Story and photos by Sarah Pope
Hidden in a cul-de-sac of commercial businesses just off of Wornall Road sits a proud house that has lived several disparate lives. Presumably it started out as a family home—built at a date unknown between 1900 and 1920— it became the headquarters of an aerospace company in the 1960s and for awhile was merely an eyesore. But now, with the help of three individuals uniquely positioned to reinvent the space, it’s ready to host guests as a premier event space in Waldo.
George Ismert of Old Glory Development, his wife Traci and business partner Joe Hendrickson, feel a sentimental love for the Waldo area. Their passion for both old homes and neighborhood development propelled them to take the old house, which had been chopped into cubicles and carpeted decades ago, and transform it back to its original beauty while creating a gathering space for just about any type of fun someone would want to have.
“Our vision was … not trying to create something brand new,” Ismert said. “We wanted to clean up the property a bit and bring another entertainment venue to the area.”
The Waldo Astoria, at 220 W. 80th Terr., boasts the ambience to host small, intimate bridal showers or luncheons in its sprawling main floor, dappled in natural light and the warm feel you get from original wood floors. An inlaid square pattern in the wood floor of the home’s dining room is one of the most noteworthy examples of the original craftsmanship. Three spacious bedrooms upstairs create lodging opportunities for guests or hosts. Additional guest rooms are planned for the basement.
“I’m excited, no doubt about it,” Hendrickson said. “The concept is more than an event space because you can host out-of-town guests.”
Just behind the kitchen, a surprise to unprepared visitors, a back hallway leads to a cavernous bar and lounge area — The Speakeasy. Perfect for 50 to 60 people gathering for a raucous football watch party or live music event, one imagines a surprise engagement could be planned for the stately front rooms of the house, with friends waiting in the Speakeasy to surprise the happy couple with an on-the-spot engagement party.
“There is also a large outdoor garden with a stage and plenty of room for sprawling out on the lawn,” George Ismert said. “We plan to put on private ticketed events, like live music shows, trivia nights or game nights. We are excited for it, I haven’t seen anything else like it.”
Ismert and Hendrickson purchased the more than 2,000 square foot property in 2022 after years of watching it deteriorate from their offices across the street. They knew they wanted to transform it and help to revitalize the block, but the concept of an event space was not their first idea. After a few stops and starts they recognized that the bedrooms of the house presented the opportunity to offer a place for out-of-towners to stay while visiting Kansas City. A theoretical bride-to-be could host guests in the house and also use the space for smaller wedding events—or even as a relaxing place to escape with friends and family from wedding madness.
The Speakeasy, the crown jewel of what might otherwise just be an extraordinarily pretty weekend rental, is finished with black and gold accents and plenty of natural wood, all of it sourced by Hendrickson. Traci took the lead on design, saying that the mystery of the home’s original build date gave her license to pick an era that spoke to her.
“Once we hammered in on the 1920s, we had the speakeasy idea,” she said, mentioning how much fun it was to play with a Prohibition-era design theme.
From the street, an entrance that leads to the Speakeasy is marked Door #2. George Ismert said to label the Speakeasy would defeat its clandestine nature.
“This way, people can be like ‘What’s behind Door #2?” he said.
The formal opening of the Waldo Astoria is March 1, although the space is ready and available to book now.
“We all love Waldo—this is our stomping ground,” Traci Ismert said. “There is a resurgence in Waldo for sure.”
George is a third generation Waldo resident with family ties taking his roots back to the days of horse pastures situated along 83rd Street. Ismert and Traci met and fell in love and Waldo, making it their home; Joe’s father built and owned businesses along the Wornall corridor, just a stone’s throw from this latest business venture.
The trio is excited that the Waldo Astoria will bring a little bit more life to the quiet street.
“The aerospace company wasn’t that lively,” Traci Ismert said.
Connect online at www.thewaldoastoria.com