It's been a topic of conversation in the past, but with so many more PlazaBUZZ followers, perhaps we should revisit the topic. The great tradition of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City has always been one of preeminence when it comes to shopping and entertainment. It is a bastion of Kansas City culture.
And yet, there is a debate about the type of businesses that should be here.
On one hand, you have the residents on or near the Plaza. Few of us want to see more national brands, for we know that we can get them at Town Center or Zona Rosa or any number of other locations (or, for that matter, any other city). Do we really need another national restaurant chain or a Forever 21? We want local flavor.
On the other hand, the managing entity of the Plaza claims that the tourists that visit want to shop at the national brands. And, since the tourists, they say, spend more money on the Plaza than the residents, the tourists are the reason that we have a Cheesecake, Fogo, PF, Coach, et al.
So, BUZZers, what say you? I've added a poll on the right side of the page for your votes. Feel free to comment below!
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5 comments:
I'll start off my comment by saying that I, as a Kansas City resident who lives no more than 5 minutes from the Plaza, I'd love to see a Plaza full of nothing but bustling local businesses.
Unfortunately for me, this dream could never be a reality. Why? For the same reason the Plaza went from local businesses to national brands in the first place: demand.
Tourists, as you call them, and even many Plaza locals who have transplanted from the 'burbs or other cities entirely, want those big brands. They want J. Crew instead of Michael's. They want McDonalds instead of Town Topic.
And they say over and over again that they want these MegaCorps to stay by voting with their dollars. The truth is that tourists and the big chains have kept the Plaza afloat for years now. Without them, the Plaza as we know it would fade into obscurity -- and with it would go the duck race, the art fair and everything else that I love about the lovely neighborhood just to my North.
So do I wish there were more local businesses for me to support? Sure. But will I also accept the big chains as a necessary evil if it helps keep a KC icon alive and thriving?
Absolutely.
I think it has to be a mix of the best of the best chains that you don't find elsewhere in this market at a variety of levels from everyday to high end - Zara, Club Monaco, H&M, Tori Burch, Barneys, Ted Baker, Trader Joes, etc. Think South Coast Plaza in Orange County. It needs to be mixed with the best of the best local boutiques and restaurants. That will give it the balance it needs to pull in tourists, while exposing tourists and locals alike to the great things KC has to offer. I'm tired of KC being considered to dinky to support great retail. We can.
Previous post I mean - too dinky. I hate spelling errors.
I'd love to see a mix, but if they want locals to spend more dollars on the Plaza, then give us some stores that we need on a more regular basis... like a Trader Joe's or a Beverages & More or a Dean & Deluca.
I can't comprehend visiting a city and not wanting to experience and immerse one's self in the local culture/cuisine. Disappointing that the apparent mass of tourists don't. How dull!
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