Shawnee Magazine, Spring 2021 by Sunflower Publishing

SHAWNEE M A G A Z I N E

AZTEC THEATER KEEPING IT SIMPLE COMES BACK TO LIFE!

FOR DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS

spring/summer

2021

WATER VIEWS • TREES & MORE TREES WALKOUT HOME SITES • TRAILS INSIDE THE I-435 LOOP | SOUTH SIDE OF 71ST ST. BETWEEN PFLUMM & QUIVIRA, SHAWNEE, KS

SALES CENTER OPEN DAILY the MANORS

the RESIDENCES Estate Home Sites

Maintenance-Provided Villa Home Sites

From the mid $500’s

From the mid $700’s

From the low $500’s

Single Family Home Sites

the COTTAGES

913.340.3962 • KENNETHESTATES.COM KERWIN HOLLOWAY • KERWIN@REECENICHOLS.COM

HELLO SHAWNEE!

review public survey results!

Since September 2020, we’ve been working on the plan for the future of YOUR city. Visit AchieveShawnee.com to see what you’ve told us so far! Public Survey Launched the public survey to further refine YOUR priorities and topics to consider. It was open from November 6, 2020 to February 1, 2021. Visit the website or use the QR code above to view the results.

Existing Conditions Maps Studied the city’s existing conditions. See graphic illustrations of the city in its current state, including transportation networks; bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure; parks, recreation, and open space; current land uses; and zoning.

visit often! AchieveShawnee.com questions? email achieveshawnee@cityofshawnee.org

Visioning Workshop Hosted the first of many engagement events – the Visioning Workshop – for the Stakeholder Committee. This workshop took place in October 2020 to help set the priorities for YOUR plan for Shawnee’s future.

Welcome

shawnee magazine

SHAWNEE M A G A Z I N E

Editor Jean Teller Designer/Art Director Alex Tatro Copy Editor Leslie Andres Account Executive Angie Taylor Contributing Photographers Kevin Anderson Molly Kuplen Katie Lewis Sarah Reeves Contributing Writers Debra DeCoster Jill Dutton Jackie Hostetler

dear reader, Welcome to spring! It’s a time for a new year and new beginnings, with Mother Nature’s handiwork evident in the green tree buds and grass and the bright blooms gracing our gardens. And it’s a time for humans to emerge from both our usual winter hibernation and, as vaccines become more prevalent, from our year-long pandemic-fueled isolation to remember what life was like before 2020. We hope our spring issue of Shawnee Magazine will remind you of the fun we usually enjoy this time of year. Take a walk to visit all the beautiful—and historic—statues and markers scattered throughout town (“History Abounds in Shawnee” on page 12). For that first night out, stop at McLain’s Market for a bite with friends (“Expanding a KC tradition” on page 10) and at Pathlight Brewing (“Brews for All” on page 8) to hoist a beer or two in a toast to spring. When thinking of warmer temps and sunny skies, hockey is usually not on the agenda. But visit the KC Ice Center (“Score for Shawnee!’ on page 26) as a way to once again enjoy group sports, and it sure is fun to watch the little ones skating for the first time. Has communication with the family’s four-legged member broken down? With everyone home and talking at once, it may be time to call K.I.S.S. Dog Training (“Keeping It Simple” on page 16) for a refresher course for both human and canine members of the family. Many of us have been dreaming of a visit to a venue filled with live entertainment, and the new owners of the Aztec Theater are on the same page. Determined to return the building to its 1920s splendor, the owners have begun to book musical acts for the spring and summer, and they hope to screen vintage movies when temperatures begin to cool in the fall. Get all the details in “A Theater’s Nine Lives” on page 23. We’ll all remember the spring of 2021 as a new beginning. Keep in mind though, that whatever you decide to do this spring, we still need to stay safe. While we may be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the journey isn’t over yet. Here’s to spring!

