Waldo Welcomes Studio by Dan Meiners

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Mary Hutchison

One of Kansas City’s premier floral shops recently relocated to Waldo…welcome Studio Dan Meiners Floral and Events at 7432 Wornall! You may remember Dave Smith The Lampmaker was in this spot for over 50 years, closing in January 2020. This space has been remodeled and refreshed, and the friendly staff is ready to meet you and serve their new neighborhood.

Dan Meiners started his floral business many years ago, selling stems from the back of his car. He’s retired now, after growing the business over the years into a multi faceted company. Sure, you can walk in and grab a fresh bouquet or order a delivery, but Studio Dan Meiners does so much more. The staff will help you plan large and small events: special occasions like weddings, showers, anniversaries, corporate and private parties. Working with you on the theme of the event, they will design and oversee every detail: arranging for tables, chairs, linens, glassware, music, food, photography as well as all the flower decor. Gale Nation, one of the managers, explained the reason for the move from their former space on West Pennway near Union Station: “ We wanted a retail space in addition to our production space, and wanted to be in a walkable, friendly area. We looked at several spaces and after seeing this one, and it made sense to move here to Wornall and Waldo”.

Because Studio Dan Meiners is known for its stunning floral displays, I wanted to spend some time talking to head floral designer Justin McGuire. He’s been with the company for 25 years, starting off doing arrangements and now overseeing every floral order and design. What is Justin’s biggest challenge in this business? “Weddings” he replied, “Getting the flowers in, ordering them on time and keeping them fresh and in peak condition until the big day. Sometimes we may have to make adjustments at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. It’s a physically demanding job too, to get everything perfectly in place, especially the large floral archways and hanging flowers from ceilings and light fixtures. Every design has a recipe card, outlining exactly how many of each flower goes into the bouquet or display and we want everything to be perfect! ”. Often he and his staff get creative using personal objects in arrangement, such as incorporating a fishing lure or hat in a funeral floral display. And when the big event is over, the flowers are often donated to local hospitals, nursing homes or composted.

At this new location, the staff is planning to host pop up events and various classes open to the public. Those include how to create Terrariums (very popular now), seasonal wreaths, indoor plant arrangements and arrange a fresh flower vase. You can sign up for their email list to stay current on what’s happening. This new spot also has a display of grab and go gifts for sale, such as earrings, sweets, snacks, cards and candles from the Midwest area.

Stop in and say hello the next time you are in the area…or give Studio Dan Meiners Design and Floral a call if you need help with anything from a simple floral delivery to an upcoming special event. They are ready to help!

**From left: Ashely Ritchie, Kimberly Ransdell, Gale Nation, Justin McGuire**

Annual Brookside St Pat’s Celebration is Saturday!

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Mary Hutchison

Now in it’s 44th year, the annual St Patrick’s Warm Up Parade is happening this Saturday, March 14 at 2pm. .. plan to join the fun! I love this year’s theme: Leprechaun Cup: Going For The Gold. Sounds like a tribute to Kansas City being the host of so much international soccer activity this summer!

This is a big family event for our neighborhood and everyone is welcome. There are usually around 100 entries in the parade; it lasts a couple of hours! You’ll see dancers, classic cars, floats, bag pipers, dressed up kids and adults all joining in the fun. There will be lots of pedestrians walking and cars parked all along the side streets with some streets closed to traffic–see the parade route below. Note the extra cars and kids and bikes in the area and drive extra carefully.

Thank you to everyone who helps make this annual event happen! Local celebrations like this make Brookside the special unique neighborhood it is.

Unique New Bar Concept Opens In Waldo

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Mary Hutchison

The best bars always seem to be the place where “everybody knows your name”…. the local joints that give you a sincere greeting when walking in; where you can banter with the staff while enjoying friendly, efficient service. And that’s exactly what you will find at Waldo’s newest bar, Audrey’s Wine+Bourbon.

Waldo residents Laura and Howard Turley, owners of the nearby 75th Street Events, opened Audrey’s in January. It’s a small, clubby space with comfortable seating and large windows overlooking the street parade along 75th. It’s also a very unique bar because of the concept: try a flight of three bourbons along with a glass of wine. Never done that? This is the place to try it! The Turley’s and their bartenders are ready to guide you. “No one does pairings like this” explains Howard, “here’s where we have fun! We greet each person and talk you through how it works and what to expect with the tastings. Most of our bourbons you can’t find anywhere else in the city–we even have an organic, kosher bourbon! Our collection of specially curated wines come from around the world. We are here to create a very new and different tasting experience for every customer’. The flights offer three bourbons, one glass of wine and a Laura Little’s chocolate; there are pairings as well. You can create your own combination of bourbon and wine or select an option from the menu. Of course you can also order wines by the glass and there are five specialty cocktails; The Smoking Gun is their own signature mix up.

