Category Archives: Brookside Community News

Pizza Tascio Now Open in Waldo

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Everyone seems to have their favorite type of pizza: some prefer a very thin crust with light toppings; some want deep dish; others crave a thicker, chewy crust heavy with cheese, meat and veggies.

And then there is New York style pizza, which is what you will find at Waldo’s newest pizza place, Pizza Tascio at 409 W Gregory.  What defines New York style?  According to owner Erik Borger, who grew up in New York City, a NY style pizza  features a “thin crust, definitely foldable,  with light toppings and a crispy, flavor filled crust.” Are you craving a slice yet???

Erik’s “obsession” (yes he used that word) with perfecting his type of pizza started years ago.  He was caring for his father who was battling cancer.  Dad and son were craving the pizza tastes of their younger days growing up in NYC, so Erik decided to make his own.   At one point he had six commercial ovens in the garage at his St Joseph home, trying to figure out the perfect temperatures and flavors.  When he finally  got the recipe right, he opened the first Pizza Tascio there in 2021.  In 2022 he opened a second location on Burlington in North KC and the Waldo location is…#7 in the metro area!  I asked Erik if he was a bit exhausted and overwhelmed with the fast growth.  “This location has been much busier than I expected. It’s far exceeded my expectations and we haven’t been open that long.  However, I have a really good team and they keep everything running smoothly”. 

There are a few unique things about this pizza to note.  First, he offers one size of pie-18”.  Most “large” size pizzas are smaller than that, so even though the cost is a little higher, you are getting more of a high quality product.  These large pies are divided 8 ways for slices, and at Pizza Tascio you will get a large slice for as little as $5!  The superior ingredients Erik uses make a big difference that you can taste:  meats are sourced from Paradise Meats in Trimble MO; organic Napoli tomatoes from California, and he uses only 100% whole milk mozzarella.  I asked Erik about the phrase “no BS added” to the cheese he uses as stated on the website. He explained that most cheese has a fungicide added to prevent mold; he only uses cheese without any chemicals added.  It took a while but he found a source for his chemical free cheese…that is his strict dedication to perfection.   The menu focuses on various pizza combos of course, including an “upside down” pizza;  there’s a salad option, a dessert pizza and cheesy breadsticks.  You can dine in or pick up curbside.

Pizza Tascio is located in the former Classic Cookie spot at 409 W Gregory. Hours are Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm. 

Big Plans for Wornall Road and 75th St–New Apartment Building and Streetscape

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The Waldo Area Business Assn has a new District Manager, Sean Anderson. He’s in charge of the Waldo CID (Community Improvement District) and will monitor two large, connected projects slated to start next month centered around the busy intersection of 75th  St and Wornall Rd. Read on for details about these plans, which will affect transit and pedestrian traffic at this location for the next several months.

The Waldo Road Improvements work has been planned for years. From 74th to 79th St along Wornall, you’ll eventually see much needed changes: a better streetscape and more landscaping; new LED streetlights, new and wider sidewalks, new traffic signals and a reconstructed Wornall Road in this area to improve traffic flow.  Water main lines will also be replaced from 75th-77th St.    According to the KCMO Engineering Division web page, work should begin later this year. (It was supposed to start in 2016—we all know how slowly government tackles projects!)

Sean Anderson

And around the same time….the entire block The Well sits on will be torn down and demolished to make way for a large apartment complex.

The EPC Real Estate Group is building 278 units at this corner; the complex is currently referred to as Waldo 74 Broadway.  This same company built the apartments called 51 Main, on top of the Whole Foods.  Yes, this project is tax abated and 20% of the units will be “affordable housing”. There will be studios, one and two bedroom apartments.  Plans also include a 364 slot parking garage, a courtyard in the middle of the apartments and The Well will be rebuilt at the base  with a covered rooftop. At the same time, the parking area/bus transit station directly in front of The Well will be enhanced, with a better defined Trolley Track Trail route and a “transit shack” for bus drivers to relax and take a break.  Sean tells me demolition for this project is scheduled for early next month.  Once these projects get going, he hopes to have a landing page on the WABA website for public updates.