Publisher Director

Beth Kornegay Bob Luder Kari Williams Bill Uhler Bob Cucciniello

Shawnee Chamber of Commerce President | CEO Chief Operating Officer Administrative Manager Member Engagement Manager Communications Manager

Ann Smith-Tate Mary Taylor Marlene Shirley Brandon Wilcox Dustin Wolfe

Visit Shawnee

Executive Director

Kevin Fern

Shawnee Economic Development Council Director, Business Development and Retention Projects Coordinator

Eric Ely Amy Niemann

Shawnee Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of Ogden Publications. sunflowerpub.com (888) 497-8668 FIND US ON

facebook

facebook.com/ShawneeMagazine

SHAWNEE M A G A Z I N E

Jean

On the cover

editor, Shawnee Magazine

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

The Aztec Theater shines in its newest incarnation. Photograph Kevin Anderson AZTEC THEATER KEEPING IT SIMPLE COMES BACK TO LIFE!

FOR DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS

spring/summer

2021

you have freedom 2.qxd:Layout 1

5/2/09

9:34 AM

Page 1

you have the freedom you have the

freedom

To plan for the future To protect your family To feel secure To relax

To plan for the future To protect your family To feel secure T To relax Talk to us about prearranging your funeral. When you take this T Talk can to usprevent about prearranging your protect funeral. your Whenfamily you take step you overspending, and conyouYou cancan prevent protect your trol this the step price. trustoverspending, us to help you make thefamily right deciT andsions. control the price. You can trust us to help you make the Then you can live your life now to the fullest. right decisions. Then you can live your life now to the fullest. T FUNERAL HOME FUNERAL HOME (913) 831-3345 (913) 831-3345 (913)(913) 831-3664 Fax 831-3664 Fax 33003300 Shawnee Dr.Dr. Shawnee KansasKansas City, City, KS 66106 KS 66106

CEMETERY

CEMETERY (913) 262-6610 (913) 262-6610 (913) 262-7859 Fax Fax (913) 262-7859 2301 South 2301 South 34th St. 34th St. Kansas City, KS 66106 Kansas City, KS 66106

www.maplehillfuneralhome.com

Shawnee Town 1929

We’re OPEN!  Tuesday - Saturday  10:00am - 4:30pm Field Trips Tour Guides Interactive Family Programs Workshops & Events Self-Guided Access Rentals

EXPLORE THE NEW 360° VIRTUAL TOUR!

11501 W. 57th Street, Shawnee Kansas  SHAWNEETOWN.ORG  913. 248.2360

Welcome

contents

DEPARTMENTS

BREWS FOR ALL

EXPANDING A KC TRADITION

HISTORY ABOUNDS IN SHAWNEE

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Friends combine brewing styles to create a unique beer experience.

McLain’s Market delights family and friends as a new gathering place.

Various statues, plaques, and memorials attest to the city’s heritage.

Using his education and job training, dog trainer finds his niche in Shawnee.

FEATURES

A THEATER’S NINE LIVES

The future of the building now known as the Aztec Theater looks bright as it returns to its theatrical beginnings.

SCORE FOR SHAWNEE!

KC Ice Center grows amid national hockey interest.

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

19 33 36 SHAWNEE MAP

VISITORS GUIDE

SHAWNEE EVENTS

Good news. Rates just got lower.

WITH TWO OFFICES TO SERVE YOU!

WA K A R U S A O R A L S U R G E RY & S H AW N E E O R A L S U R G E RY OFFER A FULL RANGE OF O R A L S U R G E RY P R O C E D U R E S Call to schedule any of your appointment needs!

I’m excited to announce auto insurance rates just went down. I can help you find coverage that works for you. LET’S TALK TODAY.