The Turleys are working on having live music every Thursday night–performances that don’t overpower the room and allow for conversations in a normal voice! They also plan to offer small charcuterie plates from Salumi Rose, another local Waldo shop nearby. At this point they are focused on getting to know their customers and “bringing it all to life” , through individual tasting experiences and interactions with the bar staff. Audrey’s Wine + Bourbon is located at 404 W 75th St, just across from Chipotle. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 4-10:30pm and Friday/Saturday 4-midnight. Parking is available in the lot next to the building; note that Audrey’s is a cashless bar. Stop in soon and try a different bar experience!

**From left, Laura and Howard Turley and two of their very personable bartenders**

Get Ready for another Waldo Week!

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Mary Hutchison

Waldo is home to over 300 businesses–most of them are small, locally owned shops and restaurants. The annual Waldo Week is a great time to get out and explore some places you may not be familiar with…or make a stop at one of your favorites. Many places will be offering special deals and promotional offers during Waldo Week.

The Waldo Week kick off event is tonight at 75th St Events from 5-8pm, at 214 W 75th St. You are welcome to stop by and enjoy some music, snacks and drinks. Also note that every Waldo Week designates a non profit for donations; this year it’s Gilda’s Club Kansas City, an organization that offers various programs to those dealing with cancer. You can check out the list of businesses with special deals here. Thank you for supporting our local Waldo merchants!

Cheema’s Mini Market Open at 63rd and Oak

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Mary Hutchison

Many Brookside residents will remember the old 7-11 store at the corner of Oak and 63rd St. As the years went on, the place was neglected by its out of town owners: dirty floors, trash outside, unstocked shelves; many folks just didn’t feel comfortable stepping inside. Now under new management, the owners of Cheema’s Mini Market promise that won’t happen to their shop!

I stopped by recently to meet the new owners, Adnan and Adeel Cheema. The brothers have lots of experience running this type of operation-since 1998, they have owned and managed several gas stations in Kansas City KS. When the opportunity came up to take over this location, they put in an offer. Their first official opening day was December 23. It took many months to get the store in shape to meet their high standards. Adnan noted they spent about $200,000 renovating the store, adding all new lighting, shelves, flooring, equipment and a new cashier area. “We feel our job as local owners is to protect the neighborhood. All employees undergo background checks” and both of the brothers spend a lot of time in the store assisting customers and making sure everything is clean and in order. “The neighbors have been great” says Adnan, “they are excited we are finally open and they like the upgrades”.

Inside Cheema’s, you’ll find all the usual quick stop items: various food products, beverages, pet food, ice cream, milk, prepackaged sandwiches and burritos. The best selling items? “Energy drinks and candy” says Adnan. You’ll also find charcoal and propane, tobacco products, paper goods..and maybe a few impulse buy items! Adnan is adding a slushy machine and is working on getting a liquor license. He also wants customers to suggest stocking items they don’t have–the brothers encourage suggestions from their customers! Sometime this spring, Cheema’s will have a grand opening for the neighborhood.

In the meantime you can stop by anytime and check out the store–they are open 24/7! Cheema’s Mini Market is located at 319 E 63rd St.

Restaurant Week Starts This Friday!

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Mary Hutchison

It’s the first blog of 2026…and once again, time to promote Kansas City’s Restaurant Week! It always seems to sneak up on us just after the busy holiday season. KC Restaurant Week is the time to try out a new eatery with family, friends–or just get carry out or delivery if you don’t feel like socializing!! A portion of the revenues benefit this year’s selected non profit reStart. This organization helps the homeless in the area with housing, counseling, street outreach services, meals and emergency shelter.

This year you can enjoy a multi course lunch or dinner meal, starting as low as $20! Scroll through the website and see what appeals to you–most places have the special Restaurant Week menus posted. In our area, these locally owned Brookside/Waldo restaurants are participating:

Summit Grill, Plate, Aixois Bistro, City Barrel Pizza + Patio, Red Door Grill, Lew’s Bar and Grill, Cru Bistro and Bottles, Charlie Hooper’s, and Plate.

