It’s time for the annual Waldo Week celebration, now in it’s sixth year! Starting tomorrow, Feb. 19 and running through Thurs Feb 25, there are all sorts of special deals and discounts to take advantage of in Waldo. This is a perfect time to support your usual favorite shops and restaurants, and an even better time to check out some places you may not have visited before!
Here’s a partial list of participating businesses:
Check www.waldokc.org for the complete list. There will also be an online auction this year to benefit Cornerstones of Care. Remember, you must mention Waldo Week to get the discount or special deal.
Thank you for supporting our locally owned Waldo businesses!
I’m happy to report that Kansas City Restaurant Week is still happening this year, and it starts today! You have ten days to sample new places, visit old favorites and support many locally owned eateries that have been struggling during the pandemic. The official dates are Jan 8-17, 2021 and over 100 restaurants are participating this year.
You can dine in, or order take out or have your meal delivered. So easy! Prices are $15 for lunch and $35/$45 for dinner. Make your reservations early for dine in and if you order carry out or delivery, please be patient–these eateries should be very busy this week! Remember, part of the proceeds from each sale benefit the Don Bosco Centers.
Below is a list of the Brookside and Waldo eateries that are participating in KC Restaurant Week. Check this website for specific meal specials, not the individual restaurant website.
Aixois 251 E 55th St
Boru Asian Eatery 500 W 75th St
Charlie Hooper’s 12 W 63rd St
Lew’s Grill and Bar 7539 Wornall
Michael Forbes 128 W 63rd St
Plate Restaurant 701 E 63rd St
South of Summit Taqueria 516 W 75th St
Summit Grill 520 W 75th St
Urban Cafe 5500 Troost
Waldo PIzza 7433 Broadway
The Well 7421 Broadway
Thank you for supporting locally owned Brookside/Waldo restaurants!
Hello and Happy 2021!! Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Now we are in, to me, the most boring time of year. But, we have the Chiefs to cheer on in the playoffs!!!!
OK, down to business.I’m sure you’ve noticed all the construction along several streets in Kansas City: 63rd, Wornall, 75th and Gregory. I travel these streets every day and have been dodging cones, workers, steel plates and weaving along trying to stay in one skinny lane with oncoming traffic! What is happening??
How many cones are you dodging each time you drive through our neighborhood?
I called Sean Ackerson, Executive Director of the Southtown Council for more information. He explained that Spire Gas and their subcontractors are doing utility work along these streets, replacing the 100 year old cast iron main gas lines. This new high pressure system they are installing creates a more efficient distribution system.
The construction work is taking longer than usual because, well, these projects usually do! There was a lot of exploratory work in the beginning to find and mark the water and sewer lines so they could map out the new gas pipes. This project started over two years ago—and there’s still several months to go before it’s finished. And when the winter weather hits, everything stops as the crews can’t work in rain, snow and ice. I asked Sean if there was a possible end date in sight, and he replied: “We have the schedule they gave us, but it’s not reliable due to the unpredictability of weather and other scheduled breaks for holidays.” After the gas lines are set, then the work moves to adjoin the adjacent business and residential properties along these streets to the new main lines. This can involve moving gas meters outside of the properties as well.
Staging area for supplies along Brookside Road
Another big project planned for Brookside – which has the potential to be even more disruptive—is separating the storm and sanitary sewer lines underground. This project was mandated by the EPA several years ago—and it’s one reason your water bills go higher and higher. This will involve ripping up the streets once again.
It’s unfortunate that these major projects can’t be coordinated, so there isn’t so much disruption. Just be careful and patient when travelling along these streets in Brookside, watching for the workers, cones and detours. And make an extra effort to support those local businesses who’s storefronts are affected! Whenever it’s all finished—one year, five years, it’s all needed infrastructure improvement for our neighborhood.
There are many food take out options in the Brookside / Waldo area. Choices include traditional fast food and local eateries offering salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, etc. Last month, Jovito’s Italian Café &Deli opened in the former One More Cup space on Wornall—filling a niche in the area for those wanting something a little different. And who doesn’t like Italian food??
You may remember Jovito’s at their old location on State Line at 123rd St. Last summer, the owners decided not to renew the lease and move to Waldo, focusing completely on take out services. It’s still the same tasty food (and some of the same décor)—long time Kansas Citians may remember Mario’s in Westport, which closed several years ago. Jovito’s owners bought the business and recipes for the State Line shop. Popular items include their signature Grinder, stuffed with meatballs or sausage, and the Italian Steak sandwich. They also have cold sandwiches, several kinds of pasta, salads with homemade dressing and a few dessert selections. The food has that good, homecooked taste – as the recipes were handed down over the years from an Italian grandma’s kitchen!
