Waldo’s 75th St Brewery Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

For twenty years now, the 75th Street Brewery (520 W 75th St, just west of Wornall) has been serving locally brewed beer and tasty made-from-scratch foods to Waldo and Brookside residents. This Saturday they are kicking off a week-long celebration of their anniversary, with daily food and drink specials.

I’ve been a fan of this place for a long time..even though I’m not a beer drinker, we eat there often because the food and service are good, and they welcomed our kids for dining when they were smaller. I appreciate their 600 calories or less menu selections, the tasty sweet potato fries and the pizzas are delicious!

With so many beer pubs popping up in the metro area, it’s important to note the 75th Street Brewery started it all as they claim to be KC’s first brewpub. Although Saturday’s Summer Beer Fest is sold out , you can still stop by at 3pm and meet the original brewmaster, Tom Richer and try the 20th anniversary beer, Imperial Stout. On Monday August 19, the menu will feature throwback pricing to 1993, and on Thursday you can buy 75 cent pints of any of their flagship brews. For other specials during the week–check out their Facebook page, as unfortunately, there is no mention of the big anniversary celebration on their website (as of this writing).

The 75th Street Brewery is part of the KC Hopps restaurant chain, locally owned and operated. Other restaurants in the group include The Blue Moose, 810 Zone and Barley’s Brewhaus. Happy Anniversary to the 75th Street Brewery.. one of Waldo’s best casual restaurants!

Want $5 To Spend in Waldo?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

I know you like to spend your hard earned money supporting Waldo (and Brookside) businesses! The Waldo Area Business Association has a promotion through August 31, called the “Waldo Summer Passport”…and they make it very easy to earn $5 to spend in Waldo!

Waldo Passport

Here’s how it works: Pick up a ‘passport’ at any of the participating businesses. Get it stamped at ten Waldo businesses. Turn in the completed passport at the Becky Beck Agency or Family Bicycles. You’ll get $5 in Waldo Bucks and be entered into a drawing for $100 Waldo Bucks. Pretty easy..and there’s no purchase necessary. But hey, how often do you stop at Euston’s Waldo Hardware or The Well or Coffee Girls or Waldo Pizza in a month?? Just keep the passport in your pocket for reference and in no time you’ll have the ten stamps..and a free $5!

Here’s a list of the participating businesses. Thank you for supporting Waldo!

Almar Printing, 7735 Wornall Rd – Center of Life Chiropractic, 336 W 75th St – Coffee Girls, 7440 Washington St – Cottman Transmission, 8401 Wornall Rd – Euston’s Waldo Hardware, 126 W 75th St. – Family Bicycles, 7410 Wornall Rd – Jerry Singer Automotive, 311 W 74th St. – Kansas City Veterinary Care, 7240 Wornall Rd – Lew’s, 7539 Wornall Rd – One More Cup, 7408 Wornall Rd – Pampered Paws Grooming Salon, 7719 Wornall Rd – Papparico’s Mexican Restaurant and Catering, 8314 Wornall Rd – Patricks Bar and No Grill, 8251 Wornall Rd – Pistachios Monograms & Gifts, 205 E Gregory Blvd – Planet Sub, 115 W 75th St – Studio 213, 213 E Gregory Blvd – Swyden Cleaners, 329 E Gregory Blvd – The Well, 7421 Wornall Rd – Waldo Grain, 7801 Wornall Rd – Waldo Pizza, 7433 Broadway St – Walgreens, 7500 Wornall Rd. Here’s the website for more info: www.waldokc.org

Stoplight Changes at Two Brookside Intersections

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Driving around Brookside last week, you may have noticed this sign at two key intersections: Gregory Blvd at Main St and Meyer at Oak. The stop signs will be removed, and the stop lights will be reactived and in use as of August 7.

Last October, KCMO abruptly turned off stop lights at several key intersections around the city, including at these cross streets in Brookside (plus Main at Meyer and Wornall at 59th St.)

Residents howled at the changes, because they were not informed of the plans and several of these intersections are near schools. KCMO says it is too costly to operate these outdated signals and doesn’t have the money to replace them. Stop signs, they say, will cause traffic to slow down and stop accordingly, plus save money.

