Halloween store pops up at Legends

Halloween Express, a pop-up store, has opened at The Legends Outlets. (Courtesy photo)
Halloween Express, a pop-up store, has opened at The Legends Outlets. (Courtesy photo)

Halloween Express, a seasonal store offering Halloween merchandise, has opened at The Legends Outlets, at I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kan.

The store is a “pop-up” location that will remain open through the first week of November 2014, according to a spokesman for The Legends Outlets.

It is located in an 8,337-square-foot space next to Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen at 1855 Village West Parkway, G101. The site was formerly occupied by the Backfire BBQ restaurant.

Halloween Express offers costumes, decorations, accessories and party items, updated each year to reflect current product trends.

Other new stores to open at The Legends Outlets include Jose Pepper’s restaurant and Eddie Bauer Outlet shop, opening in November.

AT&T opens its first Kansas ‘Store of the Future’ in KCK

A ribbon-cutting was held at the new AT&T store in Kansas City, Kan.  It is AT&T's first "Store of the Future" in Kansas. (Staff photo)
A ribbon-cutting was held at the new AT&T store in Kansas City, Kan. It is AT&T’s first “Store of the Future” in Kansas. (Staff photo)

by Mary Rupert

Entering the new AT&T store, you first see an electric guitar. It’s in the middle of a table where shoppers can see for themselves how electronic devices work with it.

It’s a zone where visitors can look at products, and try them out, and it’s the first clue that this isn’t a typical store.

The new AT&T store at 10620-A Parallel Parkway is not like the former one in The Legends. There is no cash register, no counter, no book of sales receipts, and no fliers around the store. This is the store of the future, according to AT&T, and it focuses on the mobile lifestyle of customers.

AT&T opened the first Kansas “Store of the Future” at Plaza at the Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., with a ribbon-cutting this morning.

“We’re thrilled to be part of the first ‘Store of the Future’ in Kansas,” said Mike Scott, AT&T Kansas president, at the ribbon-cutting.

Two years went into researching the concept. The store is modeled on retail concepts developed in Chicago, according to AT&T officials. Soon, there will be other stores like it in other areas in Kansas.

Chris Lester of AT&T media relations said the Kansas City, Kan., location was chosen for the first Kansas store because there’s so much retail activity here.

In the new store, there are no barriers between the customers, the products and the retail consultants, according to Kevin Massie, director of sales. The sales force uses tablets to produce electronic receipts, although paper receipts will be available on request. The tablets have a new mobile point-of-sale system, and payments can be made from wherever the customer is.

There are three store zones. One is the “connected experience” area for everyday life where customers can see products that work in their lives, such as entertainment and home security products. Another is called the “community zone,” where shoppers look at devices and apps on display on tables, and a third area is the “explore zone,” where devices and apps are on walls of products, with digital monitors.

“It’s designed for you to integrate the technology in your life,” Massie said.

You can learn, for example, how it’s possible to program your electronic devices to view visitors at the door, unlock the door, turn on the lights, and then lock the door again – all without being anywhere near your home.

Throughout the store, posters and fliers have been replaced by screens that stream videos.

AT&T mentioned that the new Apple iPhone 6, launching soon, could be pre-ordered beginning today at att.com/iPhone. When store sales start, it will be available at the AT&T store. New phone features include faster speeds and the ability to make payments.

Massie said the company has had more than $800 million of investment in Kansas City area wireless and wire line networks since 2010.

State Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., welcomed AT&T, saying that he was extremely excited about the new store, that AT&T had been a great partner, and he thanked AT&T for investing in the community.

AT&T is on the west side of the new building at 106th and Parallel Parkway, with Starbucks on the east side. The new AT&T store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

AT&T Kansas President Mike Scott, left, with Rep. Tom Burroughs, right, and Rep. Pam Curtis, center, at today's grand opening ceremony at 106th and Parallel Parkway. (Staff photo)
AT&T Kansas President Mike Scott, left, with Rep. Tom Burroughs, right, and Rep. Pam Curtis, center, at today’s grand opening ceremony at 106th and Parallel Parkway. (Staff photo)

Visitors to the AT&T store may see a guitar, and see how it works together with electronic devices. (Staff photo)
Visitors to the AT&T store may see a guitar, and see how it works together with electronic devices. (Staff photo)

Kevin Massie, director of sales, said there are no barriers between customers, sales associates and the products in the new store. (Staff photo)
Kevin Massie, director of sales, said there are no barriers between customers, sales associates and the products in the new store. (Staff photo)

A home-like area in the new AT&T store discusses how a device can be used to turn off lights or lock the door remotely. (Staff photo)
A home-like area in the new AT&T store discusses how a device can be used to turn off lights or lock the door remotely. (Staff photo)

Pat Crilly, left, who was with a Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce group at the ribbon-cutting, viewed products on display at the new AT&T store. (Staff photo)
Pat Crilly, left, who was with a Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce group at the ribbon-cutting, viewed products on display at the new AT&T store. (Staff photo)

The new AT&T store at 106th and Parallel Parkway is on the west side of a new building. On the east side is a Starbucks shop. (Staff photo)
The new AT&T store at 106th and Parallel Parkway is on the west side of a new building. On the east side is a Starbucks shop. (Staff photo)

Former Mayor Joe Reardon took a snapshot at today's tour of the new AT&T store at 106th and Parallel. (Staff photo)
Former Mayor Joe Reardon took a snapshot at today’s tour of the new AT&T store at 106th and Parallel. (Staff photo)

Food truck allowed in downtown KCK today

The Downtown Shareholders’ plan to have a food truck lunch downtown today went to a vote of the Unified Government Commission on Thursday night.

The plan was approved, 7-1, for a food truck from Indios Carbonsitos to be located from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Sept. 12, in the parking lot across from the Hilton Garden Inn at 5th and Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

The Downtown Shareholders have three special events planned with food trucks, and have had to change the location from near Huron Park to the parking lot at 5th and Minnesota, according to the UG.

Commissioner Gayle Townsend of the 1st District voted against the effort after asking questions about the food truck’s effect on the nearby restaurants, including one inside the Hilton Garden Inn, and also about the need for parking space in that parking lot with conventions taking place. A religious convention was there this week.

She was in favor of discussing this issue more at the standing committee level.

Mayor Mark Holland remarked that he looked at food trucks as similar issues to carports and the third dog that people want. He said there could be a better way than bringing a food truck issue to the commission every time someone wants one.

He suggested finding out the best practices, adopting a policy and letting the UG staff decide on future food truck requests.