Sean left a job in Wyandotte County to work for Waldo; he was developing programs for homeless persons with mental health and substance abuse changes.   He lives in Waldo, plays several instruments, has two bands (The Road Show Drifters and Rumble Ghost) and recently got engaged. Originally from Denver, he loves living in Waldo and is looking forward to meeting more area business owners and residents.   

Once demolition and construction begins at 75th and Wornall—this area will be even more of a mess to drive (and walk!) through.  Be patient and plan new routes accordingly!

KCMO Planning Changes to Trolley Track Trail

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Last week there was a public open house/meeting with city representatives regarding proposed changes for the route of the Trolley Track Trail in Brookside. The goal is to continuously connect the trail between 62nd Terrace (the street that Cosentino’s is on) and Meyer Blvd. The project is part of the larger 2019 63rd St Corridor plans.

I went to the open house and learned quite a bit, although overall it was somewhat confusing. There are a few possible ways the Trail can be rerouted, and the City wants public input. Instead of having the actual trail basically stop at 62nd, and then resume south of Meyer is what the City wants changed. They prefer one continuous path rather than having users go through parking lots. There were several stations set up in the room, with poster boards, drawings, and city reps there to answer questions and explain the various options . Participants were asked to visit the stations and then complete a two page questionnaire indicating their preferences and opinions.

I did take a couple of photos of the poster boards but they may not translate well here. Most people had to look closely at the drawings and then ask several questions about “where is this area” (the posters didn’t include named landmarks like Commerce Bank, Michael Forbes, etc,) and “what is option 1 and 2 and option A and B mean? ” I’ll just give you the basic ideas and choices, which include:

*possibly removing one or two tennis courts

*altering some green space

*making Brookside Plaza (between 62nd and 63rd St) a one way street, north or south

*removing some parking in the lot behind Red Door Grill

*adding parallel parking along Brookside Rd between Meyer and 63rd (by the tennis courts and school)

*adding raised medians

Also note that the Trolley Track Trail project should blend in with current plans for on street bike lanes and a “road diet” for Meyer Blvd.

Those hosting the meeting were very knowledgeable about the various options and patient answering questions. Paperwork handed out noted that “funding and a construction timeline have not been determined. KCMO is confident additional funding will be identified to complete the design in 2024”. Construction would start in 2025. There should be more community open houses for feedback in the future. I tried to find info on those on the KCMO webpage/Engineering Division but it doesn’t appear to be updated. Perhaps they aren’t planned yet.

The Trolley Track Trail is a huge asset to Brookside–it is a very desirable amenity for the neighborhood and is in constant use. Creating a 12 foot wide pedestrian trail in the parking lot will defiantly affect how businesses in that area receive deliveries of products and food. Where will the delivery trucks stage for drop offs? Taking parking away and routing vehicles one way, plus limiting turns and access will push cars to the nearby residential streets. Also, how does a potential streetcar expansion affect these plans? And what is the price tag for the project? I appreciate KCMO is soliciting resident input, as it should be. Future meetings should be posted widely on social media, the city website (preferable the home page–where all community meeting should be posted) and even mailed to city residents like the voting cards for elections. And after any design is finalized, residents and businesses should have additional input before the plan is put in place.

I tried to find an info page on the City website to copy and paste here for reference; it wasn’t working. You can google Trolley Track Trail improvements and find local TV coverage from the meeting. If I find out about any other informative meeting related to the project, I will post about them!

New Children’s Consignment Shop Opens in Waldo

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Several of the new businesses that have opened in Brookside and Waldo over the past few months are women owned (Ampersand, Roots and Branches, LADYCO has expanded); the new Executive Director of the Waldo Business Assn is also female.   Women are getting it done!!  Today I’m writing about Sharing Sunshine, another female owned business that actually started a few years ago online and recently opened a storefront in Waldo.