So now we see the posted signs saying ‘we listened’ and the lights are coming back on. I’m in favor of the change back to working signals. The intersection of Main and Gregory gets backed up during rush hour and the Meyer/Oak intersection is a major crosswalk for children attending St Peter’s School. Meyer and Main, an intersection I cross several times a day, seems to be working OK with the stop signs.

But what about the inactive light at 59th and Wornall? This one should be turned back on too. The lights have been covered with fabric, and there is not even a stop sign on Wornall. This intersection is very difficult to cross (east-west) without a working light, especially during rush hour. I have called the KCMO Public Works department twice and left messages to find out their plans–no call back yet. (As a side note, have you noticed there are no published phone numbers on the website for the various city departments? Most of the pages list the Action Center number. Good luck trying to reach a human if you don’t have his/her specific direct line!). This light was turned off several months ago, and something needs to be done–either reinstate the signal or install a four way stop. I prefer the signal. A four way stop would cause lengthy car backups along Wornall.

The good news is we are getting the two working signals back in Brookside, although the City has ‘no money’ to keep them operating. They are ‘outdated’ and expensive to replace. As a resident, I am weary of hearing how the city has ‘no money’ to do something as basic as public safety regarding traffic lights. Besides the usual taxes, we pay an extra 1% earnings tax. Where does the money go? (I think I know…but won’t say here!) . I am grateful the lights will be turned back on, and I’m assuming someone found the money to keep them operating for now.

Now, please let us know what’s happening with the light at 59th and Wornall. I’ll keep leaving messages for an answer…

Waldo’s Most Unique Coffee Shop

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

“It’s our love letter to the neighborhood”

One More Cup in Waldo

Do I really need to write any more in this blog about One More Cup? That sentence, from the website, says it all. I recently visited with Stacy Neff, who co-owns One More Cup with her husband Jeremy. You are about to read why this coffee shop stands out from all the others in the Brookside/Waldo area.

One More Cup has an interesting backstory. In 2008, the Neffs decided to buy the building, which was a Mexican restaurant at one point and, for a short while, a coffee shop. They had the financing in order and started working on the interior. In the fall, the stock market crashed, the recession slammed the economy and the consumers were in a panic, cutting back on spending. One More Cup opened in February 2009. It was a rough start but they’ve seen steady growth every year since, and they attribute their success to strong support from the neighborhood.

Outside Patio at One More Cup

When you walk into One More Cup, it doesn’t feel like a typical coffee shop (like a Starbucks, Roasterie, LatteLand). It’s smaller and more eclectic–almost like stepping into an art friend’s living room. That’s because Stacy graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute and decorated the interior herself on a budget. All the essentials are here: comfortable chairs, wi-fi, local artwork, home baked goodies. Outside, behind the shop, there is a shady patio with plenty of seating. They serve only organic, fair trade coffee, Shatto milk products and the fresh pastries and sandwiches made nearby. They also offer gluten-free and dairy-free foods. Stacy herself bakes treats to serve using the on site ovens and prep area.

I think these two features of One More Cup really make it special: their employees are paid better than many other places and the Neffs offer health insurance for their full timers. Those two management policies alone make it worth your while to support the shop. They also compost / recycle 95% of the waste created. Stacy explained that’s what they do at home, teaching their kids good environmental habits, and they feel the shop is an extension of their home and what they believe in. And their prices are reasonable!

The whole vibe of One More Cup can be described in this quote from Stacy: “We want to be a happy spot in someone’s day”. You can feel the warmth and friendliness when you walk in. And it all starts from the owners. Thanks, Stacy and Jeremy, for bringing your unique coffee shop to Waldo!

Stacy Neff

Brookside Home Sales Stats – June 2013

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Checking the Brookside home sales statistics for June 2013 (single family homes in zip code 64113), there’s been a bit of a bump in the road compared to the previous months of this year. Unit sales and average price is down, reversing the trend we’ve seen since January. Let’s look at the numbers in detail:

In June 2013, 38 homes sold. The average list price was $313,949 and the average sales price was $308,499. Average days on market: 45.

In June 2012, 53 homes sold. The average list price was $329,457 and the average sales price was $319,169. Average days on market: 117.

