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Shopping is probably cheaper than a psychiatrist, but the trick is knowing where to go for this particular therapy. If you’re on a vacation, it’s even trickier. We’re assuming you’re not looking for just the standard paraphernalia that you can get at home, and we’re hoping you don’t want the Dorothy shirt that tells Toto you’re not in Kansas anymore.
If you’re into the mall-ish scene, of course, Kanas City has places to offer like Zona Rosa or Oak Park or Ward Parkway [Trader Joe’s is here! Trader Joe’s is here!] or the Legends Outlets in the Village West entertainment district in western Wyandotte County [great outlet stores, including Saks Off-5th]. But off the well-worn paths to those places, you will find some key locations you might want to explore, on both sides of State Line … and we guarantee there are more shops and finds than we can mention in this space.
Shopping is dispersed Downtown and consists of mostly smaller, funkier shops; the department stores are long gone. Until you get to Crown Center, that is. Here, you’ll find Halls’ second location, slightly more affordable than their Country Club Plaza version, and a plethora of clothing shops for all ages, a holiday store, a pen store, RAGZ [redesigned, recycled clothing], a dog store, soaps, flowers, Russian giftware, antique and Chinese jewelry, candy, and the only Function Junction left in Kansas City. If it’s too hot to be outdoors, this is condensed shopping on three stories.
Just north of Downtown and across the river is Parkville. It’s a historic bonanza for shoppers. Quaint shops line the streets, and everyone can find something to like here. The largest science store in Kansas City is here, H.M.S. Beagle. There’s a Christmas store, several artists’ and gift galleries, antique stores, a terrific wine shop [Wines by Jennifer], kitchen stores and some that defy definition. Parkville can be a day trip, and the only hard part will be deciding where to eat: Piropos, Cafés des Amis, Cedar, or Italia—and others as well.
Of course, we must highlight the first regional shopping center designed for automobile access in the country: the Country Club Plaza. Even more famous at Christmas with its 80 miles of colored lights, these Seville-influenced buildings are home to high-end retail scattered among the restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment, hotels, and residences. No longer the home to Sears or Woolworth’s, you’ll find stores like Armani Exchange, Kate Spade, Tiffany’s and hometown Tivol Jewelry, Michael Kors, Burberry, Tommy Bahama, St. John, and of course the anchor, Hall’s, a Kansas City institution.
At the other end, among the 180 shops, there’s H&M and XXI Forever, with lots of cool shops in between like Anthropology, Sur La Table, and Peruvian Connection. If you don’t want to shop, you can admire more than 30 statues
and fountains sprinkled thro-ughout the 55 acres.
Just south of the Plaza, Crestwood, also established in 1922, is a little enclave of two great restaurants and nine local shops. If you’re looking for special antiques, home accessories, current and basic fashions, lifestyle items, cards and flowers, this lively mix is different from the ordinary.
A few blocks further south, Brookside has more than 20 shops and 15 eateries. They won’t ask you if you’re from out of town there, unlike the Plaza. Most shops are locally owned, with places like World’s Windows, Shop Girls, Stuff, Reading Reptile [kids’ books], Brookside Toy & Science and Latin American Imports all catering to those who want something a bit different. There’s a great art gallery there, Leopold’s. Don’t fail to go all the way to Oak Street, where the French-flaired J’Adore Home and Garden sits, full of distinctive antiques and trendy items.
The 45th & State Line Art & Antique Center straddles State Line, and if you are looking in either of those two categories, do visit here. Local artist Mike Savage’s shop is just fun and the antiques elsewhere are treasures among
the clutter. Some shops are closed during the week. Not to get too far off track, there are also good antique stores in the River Market area and on the Kansas side in Prairie Village, at 83rd and Mission Road in Cornith Square.
Overland Park is home to many malls and shops, but a different and enjoyable one is known to most as just Downtown Overland Park. An eclectic collection from furniture to pies, with stores like Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade retailer, the Tasteful Olive for nice oils and vinegars, and Pensy’s Spice Shop for hundreds of spices. Elsa’s Ethiopian Restaurant is here, along with the Culinary Center, which serves lunch just once a week, and The Peanut, a bar-institution in Missouri, and probably the first Chinese restaurant in the suburbs, Dragon Inn.
One Nineteen is directly south of the expansive, 90- store Towne Center Plaza. Crate & Barrel and West Elm have their only KC locations here; Trader Joe’s and Charming Charlie and other shops, including locally owned Feng Boutique [women’s clothing] and several good restaurants make this a good location for shopping and dining in suburbia.
One neat thing about Kansas City is that it encompasses many areas, many ZIP codes, for many great, quaint, and trendy shopping experiences. There’s more than enough here to buy, no matter where you’re from. Do your bit for the local economy.
Crown Center, southern edge of Downtown, off Grand Boulevard and 24th Street, KCMO
Parkville, off Missouri-9, south
of the airport, north of Downtown
The Country Club Plaza, between Ward Parkway and 47th St., KCMO
Crestwood Shops, 55th St. between Brookside Blvd. and Oak St., KCMO
Brookside, off Wornall Road and 63rd St., KCMO