John Wills, Agent 6339 Long ste A Shawnee, KS 66216 Bus: 913-631-9007 john@jwills.net

• Dental Implants • Bone Grafting • Wisdom Teeth • Impacted Canines • Facial Trauma • Jaw Surgery • Oral Pathology • TMJ Disorders

Justin W. Labart DDS, MD

C A L L T O D AY WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL 1901155 State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, Richardson, TX

Ground

From humble beginnings more than 40 years ago to an instantly recognized name today, FedEx Ground is a leader in cost-effective, package ground shipping.

For more information, go to fedex.com.

4901 Legends Drive, Lawrence KS 66049 785-856-6010

6844 Silverheel Street, Shawnee, KS 66226 913-441-7868

www.wakashaw.com

Local

story by Jill Dutton photos by Kevin Anderson

business

Brews for All Friends combine brewing styles to create a unique beer experience.

heir vision was years in the making, a slow brew of minds and similar interests—with a bit of wild yeast mixed in. David and Beth Harris and Tanner Vaughn took what started as a friendship and a mutual interest in brewing and created a bright space in Shawnee for beer-lovers to sip IPAs and lagers, as well as experimental wild ales. Although David and Tanner met in the beer community—both are homebrewers— they had different styles. David was homebrewing IPAs, while Tanner was brewing wilds in his basement, plus some lagers and Belgium beers. They melded their expertise and set out to open a brewery. It took about a year to find the ideal space for Pathlight Brewing. They liked the location and the potential at the Shawnee location— what Beth refers to as a “blank canvas”—and settled in to create the brewery when they started renovations in 2019. They especially liked that Shawnee is, according to Beth, “going places.” “So we wanted to be here from the beginning of that,” Beth says. Upgrades to the building, originally the site of Johnny C’s Pizza, included all new windows, garage doors that open to the sidewalk and patio, a new bar and cold storage room, and the brewhouse. The new patio provides outdoor space and includes heaters for the winter months.

Beer 101 There’s something for every beer lover at Pathlight Brewing. That’s intentional, Beth says, as many brewers focus on one particular style. The trio wanted to offer IPAs for those who like the hoppier flavor, as well as lagers and a mix of different styles. Currently, they offer eight different beer styles with about 10 beers on tap.

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

While Tanner, the distiller, won’t say an IPA is his favorite, it is for Beth. “My personal favorite is going to be a hazy IPA that is hopsforward. They have hints of citrus and fruit flavors, and then they have like a little bit of a hops bite. But working here, my palate has evolved into liking more,” she says. The beer names are creative and many pay homage to the community. Pogo’s, a tribute to the dance club, is a 6.8% ABV hazy American IPA made with all American hops. Metrology is their experimental series that they’ll change the hops profile or beer style for each time. There are also brews titled Johnny C’s and Trailridge. For fruity beer lovers, there’s a tasty leaf Saison—“leaf ” meaning friendship or kindness—that rotates with different fruit flavors. The current offering is Red Hare, a raspberry Saison with citrus flavors on the front, and a coriander, peppery note to the back. With the raspberry puree, it has the fruit component and still tastes like a Saison. There’s also a fully automated canning system in-house so you can take your favorite brew home in a can (or growler). Each style is available for a limited time. When they release a new beer, a set number of cans are filled. Once those are gone, that particular brew won’t be available again until it’s re-released. In addition to the craft brews, the bar sells primarily high-end whiskey and bourbon for anyone wanting a nightcap, plus canned wine, non-alcoholic beer, and soft drinks.