Last month (May 2013), the average sales price in Brookside was $395,684. Why the large drop? In this zip code, we have home prices ranging from $150K-$5million. When several of the upper bracket homes sell in one month (those priced over $500K), the average sales price is pushed way up. That’s what happened in May. In June, the highest sales price was $545K. In May 2013, there were four sales over $500,000, including one well over $1million. So we had a much lower average sales price in June.

Let’s compare year-to-date figures:

In the first six months of 2013, 150 homes sold with an average sales price of $333,141 and 94 days on market.

In the first five months of 2012, 135 homes sold with an average sales price of $310,790 and 116 days on market.

Overall, prices are up this year, and it’s taking less times for homes to sell. That’s a good trend!

Currently there are 82 single family homes for sale in zip 64113, with an average price of $769,058. The average sales price is high because 35 of the 82 homes for sale are priced over $500K. As of this writing, the highest priced home is at 5550 Ward Parkway, priced at $50 shy of $5,000,000.

If you would like specific sales numbers for your neighborhood, email me for a report tailored to your area!

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Armour Hills Home Sales Stats – June 2013

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Every month I check home sales stats in Armour Hills, and for the past few months the numbers are the same–prices are up! We are in peak homebuying season right now; as we head into the cooler months, sales will slow down. Still, this has been an excellent year for home sales in our neighborhood.

In June 2013, thirteen homes sold. Average list price was $272,511 and average sales price was $266,188. Average days on market was 51.

In June 2012, fifteen homes sold at an average price of $222,660 and 106 days on the market.

Although two fewer homes sold this year, you can see that the average sales price is way up over last year. In addition, the average days on market is less than half of last year.

Now let’s compare to year-to-date figures:

From Jan-June 2013, forty homes have sold at an average price of $256,488 and 76 days on market.

From Jan-June 2012, thirty-five homes sold at an average price of $219,453 and 98 days on market.

Year to date, sales prices are way up as well. As of this writing, there are 17 homes for sale in Armour Hills at an average list price of $251,353.

If this trend continues, I think we will end up with the highest average home sales price for Armour Hills in the past 5 years! There are still plenty of active buyers looking for Brookside homes, and I predict sales will be strong for the next couple of months.

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed).

Charming Home for Sale in Brookside!

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

6947 Oak in Brookside

I have a great new listing in Brookside to tell you about. Perhaps you know someone looking for a home in the area? Inventory is low for nice, move-in ready homes and this one has many great features, plus a prime location north of Gregory.

Located on the northeast corner of Oak at 70th St, it’s a bungalow floor plan with a stucco exterior. Rare private drive (at this price!) and one car attached garage. The garage is attached to the home with a lovely breezeway–a perfect area for outdoor dining (without the bugs!) or relaxing in the morning with a cup of coffee.

Unique corner fireplace

Inside, this home features two bedrooms on the first floor with a full bath, plus a living room, dining room, breakfast nook and galley kitchen. The bath and kitchen are updated, and in the kitchen you’ll find original built-ins, including a fold out spice rack–so charming! There are some original light fixtures too. Neutral wall colors throughout the home.

On the second floor, the master bedroom is large, also with built-ins, with a full bath that leads to a huge walk-in closet. There is a full stone basement, newer HVAC, hardwood floors and stone fireplace.

Original built ins

The Trolley Track Trail, Brookside/Waldo shops and amenities are nearby, and the Metro bus stops along Oak for easy public transportation access to UMKC, Westport, The Plaza, or downtown Kansas City. This home is priced to sell at $179,000! Contact me if you know someone who may be interested in this home~!

Master bedroom

Brookside Sidewalk Sale – July 13 and 14

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Brookside Sidewalk Sale

This is a perfect weekend to enjoy the annual Brookside Sidewalk Sale! Yes, it’s hot outside, but not unbearably humid and temperatures are under 95 degrees. I love the Sidewalk Sale because not only can you pick up a few bargains, but you usually run into neighbors for a chat and it’s a good excuse to go shopping and support our locally owned businesses.

The sale runs today and tomorrow, beginning on 63rd St east of Wornall and continues for several blocks. A list of Brookside merchants can be found at the website.

