6 minute read
Park Place in Leawood
Outdoor mall has a lot to offer—shops, entertainment, dining, even an ice rink.
By Pamela Spradlin Mahajan
Photos by Molly Kuplen
Park Place in Leawood offers a variety of dining, entertainment, wellness, and shopping options for everyone in the family.
Charming indoor and outdoor spaces make this neighborhood a unique destination for shopping or strolling. Barkley Square, a green space at the heart of Park Place, provides a spot to relax or take in seasonal concerts, children’s events, movies, and more.
Several new stores and restaurants have opened in Park Place this year, including Mother Clucker!, which brings authentic Nashville hot chicken to Kansas City. Owners Kylie and Derrick Foster met while attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and honed their culinary skills at restaurants across the country.
“I grew up between Kansas City and Arkansas and started cooking at a young age,” Derrick says. “After high school, I joined the Marines as a cook and really fell in love with food—especially the way it’s presented in different cultures. Traveling around the world gave me a unique culinary perspective.”
After leaving the Marines, Derrick worked as a line cook at The Rieger in Kansas City, attended the Culinary Institute of America, and worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in New York and Los Angeles.
“Despite enjoying fine dining, I wanted to return to my roots,” Derrick says. “I started a KC-style barbecue pop-up in Santa Ana, California, and during that time, I began recipe testing what would become Mother Clucker! When we finally got the chance to bring it to Kansas City, we jumped on it, and we haven’t looked back since.”
Derrick and Kylie opened their first Mother Clucker! location at Parlor in Kansas City in 2018, their second location in Shawnee in 2022, and their most recent location at Park Place in Leawood this year.
Those dining at Mother Clucker! are treated to classic Nashville hot chicken, tenders, wings, house-made sauces, and original milkshakes. For anyone who prefers less spice, there are a variety of spice levels to choose from.
All for Wellness
Another newly opened business in Park Place is Perspire Sauna Studio, owned by Leena and Premal Bhakta. Leena’s inspiration for opening the franchise comes from her desire to improve her own wellness.
“I was driven by my … struggles with autoimmune disease for over 10 years,” Leena says. “Finally, over the last three, I made a commitment to own my health journey. I made lifestyle changes and saw my body functioning better. My medication was reduced because of those lifestyle changes. The next phase … was to introduce the infrared sauna to help further reduce inflammation in my body and remove toxins as well.”
When Leena could not find what she envisioned—a quick, clean, private studio she could access frequently—she researched possible franchises.
“Perspire was the brand that I felt most connected with,” says Leena.
It stood out to her for several reasons. The business combines infrared sauna and red-light therapy, which are ideal for autoimmune diseases. They also partner with research organizations.
“I love the aspect that it’s not just a business, but they’re truly invested in the health of the community,” Leena says.
Perspire has nine private suites, each with an infrared sauna, red-light therapy, a television, and color therapy or chromotherapy. The saunas provide full-spectrum infrared, so the wavelengths are broad—near, mid, and far—for a wider benefit. Some benefits of an infrared sauna and red-light therapy listed by manufacturers include prompting detox, boosting immunity, and burning calories. The studio offers a $20 special for first-time visitors and has several membership options. The memberships are month to month, with no long-term commitment required.
Even a Dentist
Another Park Place business that assists visitors with maintaining their overall health is The Smile Line Studio, a dental practice led by Dr. Geoff Kerns.
“My goal with my practice was to create a patient experience that was a little different from the typical dental office,” Kerns says. “We are well-versed in every aspect of dentistry, from cleanings to extractions to cosmetics … we are able to keep all of their treatments in one place and make sure (patients) are receiving comprehensive care.”
Kerns grew up in the area and has seen Park Place change and evolve.
“I liked the idea of being located in Leawood and Park Place because I think it’s a lively place where there is always someone walking by enjoying everything the area has to offer,” he says.
Leena was equally excited about opening a business here. “It’s a place we would come to for anniversaries, for date nights,” she says. “It’s so inviting, the fact that you can grab dinner, walk around and then get some ice cream, it’s so welcoming … the other boutiques that are here provide something that is so unique and it really fit Perspire because we are providing something unique as well.”
Unique and Vibrant
Derrick is also passionate about Mother Clucker!’s most recent location. “Leawood’s Park Place is a vibrant, growing area with a great mix of businesses and people who really appreciate high-quality food. It’s an ideal fit for us because it’s community-driven and has that energetic, lively atmosphere we love. Leawood felt like the perfect place to continue growing our brand.”
In addition to the high-quality shopping, dining, and wellness offerings at Park Place, a variety of seasonal events are planned for the coming months.
A Halloween Scavenger Hunt will take place on October 12, and Santa Claus will make his official debut during the Holiday Season Premiere on November 23.
The Ice at Park Place, a skating rink, will be open from mid-November through February.
With many locally owned businesses, Park Place is also an ideal spot to celebrate Small Business Saturday on November 30.
Even without special events, Park Place has a lot to offer.
Recent visitor Susan H. noted it’s “a great spot with many options to eat and shop and a nice little area for the kids to play during summer and ice skating during winter.”
For More
Park Place
11549 Ash St.
Leawood, KS 66211
Follow on Facebook and Instagram: @parkplaceleawood
Hours
11 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Saturday
Noon–5 p.m. Sunday