Wild Ale Traditional ales use Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer’s yeast) to brew beer, whereas wild ales utilize ambient yeast captured from the environment. These wild microbes are used in place of traditional yeast. The Length of time needed to brew leads to a distinctive depth of flavors. An experimental offering at Pathlight Brewing is their wild ale program where their yeast strains are cultivated to brew beer. The beer is transferred to large puncheons before the wild yeast is added. After the cultivated yeast strain is added, it sits for 9 to 18 months. The beer started brewing before they opened the bar, and they hope to release it this summer. Two of the variations include grapes that Tanner says will be popular with wine drinkers. Tanner says of the strains he cultivated: “I’ve developed a strain to kind of throw more of a lemon-citrusy kind of component. And then I have a strain that has a tendency (to throw) more like stone fruit and peaches’ kinds of characteristics. I’ve learned how to direct beer to go in directions I want with those yeast strains. That’s what I have to introduce to people—a very balanced, a very approachable beer, but more dynamic.” Opening during a pandemic has held its challenges, but Beth says they’re pleased with the community support. Plus, the space is so large that it allows them to “separate people in a safe way, and we take pride in being able to do that.” With the current offerings that change with each brew cycle, there are plenty of trendy as well as comfortable favorites to enjoy at Pathlight Brewing. The promise of wild ales, food trucks, and new craft offerings in the future means everyone has a reason to keep coming back.

Brew master Tanner Vaughn and Beth Harris (in photo), along with David Harris, welcome visitors to the new Pathlight Brewery in Shawnee. A cooler holds cans of beer, canned on the premises, just waiting for someone to take them home.

For More Pathlight Brewery

11200 W. 75th St. PathlightBrewing.com Facebook: PathlightBrewing Instagram: pathlightbrewing #LightThePath Hours: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays & Thursdays Noon to 10 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays Noon to 6 p.m. Sundays Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Local

story by Debra DeCoster photos by Kevin Anderson

business

Expanding a KC Tradition McLain’s Market delights family and friends as a new gathering place.

ach morning the scent of fresh cinnamon rolls, Danishes, warm breads, and freshly roasted coffee permeates the air around McLain’s Market in Shawnee. They opened last June during the pandemic. “COVID has been absolutely brutal to the restaurant industry. We felt lucky that our new location had a drive-through. We opened it from day one,” says Mollie Lothman, co-owner of McLain’s Market. The owners—Greg and Kathy Hirleman, their son Jeff Hirleman and daughter Mollie Lothman—decided to proceed amid the pandemic with the opening of their latest McLain’s Market in the former OK Garage.

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

Residents familiar with the former garage will recognize the metal walls that have been refurbished. When Jeff Hirleman began the remodel of the building, he worked to keep some of the original design in place. “We kept the original metal walls that were in the garage. They were bright green, blues, and one yellow wall all constructed from metal. We cleaned them up and have made plans for an artist to come and do a magnet mural for us,” Mollie says. Opening a new business during a pandemic left the family feeling unsure how business would be. “Opening three months into COVID, we had pretty low expectations on sales. We were pleasantly surprised by our sales as

we watched people come to our new location,” Mollie says. Despite the pandemic, the community has welcomed them into their neighborhood. “We have been floored at how awesome the community has been and continues to be in supporting us,” she says. Customers can order bakery or lunch items at the drive-through or by placing an order online and using the store’s contactless pick up. “We are definitely looking forward to the day when the store can be full and everyone can experience the true McLain’s experience,” she says. Customers can select fresh breakfast sandwiches, and an extensive lunch menu offers sandwiches, salads, and soups. Patrons can soothe their sweet tooth with cinnamon rolls, Danishes, cakes, cookies, or other desserts. Customer Julie Krause says, “Their cakes have been a part of all of my children’s weddings—they are delish!” She was attracted to the business due to their long-standing history in the Kansas City metro. “Butter rolls, Danishes, cookies, lunch items, you name it, everything is so good. Sip on your favorite drink, eat an indulgent pastry, sit on the patio and engage in conversation with your family and friends,” Julie says. McLain’s Market offers a number of classic dishes. For breakfast, customers can enjoy the pepperjack burrito with sausage, egg, potatoes, and a serrano sauce; McLain’s Market bowl, a mixture of meat, eggs, vegetables, avocado, and cheese; or the Plain and Simple item with eggs, bacon, and cheese on an English muffin. “Everything is baked and made in-house,” Mollie says. First-time visitors to McLain’s are treated to a free cookie. “It is our signature cookie that is a mini pecan sandie, with our own dollop of chocolate icing on top. It is the perfect mixture of salty and sweet,” she says. Customer Kathleen Whalen is drawn to the bakery items. “We always order a coffee and pick up a bag of granola each time we visit. My husband loves their cookies. It sparks joy in his heart just knowing a box is sitting in our pantry,” Kathleen says.