Brookside Home Sales Stats – May 2013

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Every month so far this year, home prices in Brookside have risen. This month, the jump is quite high! Let’s look at the stats for May 2013 single family home sales in the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

In May 2013, 29 homes sold. The average list price was $413,645 and the average sales price was $395,684. Average days on market: 119.

In May 2012, 27 homes sold. The average list price was $313,144 and the average sales price was $303,025. Average days on market: 87.

The average sales price jumped about $100,000 compared to last year. Although prices are up, the large increase in May is due to a $1.7 million dollar home closing–the highest sale so far in our zip code this year. Also there were four sales over $500K. The average days on market is higher because it took many months to sell the million dollar home, thus pushing up the average days on market.

Let’s compare year-to-date figures:

In the first five months of 2013, 111 homes sold with an average sales price of $347,223 and 112 days on market.

In the first five months of 2012, 82 homes sold with an average sales price of $305,274 and 114 days on market.

You see that the average sales price is way up year-to-date, and average days on market is about the same. During the housing slump, the more expensive homes just sat on the market–this year they are selling!

Currently there are 91 single family homes for sale in zip 64113, with an average price of $761,256 and 94 days on market. The average sales price is high because 40 of the 91 homes for sale are priced over $500K; eleven of these are over $1 million.

If you would like specific sales numbers for your neighborhood, email me for a report tailored to your area!

(All figures taken from Heartland MLS and deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Google Fiber Install – One Homeowner’s Experience

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Mary Hutchison

Carrie likes her Google Fiber service in Brookside!

About a week ago, my friends Carrie and Matt had Google Fiber installed in their Brookside home. I stopped by recently for an ‘in home’ demonstration of how it works, and to ask them about the installation process. Carrie and Matt did not sign up for the cable TV package, just the internet service. Here are some notes from our conversation:

*When the contractors came by to install the cable on the utility poles, they randomly chopped off tree branches and tossed them in the easement behind the garage. Very sloppy work. Also, there was no notice of when these guys would be in the yard doing the work.

*Within a few days after this was done, Carrie got an email to schedule the in home installation. All scheduling is done on line, and installers work seven days a week. At her home, the install took about 3-4 hours.

*Two men work on the installation process, and they were very polite and thorough. They mentioned it is easiest to install if your computer is stationed on an outside wall. The router should also be mounted on an outside wall for best signal strength. Carrie and Matt now have a small box on the exterior home and another one in the basement next to their electrical panel.

Google Fiber outside box on the right

*Carrie and Matt live in a three story home, with a desktop computer and Apple TV on the second floor. It was challenging to bring the wires up through the inside of the house and wire correctly, as the installers could not go through an attic because of the finished 3rd floor. Carrie remarked the workers were very conscientious of getting the install correct and took their time doing it. At one point they made a mistake drilling a hole through the wall from the first to the second floor — a contractor called Carrie the next day to schedule an appointment for repair.

*The neighbors to the west got Google Fiber service at the same time. They have the cable TV package, which is less than what they were paying for Direct TV. However, they report it takes several minutes to connect to the internet. Once connected, the service works great but they are having a few difficulties. They have contacted Google for help.

*Carrie raved about the customer service involved with her installation. And how does it work? There is a nifty online site that checks your connection speed. To get the fastest speed, your computer must be hardwired to the network box. I brought my laptop along to try it out. It took several minutes to connect to a wireless connection, and we ended up connecting through the neighbor’s wireless service using their password! I will say there was a noticeable difference in the service compared to what we have at home.

Wrapping it up, Carrie offers these remarks: “It is much faster than our old connection. It doesn’t change your life but it works like it’s supposed to and much less frustrating than our service with Time Warner. There is no buffering, reloading, waiting to upload or pixilating. When we sit down to watch something on Netfix, the service is virtually instant. I can see how gamers will really like it”.

Here in Armour Hills, in-home install should start in early September. Google Fiber recently hosted a two hour ice cream social in Arbor Villa park to answer questions about the service (but ran out of ice cream in 30 minutes–bad PR!!). At our house, we are signing up for the internet service only right now, and will add cable once Google adds the AMC and IFC cable channels. Thanks, Carrie and Matt, for sharing your Google Fiber install experience! More info on Google fiber can be found at this website.

Inside Brookside (And Waldo)

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