Bramble and Stem –Now Open in Waldo

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Valentine’s Day is almost here…and if you plan on getting a special gift for your partner…consider stopping in Brookside and Waldo’s newest florist and gift shop, Bramble & Stem, 410 E. Gregory.  The shop opened in November and has lots of unique gifts and lovely floral arrangements to inspire you!

Owner Katherine Bramble Taylor

Owner Katherine Bramble Taylor had been operating her own floral business out of her home as Studio 421, where weddings were her main source of business.  . As  a stay at home Mom–she was juggling the home business and family, yet  always had an interest in operating a storefront  floral shop.  Her  father was a small business owner and kept encouraging her  to take the big step.  When he passed away in 2023, she finally decided to follow his advice.  Katherine says “I knew I would only open a storefront in Brookside. The welcoming and supportive community here is what sets it apart”.

The “Happier Hour” gift box

Living with her family nearby  in Brookside, this location is convenient for her and her customers.  Katherine creates her arrangements with a loose yet modern vibe and a garden aesthetic: colorful and attractive yet natural, just like a garden full of blooms.  Besides weddings and special events, Bramble & Stem sells plants and offers subscription services for residential and office use.  Inside the shop you’ll also see fun extras available for purchase:  small books, earrings, cards, chocolates, candles–even wine and snacks. Katherine can put together a special unique package for your or check out one of her special  Valentine’s Day gift boxes for around $100.  Delivery is available.

Bramble & Stem is available to rent for private events, and there is a separate room for the special seasonal workshops offered to the public.    You can also stop by the special Valentine’s celebration featuring local  pop up vendors happening this Saturday February 8 from 1-3pm at 410 E. Gregory.

Waldo 2024 Home Sales Report – And 5 Year Comparison

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Numbers tell a story….and Waldo home prices have remained remarkably steady compared to 2023. Of course, looking over the past five years-they have increased, which is what homeowners want!. In addition, the number of homes changing owners rose as well last year, and that’s a positive sign for those that want to buy. Let’s take a closer look, using the street boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th St for the stats:

20242023202220212020
Median list price:$295,000$295,000$265,000$250,000$224,950
Median sales price:$299,500$298,000$278,000$260,000$230,000
Days on market:43334
# of homes sold:300263289397371

Many buyers are still paying over the asking price by about 1.5%, and homes don’t usually linger on the market longer than a few days. That has been the norm for a few years now. Buyers have accepted the higher interest rates, and 14% more properties sold in 2024 than 2023. Last year, the lowest closed price was $85K and the highest was $675,000 (a new build on Main St). Still, the number of homes changing owners has fallen 32% since 2021, when interest rates were much lower and houses more affordable. Since 2020, home values have gone up 30% in Waldo.

Currently there are 21 single family homes for sale in Waldo, with half of those priced over $300K. The lowest list price is $155,000 and the highest is $515,00.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Brookside Home Sales Report – 2024 Stats and 5 Year Comparison

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The 2024 Brookside home sales stats are in …so this is the time to see how much our home values are rising compared to years past. There is a reason owning a home is a good investment: because the value usually goes up, not down, and that is certainly the case for Brookside. Let’s take a look at the numbers; I’m using the main Brookside zip code of 64113 for the stats:

20242023202220212020
Median
list price:		$562,500$550,000$489,900$459,950$419,000
Median sales price:$575,000$572,500$500,000$475,000$415,000
Days on market:33338
# of homes sold: 264246295338327

Looking at 2024 as a whole, buyers paid about 2% over asking price, and most homes went under contract within a few days of listing. The number of homes changing owners was up 7.3% compared to 2023. The lowest closed price of 2024 was $260K and the highest was $5.78 million.

The five year trend shows us home values have risen 38% since 2020 and the number of homes up for sale has steadily gone down; people are choosing to live in their homes longer and hang on to the lower interest rates. Overall, there was a 7% increase in value between 2023 and 2024.

At this time there are 12 single family home listings in Brookside, with a median list price of $671,000. Five homes are priced over $1million; the lowest listed price is $309,900 and the highest is $2,79 million.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Home Goods/Design Shop SID & Company Now in Waldo

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As a residential real estate agent, I have toured some beautiful houses.  Some look spectacular, yet somewhat generic on the inside. Some have a mish mash of  eclectic decor.  And some look like a college dorm room! Most people find it challenging to “decorate” — having your home reflect your distinct personality in a comfortable yet organized manner.   Getting the balance just right is how Sid & Company can help. New to Waldo but not to the KC area, Sid & Company offer custom interior design services at their new home, 21 West Gregory. 

Mark and Jean Anne Suderman

Owners Jean-Anne Suderman and her husband Mark are both from Wichita and met at KU.  Mark has his MFA in interior design from the Atlanta College of Art and at one time worked at Mark Shale.  Jean-Anne was an art director for a couple of national advertising firms.  After working in Atlanta for many years, they decided to move to Kansas City to be closer to family.  They opened a shop in the 45th and State Line area offering design services and a retail store in the West Bottoms.  They purchased this building in November 2023 to combine both retail and design services in one spot; and opened to the public October 5.