Owner Leasa Caron says business has been very , very good! “I wasn’t aware there was a void for an Italian sandwich shop in this area. I’ve lived in Waldo 22 years and it’s nice to be back in the neighborhood, close to my home. The community has made us feel very welcome.” All items are served to go, and in the warmer months there will be a few outdoor tables available to enjoy your meal in the fresh air. At this time, it’s best to call in your order by phone—Jovito’s does work with some delivery apps but because their food is so fresh and daily specials can sell out quickly—best to call and talk to a human about your order, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Service is fast and friendly. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, with convenient parking in front of the store at 7408 Wornall or in the back parking lot off Washington St. There’s a small alley off the back lot that takes you to the front of the restaurant.
Back in 2015, sisters India Pernell and Arvelisha Woods went from being vegetarians to vegan. But they craved cheese! So the pair created their own recipe for queso and brought some of it to their hair salon in Independence. Customers loved it—and they decided to start selling their creamy comfort food. Eventually, they developed recipes for vegan nachos too and promoted their goodies at festivals and pop-ups. More success! In 2018, they bought a food truck and started catering out of a kitchen commissary, closing the hair salon to focus on their food full time. Customers wanted a restaurant—India and Arvelisha listened and now you can visit Mattie’s Foods in east Brookside, at 633 E 63rd St.
LiLike every other small business owner, India and Arvelisha had to deal with the pandemic. The lease was signed in August. “We’ve gone through so many trials and tribulations” Arvelisha explained, “that we knew how to work under pressure. We just got creative and made it work”. The restaurant has been a hit—when I visited last week after the lunch rush, there was still a steady stream of people coming in after 2pm for a meal. “We have always loved Brookside and grew up near here. Brookside has the entrepreneurial spirit and the locals support small business owners.”
So what else is on the menu? Besides nachos and the infamous queso, Mattie’s offers breakfast, including a biscuit sandwich, pancakes and the popular Mattie bon—a cinnamon roll with fruit flavor options. Popular lunch items are the brisket sandwich made with tofu, and various types of mac and cheese. There are no fried foods in this place—and, most items can be made gluten free. Mattie’s still caters for events and sells family meals, including special vegan meals with a Thanksgiving theme.
As you may have guessed, Mattie’s is named after the sisters’ beloved grandmother. They both grew up learning how to cook from Mattie, and as they created the vegan recipes, were inspired by those childhood food memories.
Mattie’s Foods is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-3pm; Thursdays and Fridays, 9am-7pm. Stop in for a meal of “comfort food made smart”!
You’ve probably heard that many of us are craving good old comfort food these days, as we change our patterns and habits due to the pandemic. Little things you can look forward to—like trying a new eatery—can lift your spirits and provide a happy diversion to your day. And especially as the cooler weather sets in, indulging in comfort food is a treat for yourself!
Make plans to stop in and try Strip’s Chicken, a food truck parked at the southwest corner of 85th and Wornall, next to the Price Chopper. Owner Todd Johnson opened the original location of Strip’s four years ago at 1110 Sante Fe in Olathe. Based on the success of that restaurant, he started looking for another spot in Waldo. Right now he’s operating out of the food truck; next month he’ll open in the adjacent former KFC/Long John Silver’s building. Todd grew up on a farm in Kansas and has a degree from Kansas State in Agronomy. He started out as an agricultural banker; owned a microbrewery and started food consulting; eventually he moved to Kansas City to focus solely on consulting. He even consulted Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump on her Bravo show “Vanderpump Rules”. After repeatedly tinkering with recipes and coming up with his own special seasonings and cooking methods, he decided to open his own place again focusing on chicken.
Todd Johnson, Owner of Strip’s Chicken
What’s unusual about Strip’s Chicken is this: it’s basically a scratch kitchen. Todd and his staff hand cut all the chicken breasts to the same thickness for quick, uniform cooking. They make all of the sauces and breading; they grind the pork for the pork burgers and make the white chili from scratch; everything is cooked to order. A few other notes about the breading: the strips are coated in a zesty batter, then a pretzel breading (he even grinds the pretzels!). Todd also offers chicken nuggets that are gluten free, specially fried in a dedicated fryer with its own filtration system. The nuggets are “honey kissed” for a slight sweetness and the breading is made from sorghum that’s grown and milled by Kansas farmers. No MSG is used in anything he cooks. “We serve generous portions here” says Todd, “and having signature items is incredibly important to me. My customers can taste the difference”. Chicken strips are the most popular menu item, along with the strawberry BBQ dipping sauce and his own “secret sauce” recipe. Other offerings include onion strings, fries, mac and cheese, and donuts—and a “family feast” .
Next time you are craving comfort food, stop in Strip’s Chicken at 85th and Wornall. Hours are 11am-8pm, Monday through Saturday.
Flowers! Can’t help but smile when you walk by a colorful floral garden, a unique centerpiece or receive a blooming arrangement that fills your space with a soft, fresh scent. Waldo has a new flower shop, Botanica Flower Studio at 7443 Broadway—and I stopped by last week to find out more.