Kansas City Restaurant Week starts Friday January 9 and continues through Sunday January 18. Make reservations soon-many places fill up fast, especially on the weekends.

The Shop Small Crawl Starts Tomorrow in Waldo!

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Mary Hutchison

It’s an annual event, open to all! People love Waldo for it’s unique and quirky shops and restaurants…and it’s walkability. The Shop Small Waldo Crawl starts tomorrow (Thursday December 4) and continues through Saturday.

There are several Waldo businesses offering giveaways and special deals, so as you browse and shop be sure to ask about the Shop Small promotion. A few of the participating businesses are Green Utopia, Callie Mae’s Barkery, Armour Oaks, Eclectics, Bramble and Stem and Boru. Thank you for supporting our locally owned businesses in Waldo!

Welcome to Brookside – Luca Bagel Co.

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside loves bagels! And finally, the long awaited Luca Bagel has opened at 633 E 63rd St. It’s a real treat to have a freshly baked bagel–and we are lucky this storefront landed in our neighborhood. If you shop at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market, you’ve likely seen the very long lines at their pop up tent on Saturdays. This is a high quality, Jersey style bagel that people will wait in line for.

Luke Salvatore is the owner of Luca Bagel; if that name sounds familiar, it’s because he and his brother operate Providence Pizza in Grandview , and have since expanded to two other locations. A few years ago, Luke began experimenting with various recipes and started selling the bagels on Saturday mornings at the Grandview restaurant. Talking with friends involved with the OP Farmer’s Market, he decided to open a stand there on Saturdays. Word spread about the tasty treats and long lines started forming well before the market’s 7:30am official open time. At this point, Luke was still baking at the Grandview store and with the “massive” response to the OP pop up, he started to look for a brick and mortar location. He thought the Brookside would be a good spot because customers spoke fondly of the old Bagel and Bagel store that was here for many years. Plus, he knew the neighborhood liked to support local businesses. When the former Mattie’s vegan restaurant space opened up–it was “the right place at the right time” according to Luke. I asked him how many bagels they typically bake over the weekend–about 4000 pieces.

Besides your typical bagel toppings (a gluten free option is available too), Luca sells breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Popular breakfast orders include the traditional bacon, egg and cheese option and the tomato, cucumber, lox, onions and capers combination. Lunch sandwiches feature a pastrami on bagel and the “Jersey pork roll”, offering thinly sliced, Taylor ham shipped in from New Jersey. And for a sweet treat–the traditional black and white cookie is baked on site! This new location can be as popular as the OP market site; peak busy times are Saturday and Sunday around 10am so plan accordingly!

Stop by Luca Bagel, 633 E 63rd St, and check it out–the vibe inside is laid back and relaxed, with a friendly staff and catchy music on the sound system. This place definitely has it’s own funky personality. Luca Bagel is open every day except Monday.

Start Your Holiday Shopping in Brookside This Weekend

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Mary Hutchison

This is the way to holiday shop: early in the seaon, in locally owned shops and in a festive atmosphere!! This weekend is the Brookside Holiday Season Opener and you are invited!

The festivities kick off tomorrow (Thursday November 13) at 5pm with live music, a visit from Santa, sweet treats and the official tree lighting at 6pm at Bank Midwest Plaza, 6246 Brookside Plaza, just west of Cru Bistro and Bottles.

Our local merchants are offering food specials, giveaways, complimentary refreshments, merch discounts and fresh holiday gift ideas all weekend–so come by and join in the fun! The Holiday Season Opener runs through Sunday.

Thank you for supporting our local Brookside restaurants, shops and services throughout the year. The holiday season is a special time to browse and buy–starting this weekend!

Kansas City Marathon Will Stall Traffic Tomorrow

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Mary Hutchison

It’s the big one….the Garmin Kansas City Marathon happens tomorrow, Saturday October 18, and will delay traffic through KC’s core from 7am through the early afternoon.

You can find the course map here; it’s a challenge to see with the small print because this run covers SO many streets. Expect streets to be blocked off from the City Market south through 75th St; and Broadway/Ward Parkway east to the Paseo.

Plan accordingly!!! More info at the website.

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

What's Happening In Brookside and Waldo (Kansas City, Missouri)

Category Archives: Brookside Community News