month, Carbon Health has secured $100 million in funding to speed up its plans to open 100 pop-up clinics in 20 new markets in order to help with the Covid-19 vaccine distribution. 

A mixed-use development is planned for the recently sold overfill parking lot west of Ward Parkway Shopping Center. 

Mixed Use Development

The former parking lot originally built for the shopping center’s traffic overflow at 8680 State Line in Leawood has been sold to developer Doug Weltner who is proposing a  mixed-use project.  The project would include 189 apartments, 66,900 square feet of office space and 32,250 square feet or retail space. The site is zoned for planned office; single family, low-density residential; and mixed use and will require rezoning. A public hearing on the preliminary plan was scheduled for November 24 with the Leawood Planning Commission.  

Rose Brooks pop-up Holiday Store 

Each year the Kansas City community gives so much of themselves to make sure the families of Rose Brooks, a nonprofit for domestic violence victims,  have a very special holiday. This year Rose Brooks will have its Holiday Store at Ward Parkway Center, 8600 Ward Parkway

The Holiday Store collects new, unwrapped gifts which are given directly to the families receiving services. The store helps create a special holiday season, even during crisis, and empowers families to celebrate their lives together with a bright, safe future. 

The mission of Rose Brooks Center is to break the cycle of domestic violence so that individuals and families can live free of abuse. Each year, Rose Brooks Center reaches over 14,000 individuals and pets. 

Hours for the collection center are Monday – Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday, December 13, 11 am to 7 pm and Wednesday, December 16,  10 am to 6 pm. 

A Wish List and other information can be found at www.rosebrooks.org/holiday-store/.