Why the move to Waldo? Jean-Anne explained they have many clients in the south KC / Mission Hills area and felt this location better served their clients.  “Waldo is growing in such a positive way”, says Jean-Anne,  and she especially enjoys talking to people that come into the shop to browse.  This store is inspirational, packed with beautiful furniture, accessories, artwork and design books.  Sid & Company rep several special manufacturers, including Verellen, a Belgian furniture company.  When I asked about current trends in the interior design industry, she explained “We don’t do trends.  We will  use  the special decor pieces the client already has, and work with them to choose other items  that compliment their personal style..a style that will look good for many years.  We can also design the interior of a new build home from start to finish, working with the builder and architect to be sure the space functions well with the decor plans of the buyer”.  One very important feature of using a locally based designer as compared to a big box chain store: Jean-Anne and Mark have similar prices yet offer much better quality and selection with their  items, plus “white glove service”, meaning everything is delivered to your home and properly placed and set up inside rather than dropped at the front door. And if you are looking for some decorating inspiration, sign up for  SID LIFE on the website, a weekly journal of inspiration.

You are invited to stop by Sid & Company and browse the store anytime; they are open Monday through Friday 10am-5pm or Saturdays by appointment. 

KC Restaurant Week Starts Friday!

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Well if you didn’t indulge in food too much during the holiday season…here’s your chance to catch up!! Kansas City Restaurant Week starts Friday and runs through Sunday January 19. This year’s charity recipient is House of Hope, a non profit based in North Kansas City. It’s the perfect opportunity to try someplace new for a meal and support a good cause.

How it works: dozens of restaurants all over the metro area are offering special lunch and dinner prix fixe menus with prices ranging from $20-$55; a portion of profits are directed to House of Hope. Reservations are encouraged and you can make them via the website. Note: not all restaurants have posted their special Restaurant Week menus–but you know you will get a pretty good deal, wherever you dine!

Participating restaurants in the Brookside and Waldo area are:

Aixois French RestaurantBoru Asian Eatery
Charlie Hoopers Bar & GrilleCity Barrel Pizza + Patio
Home Grown KCLew’s Grill and Bar
Red Door GrillPizza Tascio
South of Summit TaqueriaSummit Grill

Plan a night out with your friends and family and support our locally owned restaurants during KC Restaurant Week!

Waldo Home Sales Report-November 2024

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Waldo home values took a bit of a tumble last month but don’t panic! Overall for the year–prices remain steady. Let’s take a look at the numbers; the street boundaries I am using for these stats are single family homes from State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th St:

november 2024november 2023
Median list price:$285,000$325,000
Median sales price:$289,900$335,000
Days on market:64
No. of homes sold:2327

Final sales prices dropped 13% compared to November 2023; yet you can see most buyers were paying a bit over the list price. The number of homes sold dropped slightly. The lowest closed price was $155,000 and the highest was $500,000. Here are the year-to-date numbers:

Jan-nov 2024jan-nov 2024
Median list price:$295,000$295,000
Median sales price:$300,000$300,000
Days on market:43
No. of homes sold:247249

These YTD numbers show us that Waldo home prices remain steady–just about identical to this time last year! That’s good news: still a desirable location for homebuyers and prices haven’t jumped or dropped dramatically. Currently there are 26 active single family homes for sale in Waldo with a median list price of $262,500 and 59 days on market.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Still Need to Holiday Shop? Read on For Suggestions….

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By this time next week, Santa will have come and gone…yes, the Big Day is that close! If you still need to purchase a few gifts, consider supporting our newer, local merchants when you shop. Each of these businesses opened in Brookside or Waldo this year and are ready to help!

For new parents, consider buying cloth diaper service from The Diaper Society. They also have items you can purchase for new parents, such as all natural shampoos, lotions, baby balm and body wash.

For pet lovers, stop in Callie Mae’s Barkery and Bath, 7140 Wornall. Just about everything your doggie needs is sold here (along with a few cat items), including toys, food, leashes and of course–in house baked special treats!

Sometimes, you have to get the kids out of the house! Humanette, at 118 W 63rd St, is a play cafe for toddlers and their parents. The little ones can play as the adults sip a beverage and get to know other neighborhood families. Gift cards available.

Everyone eats and many people do not like to cook…. visit City Barrel at 120 E Gregory, pick up a six pack of beer and a gift card for pizza. Hemma Hemma at 7122 Wornall serves up delicious food for breakfast and lunch and also offers several grab and go items to enjoy at home.

Finally, two new businesses recently opened right next to each other–I haven’t had time to stop by and check them out yet. But wanted to mention them in this blog: Bramble & Stem at 410 E Gregory makes stunning floral arrangements and the shop has a few gifts and plants for purchase; Blue Sky Art + Home at 408 E Gregory is a “studio, gallery and boutique” with one of a kind art pieces for sale.

And if you need a break after your shopping spree..stop in Vita’s Place at 5514 Oak for a nice glass of wine and small plates. Their sister place Underdog Wine Shop is around the corner at 327 E 55th St, offering a large wine selection, chocolates and small gifts.

