Gas price war on Leavenworth Road

Consumer news
Three gas stations on Leavenworth Road have what appears to be an old-fashioned gas price war.

Gas prices were down to $2.07 to $2.09 per gallon on Sunday on Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kan.

Other gas prices in the Kansas City, Kan., area were in the $2.20 to $2.26 range.

The gas stations’ locations:
56th lv
56th and Leavenworth Road, $2.07

59th lv -
59th and Leavenworth Road, $2.08

55th lv
55th and Leavenworth Road, $2.09

Residence Inn, Fuddruckers restaurant coming to Legends Outlets

A new Residence Inn, Verizon Wireless building and Fuddruckers restaurant are coming to The Legends Outlets, according to an announcement today.

“We are pleased to announce these new additions and believe they complement the incredible shopping and dining already available at Legends Outlets,” said Jessica Bachtel, marketing director of Legends Outlets Kansas City, in a news release.

The Residence Inn, a four-story, 108-room structure, will be located at 1875 Village West Parkway on the west side of Legends Outlets, across from the four-story parking garage near Yard House.

The new hotel, being built by Theraldson Hospitality Management, will have studio, one- and two-bedroom suites.

The new location is just blocks away from top area attractions in Village West, including The Legends Outlets stores and restaurants, Sporting Park, Community America Ballpark (home of the Kansas City T-Bones), Kansas Speedway, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Cabela’s, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Hollywood Casino and more. Residence Inn’s anticipated opening date is fall 2015.

Verizon Wireless is currently developing a freestanding location at 10621 Parallel Parkway on the north side of Legends Outlets, east of the four-story parking garage.

Fuddruckers has plans to return to the Kansas City area with a new location replacing the former Cheeseburger in Paradise.

Fuddruckers is owned by Luby’s Inc. with 74 company-operated locations and 110 Fuddruckers franchise locations nationwide.

Fuddruckers’ opening date details are currently pending confirmation. The restaurant features hamburgers, sandwiches, platters, salads and a “build your own” produce bar.

The construction site for the Residence Inn, a four-story, 108-room structure, which will be located at 1875 Village West Parkway on the west side of Legends Outlets, across from the four-story parking garage near Yard House.
The construction site for the Residence Inn, a four-story, 108-room structure, which will be located at 1875 Village West Parkway on the west side of Legends Outlets, across from the four-story parking garage near Yard House.

Verizon Wireless is currently developing a freestanding location at 10621 Parallel Parkway on the north side of Legends Outlets, east of the four-story parking garage. Across Parallel Parkway is the AT&T building.
Verizon Wireless is currently developing a freestanding location at 10621 Parallel Parkway on the north side of Legends Outlets, east of the four-story parking garage. Across Parallel Parkway is the AT&T building.

Cup on the Hill in downtown Kansas City, Kan., opens

At this morning’s ribbon-cutting for Cup on the Hill coffee shop at 730 Minnesota, Ave., Kansas City, Kan., were, left to right, Chuck Schlittler, Downtown Shareholders executive director (at the far left); former Mayor Joe Reardon; Jamina Bone, assistant café manager; Jessica Johnson, café manager; Steve Curtis, CHWC community director; U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. (Photo by William Crum)
At this morning’s ribbon-cutting for Cup on the Hill coffee shop at 730 Minnesota, Ave., Kansas City, Kan., were, left to right, Chuck Schlittler, Downtown Shareholders executive director (at the far left); former Mayor Joe Reardon; Jamina Bone, assistant café manager; Jessica Johnson, café manager; Steve Curtis, CHWC community director; U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. (Photo by William Crum)

by William Crum

Today marked a hallmark for downtown Kansas City, Kan.

There is a new coffee shop in the downtown area of Kansas City, Kan., called Cup on the Hill. Its opening at 730 Minnesota Ave. represents a new revitalization effort in downtown Kansas City, Kan.

A lot of residents will remember the days when Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., was the busiest shopping area in the state of Kansas. There were clothing stores for men, women and children. There were theaters and a number of pharmacies and grocery stores as well.