Try the Coffee! Staff members encourage first-time visitors to try the homemade cinnamon roll or cheese Danish. And the recommendations do not stop there; the staff also recommends the freshly brewed coffee. Jeff ’s focus is on the coffee side of the business. They opened their coffee roasting company, Sway Coffee Roasters, and moved production from Kansas City, Missouri, to the Shawnee store. “We really try to do about 95 percent of everything in-house. We used to purchase our coffee from other roasters. They were all great, but as we continued to grow, it began to make sense to bring it in-house,” Mollie says.

Delicious bakery goods (page 10) are the signature of McClain’s Market and Bakery, now in Shawnee. The latest location has large windows (left), along with large display cases spotlighting all the goodies.

For More

McLain’s Market

5833 Nieman Road 913-215-9288 MclainsKC.com/shawnee Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays

As Jeff learned the coffee business, he built relationships with coffee growers in other countries. The coffee beans roasted at the Shawnee store are used in other McLain’s stores, and they sell bags of their coffee to customers. McLain’s Market is where Jennifer Young stops for her cup of coffee. “I love that they locally roast their own coffee beans,” she says. Besides coffee, she has ordered breakfast and lunch sandwiches. “I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. They have great food,” she says.

All in the Family Operating a business together has helped siblings Mollie and Jeff realize dreams they had back in college. She wanted to run a bakery; he wanted to operate a coffee shop. “About two years after our discussion, my dad received an email about a bakery in the Waldo area for sale. The bakery had been in business for 75 years. My dad passed that information along to us. Within six weeks, we had bought the business and were running it,” Mollie laughs. They purchased the bakery in March 2014. They opened their second location in 2016 and expanded their made-to-order food. Their other locations are in Waldo, Overland Park, and Lawrence. “As we expanded our made-to-order food, it received a huge following. We began pushing our coffee line at the same time. As a company, we want to provide a fun atmosphere, a place at McLain’s to come and meet with family and friends and enjoy a great experience,” Mollie says.

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Local

story by Bob Luder photos by Molly Kuplen

seasonal

History Abounds in Shawnee Various statues, plaques, and memorials attest to the city’s heritage.

s longtime Shawnee Parks and Recreation director Neil Holman sees it, a city knows it has a rich and storied history when it’s a “history worth talking about.” That explains why visitors to Shawnee, as well as residents, can gaze upon an abundance of statues and historical markers throughout the city, in particular when they head in from the east on Shawnee Mission Parkway and travel north on Nieman Road between the parkway and Johnson Drive. “Shawnee’s the oldest city in Johnson County and the first capital of the Kansas Territory,” Holman says. “ The city’s history is something to be proud of.”

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

Indeed, while the history of Shawnee began in the early 18th century, it was during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the town grew to importance as a stop-over and popular restocking location for pioneers headed west. More than 600 wagons a week rolled through the area, many headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the Santa Fe Trail, one of four major trails that intersected in the area (including the Oregon Trail, California Road, and the Leavenworth Military Road). The natural springs in Shawnee made it a good stop for travelers to water horses and led to the original naming of the town as Gum Springs in 1856. Soon after, the town’s name was changed

to Shawneetown and later shortened to Shawnee, in reference to the Shawnee American Indian tribe. By the 1920s, Shawnee became known as a center for truck farmers, who distributed goods from Kansas throughout the country. “That enabled Shawnee to weather the Great Depression,” says Charles Pautler, museum director at Shawnee Town 1929. Much of the town’s history is recorded on plaques, landmarks, tombstones, buildings, and statues. Many of these displays can be observed with just a couple of turns—entering Shawnee from Merriam, heading west on Shawnee Mission Parkway, turning right onto

Why just visit when you can LIVE here? Let a lifelong Shawnee resident and real estate expert help you find your next home!