There are so many independently owned shops in Brookside and Waldo where you will find unique items for purchase–and personal service–as you browse. Thank you for supporting the small businesses that make our neighborhood special!

Brookside Home Sales Report – November 2024

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Last month, Brookside had it’s highest closed sales price for the year–over $5,000,000! Read on for the full breakdown of the stats. Higher interest rates have not slowed down home sales in our neighborhood-I think buyers have accepted that an above 6% rate is the norm now. Who knows what will happen next year? Let’s take a look at the numbers; I’m using the primary zip code of 64113 for these stats:

november 2024november 2023
Median list price: $530,000$515,000
Median sales price:$537,500$485,000
Days on market:113
No. of homes sold:2519

The lowest closed price last month was $315,000 and the highest was just under $5.8 million–cash purchase!! It was a house in the Sunset Hill area. Sales prices were up 10.8% compared to last November, and more homes closed. Below are the year-to-date numbers:

jan-nov 2024jan-nov 2023
Median list price:$549,950$550,000
Median sales price:$560,000$570,000
Days on market:33
No. of homes sold:245231

Overall, prices are down almost 2% for the year; 6% more homes have changed owners and — many buyers still paying over the list price. It’s difficult for me to type these words: the median price of a Brookside home is now over half a million dollars! But remember, there are no “formal” boundaries for Brookside; I use the 64113 zip code to check numbers, and the boundaries for 64113 are: 55th St to Gregory; State Line to Oak.

Currently there are 17 listings in Brookside, ranging in price from $329K-$4,950,000.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Brookside Based Diaper Delivery Service– The Diaper Society

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There are so many decisions to make when a baby is on the way…and so many preparations.  It’s tempting to follow the crowd and plan to use disposable diapers… most people do. Here’s an option: a new Brookside business, The Diaper Society, now offers you a convenient alternative to consider. Why fill your home with boxes of disposables when you can have cloth diapers picked up, laundered, and delivered back to your home?

Justine Richard and her youngest daughter

Justine and Ryan Richard started The Diaper Society this year as a side business; both work full time and have two children ages 4 months and 3 years.  When pregnant with their first child, Justine was very interested in using cloth diapers.  Both are environmentally conscious and research shows that the average child uses 5000-7500 disposable diapers during the first few years of life.  After using a small local cloth diaper service, they decided to open their own and spread the word about this convenient disposable diaper alternative.   Justine spent a full year researching cloth materials, soaps, cleaning supplies, e-commerce and route optimization.  “When you are an expectant mother, so many products are pushed at you for the baby.  Many of them contain forever chemicals.  I wanted to do all the legwork so we could operate a service that is convenient for parents yet using safe products for the child.“  This process includes a “closed loop” for cleaning the diapers:  each soiled load is washed separately so that your child’s laundry is  individually washed and not with another child’s soiled diapers. 

Cloth diapers have changed quite a bit since the old days. Design innovations have done away with sharp pins!  Cloth diapers are now easily fastened with hooks; and the plastic pants worn over the diapers come in adjustable sizes to fit a growing bottom.  Also offered are separate pad “inserts” to for extra absorbing.   The Diaper Society offers  three levels of service to choose from, all described on their website.  They can provide the diapers, inserts, cloth wipes and delivery service; or if you have your own diapers, they will launder them for you.  There is a rental option available as well.  If you are interested in learning exactly how the program works, Ryan will come to your home and give you a demonstration of how the diapers fit and the service options. 

Cloth diaper fastener and adjustable plastic pants

Another couple of services to note here:  Ryan and Justine participate in the TerraCycle program: this is a company that recycles certain items that can’t be recycled (check the website for details).    They also have an online shop, full of various all natural baby products you can order and have delivered with your diapers. Gift cards are available!

During our visit in their Brookside home (diapers are not laundered here FYI), I was impressed with this operation and how it works.  Most families with two full time working parents and two young children do not have time for a side hustle!  However, Ryan has always had an “entrepreneurial bent” and both of them want to do what they can for the environment. Using the cloth diapers for their own children turned out to be pretty easy and at a similar cost to disposables. Starting The Diaper Society is one way this couple can have an impact and bring along others with them.  Find them on their website and Instagram. 

Waldo Sip and Stroll Happening Tonight-Thurs Dec 5

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One of the aspects of Waldo that people like best is that it is so walkable! The Waldo Area Business Association invites you to take advantage of that with the Waldo Sip and Stroll, tonight December 5 from 3-7pm.

Many Waldo businesses are participating, including Eclectic’s Gift Gallery (I always find unique gift items there!); KC Bier Company (you may need a break from shopping!) and one of our newest businesses, Callie Mae’s Barkery and Bath (don’t forget the pet treats!).

Our Waldo businesses depend on you to make a little extra effort to support them when buying for the holidays. You’ll get great service, a wide selection of interesting gift ideas, and so many places are offering special deals. Throw on that winter coat and scarf, get some extra exercise and stroll the Waldo shops tonight. Waldo appreciates your business!