Category: Business

Legends Outlets added nine retail additions in 2021, and five more are planned for 2022

A Tory Burch store, carrying handbags, shoes and accessories, is slated to open at The Legends Outlets this fall. It is one of six new stores at The Legends Outlets in 2022. (Submitted photo)
The Dancing Crab, a Cajun seafood restaurant, opened at The Legends Outlets in December. (Submitted photo)
Jousting Pigs barbecue restaurant opened at The Legends Outlets in December. (Submitted photo)

Legends Outlets, the only outlet center serving the Kansas City metro, reports robust leasing activity in 2021, including nine permanent retail additions with five more slated to open in 2022.

With the new and coming soon tenants, Legends Outlets has the highest occupancy of long-term leases with national brands and market-exclusive retailers of any shopping center in the metro, according to a spokesman.

In 2021, the leading regional and local shopping destination welcomed nine new, long-term tenants, including Sephora, 1 Million Cuts, ALDI, the first-area Vera Bradley Factory Outlet, Rally House, the first-area Dutch Bros Coffee, Jousting Pigs, Love Tea, and Dancing Crab.

Additionally, construction for the Legends 267, a luxury urban apartment complex on the property, officially broke ground, while the Kansas City Monarchs opened their 2021 season at the rebranded Legends Field in Village West, just adjacent to the center.

Legends Outlets, which has more than 100 outlet stores, retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues, also enhanced customer experiences in 2021 by remodeling the west end bathrooms. Other upgrades to the property included the addition of more than 2,000 ornaments to the center’s 45-foot Christmas tree.

In 2022, Legends Outlets will welcome five new, permanent retail additions that further enhance its diverse tenant lineup. New additions include Petland and Your Pets Veterinary Clinic, Aerie, a larger, permanent Tory Burch outlet store, Rue21, and Spencer’s.

New permanent retail additions, previously announced, include:

• Sephora: The prestigious omni-retailer Sephora opened its 6,085-square-foot location at Legends Outlets on Jan. 22, 2021, at 1847 Village West Parkway, Suite K-117, offering an expansive selection of products, including cosmetics, skincare, haircare, fragrance, and more.

• 1 Million Cuts: The upscale barbershop opened its 1,300-square-foot location on Feb. 8, 2021, at 1843 Village West Parkway, Suite C-125, offering a full range of specialty hair care and spa services, including haircuts, shaves, line-ups, color enhancements, facials, kids’ haircuts and more.

• ALDI: Discount grocery store ALDI opened its expansive Legends Outlets location on April 1, 2021, at 1945 N. 110th St. Nearly double the size of an average ALDI store, it offers fresh, high-quality groceries including ALDI’s exclusive, award-winning products at affordable prices.

• Vera Bradley: Kansas City’s first-area Vera Bradley Factory Outlet opened its 5,182-square-foot store on July 2, 2021, at 1847 Village West Parkway, Suite K-109. The iconic brand offers quilted handbags and accessories, luggage, travel items, gifts and more.

• Rally House: Popular sports apparel and merchandise store Rally House opened its second-largest retail location at Legends Outlets on Sept. 10, 2021, at 1867 Village West Parkway, Suite D-103. The 13,625-square-foot store provides one of the largest selections of officially licensed college, NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and MLS apparel, as well as merchandise, accessories, gifts, drinkware, local novelties, Kansas souvenirs and more.

• Dutch Bros Coffee: Dutch Bros Coffee opened Kansas City’s first-area location at Legends Outlets on Dec. 3, 2021. The drive-thru chain offers specialty coffees, smoothies, freezes, teas, a private-label Dutch Bros Blue Rebel energy drink, nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee, and more. The Legends Outlets location at 1800 Prairie Crossing also features a double drive-thru.

• Jousting Pigs: The competition-quality craft barbecue restaurant opened its first Kansas location on Dec. 15, 2021, in the 7,468-square-foot building adjacent to the center at 1702 Village West Parkway. Jousting Pigs BBQ smokes meat fresh daily with hickory wood in a traditional all wood fire smoker, and has won numerous awards in barbecue competitions, including multiple perfect scores for their chicken and brisket.

• Love Tea: Locally owned bubble tea shop Love Tea opened its 507-square-foot location at 1811 Village West Parkway, Suite O-123 in December 2021. In addition to bubble tea, Love Tea offers fruit slushes, coffee, tea punch, fresh tea, dessert bowls and more.

• Dancing Crab: Cajun seafood restaurant and bar, Dancing Crab, opened at Legends Outlets in December 2021 at 1713 Village West Parkway. The menu highlights fresh seafood including shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, and more, as well as a variety of pastas, fried seafood baskets, and grilled seafood.