Kristen Moon and Kristen Sayers, Sharing Sunshine

Kristen Moon and Kristen Sayers met several years ago while working in the NICU at Children’s Mercy Hospital.  They also live across the street from each other in Prairie Village.  Having seven young children between them, Kristen and Kristen decided to start an online consignment store focusing on high end children’s clothing (think Hannah Anderson, Beaufort and Bonnet, Bailey Boys, Boden, Pink Chicken, Burberry).  In 2022, they began the business with 100 items online and then moved to doing pop up events and selling via Instagram.  There was so much demand for the clothes and the inventory was filling up their homes, so last fall they started looking for a physical store to open.  This space in Waldo at 407 W Gregory (next to new Pizza Tascio) is the perfect spot: just the right size, no renovation was needed and it’s close to their homes.  As a bonus, the  majority of their clients live within 15 minutes of the shop.

Part of the inspiration for Sharing Sunshine came from their experience of going to the huge warehouse consignment sales.  “They were so large, so tiring to get through the inventory and you had to pay extra to get in early for the best selection.  We knew there was a better way—especially since so many parents want to recycle these clothes that are often worn just a few times before the kids outgrow them” says Moon. They have over 200 active consigners, and sell gently used clothing ranging from infant through size 16 –through the early teen years. Sometimes they receive items with the original tags that have never been worn! 

Kristen and Kristen love getting to know their customers and provide a very high level of service.  If they know a particular customer is looking for a specific item or brand,  they will watch for those items to come through.  They also offer personal shopping, occasional 20% off promotions and there are racks of sale items  in the store—inventory comes in almost every day!  And of course, any unsold items will be returned to the seller or donated to charity. Note-the shop is usually always in need of more boys’ clothes.

Right now Sharing Sunshine doesn’t have set hours however, you can check Google for weekly hour updates.  Also, follow them on Instagram (sharingsunshinekc)  for up to the minute information. Welcome to Waldo Sharing Sunshine! 

It’s Ice Cream Season–Stop by Brookside’s Newest Treat Shop!

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Did you make a career change due to the COVID 19 pandemic? Jessica and Alex Wood did—and Brookside is better off for it! Their new ice cream shop is called French Custard.

Alex and Jessica Wood, owners of French Custard

Pre pandemic, the Woods were living in Manhattan NYC; the couple had their own e- commerce clothing line, Discourse NYC.  Jessica says they always like to “make our own stuff: we bake our own bread, make our own pizza, we ferment stuff” so when COVID hit and they reassessed priorities, the pair moved to Kansas City (where they are both from) and decided to make their own ice cream. “It was a COVID project” Jessica explains, “we love French custard ice cream, which is very popular in New York. There are so many artisan ice cream shops there and we missed being able to walk to our favorite spot for a  treat”.  Alex’s grandmother found an old 1980s ice cream maker in her basement (complete with instructions on a video cassette!!) and they started experimenting.  They gave samples to friends, hosted several pop ups and based on the enthusiastic response, decided to open a storefront. 

There are two different styles of ice cream, Jessica explains.  The “Philadelphia style” is  most common in the US—this style does not use eggs and does use a lot of stabilizers for consistency.  Jessica and Alex prefer the French custard style, which uses only eggs, milk, cream, and sugar— no other additives.  You can really tell the difference too: French Custard tastes very natural, fresh, and clean—rich and smooth with that special homemade burst of flavor.  All of their ice cream is made in the back of the store and the flavors change often.  Right now their best selling scoop is Salted Caramel Pretzel; other flavors include  Brookside Butter Pecan, Fruity Pebbles, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Churro, Cookies and Cream and French Vanilla.  Alex and Jessica also have quite a few collaborations going on with other local businesses; Heirloom Bakery sells their ice cream during their Wednesday Summer happy hour and Bacaro Primo (Italian restaurant in the Crestwood Shops) features French Custard ice cream on their menu.

Alex and Jessica live in Brookside, within walking distance of the store.  “We are so excited to be open in Brookside; this is where we wanted to be.  We feel we have something very special to add to the flavor of Brookside” says Jessica.  “Everyone here is so very nice and helpful; French custard ice cream shops in NYC are very, very competitive.  Here, it’s a very friendly atmosphere”.