Nieman, and taking a left onto Johnson Drive—and driving past City Hall and toward Shawnee Town 1929. Here’s some of what visitors can see, starting from the eastern entrance to town.

Pioneer Crossing Park The centerpiece of the park comprises two large sculptures designed by local artist Charles Goslin, who’s responsible for much of the artwork throughout Shawnee. The first is a high-relief sculpture—60 feet long, 12 feet high, and 8 feet deep and molded in concrete and bronze—of a wagon train led by two bronze oxen and a pioneer woman walking alongside. The other is a limestone and bronze statue of Dick Williams, a Shawnee wagon master who led freight trains along the Santa Fe Trail. Just to the west of the wagon train mural are five signs—a trail map, and information about Williams and the four trails that converged at the crossing. The park was dedicated in September 2007 to commemorate the Shawnee Sesquicentennial in 2006. Scheduled to be erected later this year, about a quarter mile west of Pioneer Crossing Park, is a statue of legendary frontiersman Wild Bill Hickok, who owned land in the mid-19th century in what now is western Shawnee. The Hickok statue will symbolize the pioneers moving west from Pioneer Crossing. The display will also include informational landmark signs about Hickok and for the Star Blacksmith Shop and Williams’ old house, which was located at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Nieman before being demolished in 1959.

Each Keller Williams Realty office is independently owned and operated.

The Nieman Corridor A right turn quickly takes you to a landmark placard for Star Blacksmith Shop, at 6134 Nieman. Jeremiah King operated the shop on a branch of the Santa Fe Trail and served military freighters, immigrants, soldiers, Native Americans, and • All Care Day Child Care Preschool Preschool • All Day Child townspeople, shoeing horses and oxen and repairing wagons Certified•Teachers • 12 to Kindergarten Certified Teachers 12 months to months Kindergarten and farm equipment. A couple blocks north and east on Nieman takes you to the Early Childhood EarlyLearners Childhood Center offers Center childrenoffers the children the territorial governor’s mansion. When the Kansas territory opened Little LearnersLittle opportunity to explore, create, and imagine while they develop for settlement in 1854, Shawnee became its first capital. Andrew opportunity to explore, create, and imagine while they develop academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. H. Reeder was the first governor. These opportunities take place in a safe, nurturing One block north of that sits what’s left of the Shawnee Indian These opportunities take place in a safe, nurturing environment environment underofthe guidance of a highly a highly qualified, caringqualified, teachingcaring staff. teaching staff. Cemetery. Today, there is just one-half acre with a few gravestones under the guidance remaining. But a prominent one sits in the back corner—a fiveofthe Eudora the K-10 Corridor. minutesjust east15ofminutes Eudoraeast along K-10along Corridor. foot-tall gravestone of Chief Joseph Parks, the first elected chief of Located just 15Located the Shawnee. The cemetery also is known as Bluejacket Cemetery,

Call 913-254-1818 Call 913-254-1818 to enroll. to enroll.

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

www.kslittlelearners.com sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE 13 www.kslittlelearners.com 13

Local

seasonal

named after Chief Charles Bluejacket, the last great Shawnee chief and a Methodist minister. A half block north of the cemetery site sits the Gum Springs Historical Marker, which indicates the location of the spring that provided water for early settlers. Legend has it that the area was so swampy from spring waters that logs of gum trees were laid to facilitate the approach to the spring, and those logs were said to sweeten the water.

Turning toward Shawnee Town 1929 Heading west and crossing in front of City Hall on Johnson Drive, you’ll find a historical marker, which commemorates the October 17, 1862, raid on Shawnee by Quantrill’s Raiders in which 13 buildings were burned to the ground and two men were killed. This raid occurred just six weeks after Quantrill’s raid on Olathe and a few months before Lawrence was raided and burned.