New tenants, opening in 2022:

• Petland and Your Pets Veterinary Clinic: Legends Outlets is expanding its specialty category in 2022 with the addition of Petland and Your Pets Vet. Petland will carry a wide selection of different pets including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, betta fish, and other small animals, while its veterinary clinic, Your Pets Vet, will offer services for small domestic animals. Both concepts are anticipated to open (in different retail spaces) within Legends Outlets this spring.

• Aerie: The popular intimate apparel and lifestyle retailer Aerie is tentatively planning a spring opening at Legends Outlets. The new location with carry size-inclusive bras, underwear, sleepwear, swimwear, activewear, and more, under the exclusive Aerie line.

• Tory Burch: Kansas City’s first and only Tory Burch storefront in the metro is relocating to a larger, permanent space at Legends Outlets this fall. Known for color, print and special details, the luxury designer outlet store offers ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, and accessories, at an incredible value. The look and feel of Tory Burch’s permanent location will mimic that of its new concept store in New York, which combines a modern space with signature decorative elements inspired by Burch’s personal life and travels.

• Rue21: Slated to open a storefront at Legends Outlets this year, Rue21 offers cool, casual apparel and the latest trends with an affordable price tag.

• Spencer’s: Spencer’s is a one-stop shop for the latest pop culture styles, unique gifts, and fun novelties. Known for its gag items and licensed merchandise from movies, TV and music, the gift shop is anticipated to open later this year.

  • Story from Legends Outlets

UG Commission approves Homefield development changes

Robb Heineman presented an updated view of the $150 million Homefield development project, on the site of the former Schlitterbahn waterpark, at Thursday’s Unified Government Commission meeting. A Margaritaville hotel and resort now is confirmed for the former Schlitterbahn site. The Perfect Game baseball development also is confirmed for the development.

The proposed Homefield building is a $60 million development now in the planning stages. The building now is planned to be east of its original location on State Avenue.

In a unanimous 9-0 vote, the Unified Government Commission on Thursday night approved the Homefield development agreement changes.

The project, at the former Schlitterbahn waterpark site and surrounding area, includes a bond request for $150 million. Youth sports tourism has been a major component of the project.

The Homefield project expanded to include an $85 million Margaritaville hotel and resort at the former waterpark site near 94th and State, according to Robb Heineman, who is leading the project for developers. Managing partners for the Homefield project are Greg Maday and Trey Bowen.

There has been an expansion of the baseball part of the project from $15 million to $40 million, with the additional of a Perfect Game development, according to Heineman. The Homefield building will be a $60 million development on the east side of 94th and State, a little east of its original location in plans.

Some of the other parts of the development include the Fairfield Inn, a Camping World RV retail location next to Menards, and the Millhouse apartments, with 270 units.

The STAR (sales tax revenue) bond request changed from the 2020 plans for $75 million in a first issuance and $55 million in a second issuance. The amount approved Thursday night was $130 million in a first issuance, to be followed by $20 million in a second issuance.

One of the reasons for this change, according to Katherine Carttar, UG economic development director, is to make sure the 2015 STAR Series B bonds at the Schlitterbahn site would be paid off and the UG would not be on the hook to pay them. First bond proceeds of the new issue will go to pay off the Series B bonds.

The Homefield project will pay $241,000 to the Unified Government in place of taxes for the first year, and through the years that amount will grow to $263,855 in the 10th year, according to UG officials. The baseball development will pay $106,703 to the UG in place of taxes the first year, growing to $116,699 in the 10th year.

Heineman said the development has committed to invest $4.35 million in projects on the east side of Kansas City, Kansas, in historically underserved areas. These would be investments in for-profit businesses. The UG Commission changed the original plan for UG administrative approval of these investments to a full Commission approval of them.

Among the benefits to the community, according to Todd LaSala, an outside counsel for the UG, would be a headquarters located in Wyandotte County, discounts for citizens on admission, outdoor and baseball components, including local teams in tournaments, and working with Wyandotte County school districts to provide access for events and training during nonpeak times. There also would be 500 tickets provided annually to the UG Parks and Recreation for admission to Homefield outdoor events.

Also, there are requirements for the development to include local, women and minority owned businesses as contractors. There is a penalty of 4 percent of the proceeds of the bonds if they do not use their best efforts to meet the goals, according to LaSala.

Heineman said the development is willing to work with local officials on other community ideas they may have.

Mayor Tyrone Garner asked for more information on the $4.35 million in investments the developer will be making on the east side of Kansas City, Kansas, and he pointed out that it is not a grant, and the developer could make a return on the investments.

Heineman said they were looking at each of the projects brought forward by the commission and local officials, and they intend to invest in quality projects that are good for the community. The $4.35 million would be a one-time investment, perhaps in several different projects.