Heather Coones
Owner Heather Coones has been a florist for eighteen years. Back in her college days at K State, she would walk the campus dreaming of owning her own shop. She earned a degree in geography as she loves to travel—and eventually got a job at The Fiddly Fig. After a while, she struck out on her own, doing wedding and special events out of her Leawood home. Finally, she just fulfilled her dream and opened the small shop, sandwiched between Hiles Two and Soap Station, a couple of storefronts south of Waldo Pizza. Heather grew up in Brookside, and explained why she picked this Waldo spot: “ I love this area. It’s a good location and I know the community supports local businesses. There is easy access to many special event locations. And I like to connect with people on a daily basis—flowers make people happy!”.
I asked Heather what makes her bouquets and arrangements different from others. Her approach is to offer a “really good value. When you order from me, I look at what flowers and greenery are at their best at the time, and I get my product from local growers as well as wholesalers. I like unique color combinations; I use lots of different textures, incorporating greens and herbs. I like to use flowers and greens that you don’t always see in a shop. The trend in arrangements now is the loose, gathered garden look —not a tight, stiff, rounded arrangement. I like to work with my customers to create something different that still looks fresh, eye catching and expressive.”
Botanica Flower Studio also has several kinds of vases and potted plants for sale; Heather plans to add Cedar Street Toffee treats for sale if you want to add sweets to your bouquet! Behind the store is a shady, cozy, open air patio that’s available for small private wedding showers. Current hours at the shop are 12-5 Monday through Friday; delivery is available. The best way to order a single special bouquet or arrangement right now is to email Heather from the website—however, walk ins are welcome!
Usually I would be posting about the annual Waldo Fall Festival right about now…but, as with all of our treasured fall activities (Plaza and Westport Art Fairs, Renaissance Festival, etc), it’s not happening this year. The Waldo Business Assn has come up with another event you can participate in: the Waldo Walk, starting Saturday and running until Sept 26.
You can do the Waldo Walk virtually or in person! Download the Racery app to go digital or get out in the fresh air and walk or bike the six mile route in person. (You do not have to do all six miles!) Teams are encouraged! There are many local merchants with special giveways and offers throughout the walk, including McLain’s Bakery, Crows Coffee, Bier Station and Geo’s Cheese. Special thanks to Mike’s Wine and Spirits for being a sponsor of the walk!
Get more details here. Remember, Waldo Walk lasts seven days so you have plenty of time to get out and explore Waldo during this Fall season, enjoy the cooler weather and (socially distant) mingle with friends and merchants along the way. THANK YOU for supporting our locally owned businesses!
When strolling around art fairs, I always stop at the jewelry booths. There are so many different styles and types of metals—and usually a wide range of prices. Due to the pandemic–no Brookside/Westport or Plaza art fairs this year…However, last week I stopped by Sierra Winter Jewelry, a unique shop at 7017 Oak next to Eclectics to get my jewelry fix. This showroom has been open for several months now, but somehow I missed it!
Owner Sierra Otto had the urge to make jewelry early—she started back in high school. At KU, she studied metal smithing and jewelry design. She spent several years designing for Silpada (a now-defunct KC company) and finally went out on her own. She sells direct to consumer via her website and to wholesalers around the country. Earlier this year she opened this showroom and now operates the business just a few blocks from her Armour Hills home, where she lives with her husband and young daughter.
Sierra Otto
Sierra explained her designs are “globally inspired” and she releases a new collection two times a year that consist of about 15 pieces—her next one will debut in October. I asked Sierra about her best selling pieces, and she says the simple and classic “Eclipse” is very popular, along with the “Easy Rider” horseshoe ring and the “Mama” collection, featuring rings, necklaces and bracelets often given to new Moms as shower and new baby gifts. All of her pieces are sterling silver or 18K gold vermeil, and some feature precious stones such as turquoise, lapis and opal for a special focal point. In addition to jewelry, the shop also sells specialty bandanas, candles, incense, cards and nail polish for sale.
Business has been brisk, despite the pandemic and Sierra plans to host private events and trunk shows once we return to a more ‘normal’ lifestyle. In the meantime, stop by the store—or website. Sierra Winter Jewelry is open Wednesday through Friday from 10am-5pm, and noon-4 on Saturday at 7017 Oak St.
It’s a bonus sale! You may remember that Brookside hosted it’s annual Sidewalk Sale last month–starting today, there is another sale you can take advantage of: the Brookside Summer Sale!
Beginning today, Aug 20, 2020 through Saturday–many shops and restaurants are offering special discounts, clearance items and some dining deals. Participating stores include COCO, LEOPOLD Gallery, LadyBye, Brookside Toy and Science, Brookside Party Warehouse, The Roasterie and Michael Forbes. Check www.brooksidekc.org for a complete list, and details on the coloring contest.
Remember to wear your mask and respect each store’s social distancing policy. Thank you for supporting our locally owned Brookside and Waldo businesses!
Beginning today, Aug 20, 2020 through Saturday–many shops and restaurants are offering special discounts, clearance items and some dining deals. Participating stores include COCO, LEOPOLD Gallery, LadyBye, Brookside Toy and Science, Brookside Party Warehouse, The Roasterie and Michael Forbes. Check 
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 