French Custard is currently open Tuesday/Wed/Thursday  from 2pm-9pm; Fridays from 2-10pm; Saturday noon-10pm and Sunday noon-9pm.  French Custard is located at 5905 Main St, along the Trolley Track Trail in the Morningside Shops.  Treat yourself soon!

Brookside Art Annual and Waldo Spring Fling Happen This Weekend

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The weather forecast looks good for this weekend–fortunately for two outdoor events you can check out! The biggie is the 37th Brookside Art Annual, at 63rd St and Brookside Plaza.

Booths open tomorrow, Friday May 5, at 5pm. Enjoy browsing through all sorts of local and regional art: painting, sculpture, clothing, jewelry, photography and a few pieces that will certainly make you ponder…what is it exactly?? In addition there are things for the kids to do: arts and crafts and face painting plus several food and snack options. The Art Annual continues on Saturday from 10am-9pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.

Also happening on Saturday is the 2nd Annual Waldo Spring Fling, at the NE corner of Gregory and Wornall. This is a smaller, growing event and family friendly; several local Waldo businesses will have booths set up plus food trucks for noshing.

You can easily enjoy one or both outdoor events this weekend; remember to drive slowly near these two areas and watch for extra pedestrians and tight parking on side streets. Thank you for supporting our local Brookside and Waldo businesses and events!

Need Some Pampering? Schedule a Service at Roots and Branches Salon

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Everyone needs some special indulgent treatment every so often, and one of the places you can do that is Roots and Branches Salon in Waldo. Formerly Hagoya Yoga and Massage, new owner Holly McPheter took over the space last fall and expanded the services offered.

There is a comfortable, nature vibe here, with the hair salon up front and center. Their stylists offer a full range of services for men and women, including cut, color, styling, waxing and extensions and a line of R+CO and Kevin Murphy products for purchase. In the back of the shop, enjoy a relaxing massage (choose from deep tissue, Hawaiian style, cupping and hard to find pre natal massage.) They are also the first studio with a certified teacher for Inferno Pilates. Holly is particularly proud of their yoga services: their “hot yoga” sessions are 105 degrees! If you are thinking about starting a yoga program, ask about their Friday happy hour “drop in “sessions” for $15. As you can see, their yoga studio is quite large!

You may know about the original Roots and Branches location in the River Market area. Holly opened that location nine years ago and wanted to expand south. She searched for another location for two years before finding this spot, knowing it was “meant to be. The brand was already established with yoga and we wanted to continue that. We love the close neighborhood atmosphere here and most of our customers are within a five mile radius”.

Beth Swarthout, Salon Coordinator and Holly McPheter, Owner

And for those of you looking for a special unique gift, besides the special hair products Roots and Branches has a wall of boutique items for sale, including local artwork, blankets, baby items and Nomatix yoga towels.

Roots and Branches is hosting an open house on Saturday April 22 from 3-6pm if you would like to come by and check out the space. Various vendors and local artists are participating; the staff is looking forward to meeting more folks that live in the nieghborhood! Roots and Branches is located at 515 W 75th St. You can also book appointments online.

A Chat with Sean Ackerson of the Brookside Business Association

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A few weeks ago I posted a blog after meeting up with the new Waldo Business Association Executive Director, Chelsea Kapka.  I thought it would be a good idea to also chat with the Director of the Brookside Business Association Sean Ackerson, for an update on what’s going on in Brookside as well!

Sean reports that Brookside remains a healthy, desirable location for businesses  (certainly home sales remain strong in the area!).  Although World’s Window has closed, LADYCO recently moved into a larger location, and CYCLEBAR is now open.   A new bank is going into the former Bank of America location,  a few steps west of  Mike’s Liquors, and Meddy’s, a Wichita chain of Mediterranean restaurants, is taking over the former Panera location.  Nothing is happening that Sean is aware  of in the former Fiddly Fig location;  a member of Block Real Estate Services purchased the building and for some reason, staged a fire truck out in front.  That was a surprise to Sean; he says many people walking the area end up using it as a photo op!