Mayor Garner said he hoped they could see the need in Wyandotte County of the lack of affordable housing, needs of seniors, need for recreational programs, need to address homelessness and poverty, and make an annual investment, not just a one-time investment in the community.

Heineman pointed out that in past dealings with the UG involving the professional soccer facilities, he and his partners had worked collaboratively with the UG Commission on a program to build futsal courts that helped youth in every district of the community. They will be looking for programs that benefit the community this time, also.

He said he had a vision of developing this youth sports attraction into one of the best sports destinations in the United States.

Many different sorts of jobs will accompany the development, including medical office providers who may employ 100 or so persons in high-paying jobs; Camping World sales representatives who could make $200,000 a year; 500 to 600 employees at Margaritaville, which could expand to 2,000 jobs of different levels of wages.

The entire development now is close to $400 million, he said. He hopes it will be the largest tourist destination in the state of Kansas in four or five years, he added.

The Homefield development sent out a statement after the Thursday night vote:


“The Homefield partnership is proud to lead this project and is excited for what it means for the future of youth sports in our region. As a hometown company, we look forward to working with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and the State of Kansas to bring this first-of-its-kind athletic resort to Kansas City.

Consisting of world-class amenities, elite coaches and trainers, venues for multiple sports activities, and health and wellness innovations, the project will create an unparalleled sports experience for young athletes of all levels and their families.

A Margaritaville resort, developed by Homefield and Sunflower Development Group, LLC, will bring Kansas City its first premier resort destination catering to both local residents and visitors to the region for youth sports and family vacations.

We look forward to sharing more details on this transformational project in the near future.”

• Homefield Managing Partners Greg Maday and Trey Bowen

To see an earlier story about the Homefield development, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/150-million-homefield-project-expands-to-include-margaritaville-resort/

Job picture is improving, according to Rep. Davids and Workforce officials

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, left, visited with Workforce Partnership employees on Tuesday. (Photo from Rep. Davids’ office)
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, right, visited with Workforce Partnership employees on Tuesday. (Photo from Rep. Davids’ office)

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., toured Workforce Partnership Tuesday and sat down with the executive director to learn about the services they provide for both job seekers and employers in the Greater Kansas City Area.

With career centers in Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties, Workforce Partnership offers professional expertise and funding resources to employers and eligible job seekers. Rep. Davids currently serves as the chair of the Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access.

“The services provided by Workforce Partnership are exactly what our community needs to make sure employers can fill jobs and employees are supported, empowered, and uplifted,” Rep. Davids said. “I know many people in our community have changed career paths or had trouble hiring as a result of the pandemic. With the help of vaccinations, federal support, and local programs like Workforce Partnership, unemployment is decreasing and people are getting back to work. It was a pleasure to join Keely and her team today to see their work in action.”

During the tour, Rep. Davids stopped by the onsite Youth Center and met with Keely Schneider, executive director of Workforce Partnership, to hear about their job seeker services, employer services, and labor market data research.

Schneider highlighted the new RetainWorks Program, designed to assist individuals with temporary or permanent disability return to work, and the soon-to-launch RespectWorks Program, designed to provide intensive case management and career navigation for individuals released from the prison system in Kansas.

“Many people think that local workforce boards are only relevant when unemployment is high and job seekers are plentiful. On the contrary, workforce boards provide vital services to employers when the labor market is tight, like it is currently,” said Keely Schneider, executive director of Workforce Partnership. “Workforce Partnership is able to tap into talent pools that often go overlooked in a more balanced marketplace – such as individuals with criminal backgrounds or disabilities, or people who may not speak English well. Representative Davids understands that creation of highly skilled jobs is not only vital to our regional economic growth, but also a solid recipe for individual prosperity.”

2021 saw the sharpest one-year drop in unemployment in United States history, equaling 3.9% in December, while a total of 6.4 million new jobs were added, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages also rose in December, with the average hourly pay jumping 4.7% compared to a year ago.

Rep. Davids has supported bills in Congress that help employers and employees in the 3rd District, including:

• Introduced the Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act, which would increase access to resources and opportunities for female entrepreneurs in Kansas and across the country;
• Introduced two bipartisan bills, which passed the House, to help improve the Small Business Administration’s 504 Loan Program, which provides long-term, fixed rate financing for small businesses;
• Voted to pass the American Rescue Plan, which provided targeted relief to Kansans through a stronger Paycheck Protection Program, extended pandemic-related unemployment benefits, and grants to hard-hit industries such as restaurants and entertainment venues;
• Voted to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, which is expected to bring $3.8 billion to Kansas for infrastructure needs and will put 30,000 construction workers on the job in the Kansas City area;
• Announced the SBA Kansas City District Office reached $1.2 million in funding to small businesses in the Kansas Third District through 186 traditional loans for fiscal year 2021, creating 10,662 jobs in Kansas and Missouri.

  • Photos and story from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office