Today there was a ribbon-cutting for Cup on the Hill, a coffee shop in the former Katz building downtown.

“For a long time Minnesota Avenue was an eyesore in our community, plagued with empty shops. With the help of CHWC and other civic leaders a new coffee shop emerged,” said Steve Curtis of CHWC. “This coffee shop is unlike anything else in the Kansas City metropolitan area, a place where you can go downtown and have a great cup of coffee and good conversation as well. This coffee shop is part of the revitalization of the downtown Kansas City, Kan., area. What we did is we partnered up with Jamina Bone, who had a dream; a dream that is truly dedicated to the community.”

“I always had a dream to create a coffee shop in the community by which I live, to employ young people who could not normally get a job because of their disadvantages,” Bone said. “Soon we will start a new program. A program that would teach those youth with disadvantages how to write a resume, how to go our interview, and it also teaches them good work ethics, which is needed in today’s ever-changing global economy.”

It’s not just a coffee shop, but also an opportunity for area youth, according to Bone.

“We are really proud to be a part of the community,” Bone said.

Also on hand at the ribbon-cutting was U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.

“Kansas City, Kan., is really making things happen. I’m really pleased to see this is going to be good for the community and Wyandotte County as well. This coffee shop is definitely going to be a big asset to the community as well,” Sen. Moran said.

Because of the efforts of CHWC, a new resurgence of development in downtown Kansas City, Kan., may soon be a possibility, according to officials.

The new coffee shop is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

It was all smiles at Friday morning’s ribbon cutting for the Cup on the Hill coffee shop at 730 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan.  Handling the scissors were Jamina Bone, assistant café manager and (partly hidden) Jessica Johnson, café manager.  Television crews and more than 100 guests were present, including, from right, ribbon holder CHWC CEO and Executive Director Donny Smith, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, CHWC Community Director Steve Curtis, the café managers, former KCK Mayor Joe Reardon and Downtown Shareholders Executive Director Chuck Schlittler, who held one end of the ribbon. (Staff photo)
It was all smiles at Friday morning’s ribbon cutting for the Cup on the Hill coffee shop at 730 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Handling the scissors were Jamina Bone, assistant café manager and (partly hidden) Jessica Johnson, café manager. Television crews and more than 100 guests were present, including, from right, ribbon holder CHWC CEO and Executive Director Donny Smith, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, CHWC Community Director Steve Curtis, the café managers, former KCK Mayor Joe Reardon and Downtown Shareholders Executive Director Chuck Schlittler, who held one end of the ribbon. (Staff photo)

The new Cup on the Hill coffee shop at 730 Minnesota Ave. is located on the first floor of the former Katz building in downtown Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by William Crum)
The new Cup on the Hill coffee shop at 730 Minnesota Ave. is located on the first floor of the former Katz building in downtown Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by William Crum)

The detail from the Cup on the Hill coffee shop sign at the new shop open at 730 Minnesota Ave. (Photo by William Crum)
The detail from the Cup on the Hill coffee shop sign at the new shop open at 730 Minnesota Ave. (Photo by William Crum)

The new Cup on the Hill coffee shop includes seating for patrons. (Photo by William Crum)
The new Cup on the Hill coffee shop includes seating for patrons. (Photo by William Crum)

Artwork inside the Cup on the Hill coffee shop showed some Kansas City, Kan., buildings. (Photo by William Crum)
Artwork inside the Cup on the Hill coffee shop showed some Kansas City, Kan., buildings. The painting is by Elaine Grisnik, from Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by William Crum)

Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., in its heyday included the former Katz building, on the left. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)
Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., in its heyday included the former Katz building, on the left. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)

Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., in its heyday included the former Katz building, on the left. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)
Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., in its heyday included the former Katz building, on the left. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)

Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., in its heyday included the former Katz building, on the left. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)
Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan., in its heyday included the former Katz building, on the left. (Photo courtesy of Wyandotte County Museum)