Sean Ackerson

Another unexpected development was the “Brookside Local” shop at the new KCI. Described as “a thoughtful array of travel essentials, indulgences, and last minute giftable treats, presented in a space that pays homage to the vibrant neighborhood of Brookside”, Sean first learned about the space when merchants started calling, asking why they didn’t get a chance to display their local goods for sale in the space.  Apparently the Las Vegas based company who coordinated the retail areas didn’t contact the Brookside  association when planning:   reps approached a couple of stores directly (SKIN and Topsy’s) to provide items in the shop, and they used the iconic Brookside awning colors and  typeface  during the build out. Other Brookside merchants were confused regarding the lack of communication and opportunity; Sean didn’t know what happened and technically, this is a rip off of the Brookside image without permission.  Eventually the mystery was solved and Sean is in touch with KCI for better coordination.

One upcoming issue farther down the road: street improvements to Meyer Blvd and 63rd St.  Meyer is under the KC Parks and Recreation department; 63rd is not, so two different entities at City Hall need to coordinate and agree…of course, any suggested plans move ….very…..slowly…..The Association would like to see changes that reduce traffic speed, create dedicated turn lanes, and add a bike lane along one side of 63rd.

Overall, “many businesses are thriving like never before” says Sean and although it hurts to lose World’s Window, there are new businesses coming in and this “isn’t the first time Brookside has been through a transition. The new places that open help everyone.”

The neighborhood residents are very, very supportive of local businesses and the fact that we have such unique shops and restaurants here –that’s a big part of Brookside’s charm and what draws outsiders to the area. THANK YOU for being loyal to our area Brookside merchants!

Expanded Women’s Clothing Shop LADYCO Opens on 63rd St.

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Shopping for clothes has changed so much since COVID 19 hit three years ago..and yes, things are mostly back to normal.  Many more people shop online for everything; and I will admit, I prefer not to clothes shop online.  I can never be sure of the fit, the color, the fabric quality…and it’s a hassle to make returns!

Brookside is so fortunate to have an expanded woman’s clothing store, LADYCO, which opened recently in part of the former New Dime Store space at 314 W 63rd St.  LADYCO offers you the experience of what shopping used to be like: leisurely browsing through different clothes and styles with a friendly, helpful staff that is very customer focused.  At LADYCO, you will find a wide selection of pants, tops, dresses, jeans and accessories you won’t find in any national chain retail store. 

CEO Abby Flores opened her first retail shops in Brookside in 2017—you may remember Itsy Bitsy Bums and COCO on Oak St just north of 63rd.  When a fire destroyed much of the building in 2017, COCO moved to Waldo temporarily before coming back to Brookside on 63rd St, just west of Main St. Lady Bye then opened on Brookside Plaza next to Skin.  When COVID hit and foot traffic stopped, the shops had to close  and after reopening, Abby decided she wanted a larger space on 63rd St  to combine Lady Bye and COCO.  LADYCO is now in part of the former New Dime Store location—totally remodeled but with the original worn hardwood floors in tact!

Describing the type of styles you’ll find in LADYCO, Abby says they are “Modern classics.  We have some very trendy pieces as well as staple items.  We are known for our wide selection of denim jeans, all priced under $100.”  Abby is particularly proud of the range of sizes she carries:  a mix of extra small through 3X, with the larger sizes featured in front of the store.  LADYCO also hosts private shopping events, if you are looking for something a little different to celebrate a ladies night out, birthday or other special occasion.

Business has been great at the new location, and Abby is very proud of her staff, saying “Everything we do is about serving our amazing customer base.  Our staff loves to make people feel beautiful.  They can help you put together a capsule wardrobe or suggest pieces for a specific event.  We get new merchandise in every week.”

Stop by and see the newly expanded LADYCO this spring; check out the new styles and let the staff pamper you with service!  LADYCO is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-6pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm.  There is also a sister store, KATE, in the River Market area at 412 Delaware.