“Shawnee’s the oldest city in Johnson County and the first capital of the Kansas Territory. The city’s history is something to be proud of.”

Two views of the Hands of Freedom monument shows the granite obelisks and the marker at Veterans Tribute Park (above), and the bronze globe bisected by the flag pole (left).

—Neil Holman A couple blocks west take you to Herman Laird Park, Shawnee Town 1929, and the “Taking Time” tribute statue to Chief Charles Bluejacket, also created by Goslin. Chief Bluejacket, who moved to Shawnee from Ohio in 1832, enriched the area as a farmer, Shawnee tribal chief, military captain, and minister. He was also a respected father, and the large bronze statue shows him holding two small children. Inside the visitors’ center at Shawnee Town 1929 is a statue and plaque commemorating “The Vanishing Farmer.”

Off the Beaten Path Yet another Goslin creation is the Blackfish Monument, a medicine wheel-shaped stone structure that celebrates Blackfish, a Shawnee chief who owned much of the land in the western part of town. It sits at the intersection of Blackfish Parkway and Pflumm Road. Finally, we mustn’t forget the Hands of Freedom monument in Veterans Tribute Park, at Johnson Drive and Pflumm. Twin granite obelisks reach upward and hold a bronze globe symbolizing American military efforts to preserve freedom. The monument is surrounded by granite benches dedicated to fallen military heroes. “Shawnee has such a rich history,” Pautler says. “We don’t know where we’re going until we study the past. It’s not just black and white, but a lot of different colors. It’s important to take stock of who we are. “These recent times have been challenging times. But history is always there.”

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

For More

Shawnee Parks & Recreation

13817 Johnson Drive 913-631-5200 CityOfShawnee.org/departments/parks_recreation

Shawnee Town 1929 11501 W. 57th St. 913-248-2360 ShawneeTown.org

We Love Helping You Reach All Of Your Real Estate Goals YOUR REAL ESTATE EXPERT SINCE 2005

GADWOODGROUP.COM

12430 W. 62nd Terrace Shawnee KS, 66216

O: 913.481.0334 C: 913.206.4228 Find Out The Value Of Your Home Visit: www.nexthomegadwoodgroup.smarthomeprice.com

MOLLY MAID OF JOHNSON COUNTY

Local

story by Jackie Hostetler photos by Sarah Reeves

resume

Keeping It Simple Using his education and job training, dog trainer finds his niche in Shawnee.

the garden sampler tour

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

A water fall is just one of the features found in the Harwood Garden.

id you know your dog is as smart as a 2-year-old? Mike Deathe, founder and owner of K.I.S.S. Dog Training in Shawnee, certainly does. In fact, that’s what his entire business model is built around. “I always joke with people that you’re going to use a lot of the same techniques with your dog that you’d use with a 2-year-old,” says Deathe. It’s only natural that Deathe would compare dogs to people, given his background in the field of human psychology. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a psychology degree. From there, Deathe used his people skills as district manager for an automotive maintenance company. After more than 15 years in the industry, he quit his job to stay home with his children. Looking back, Deathe recognizes the transition was his first step toward becoming a dog trainer. “You can only watch so many Gilligan’s Island reruns,” Deathe says. “While the kids were at school, I picked up a part-time job at Pet Smart.” The longer Deathe worked at Pet Smart, the clearer it became to him that dog training was all about psychology. “It’s all Pavlov and Skinner. It’s basic learning theory, which I’d already studied in college,” he says. Deathe’s extensive knowledge of psychology, paired with his business and sales background, made him the perfect candidate to provide as well as sell dog-training classes. “Next thing I knew I was a dog trainer, and then I was an area trainer. As the timeline progressed, I determined that I wanted to work in people’s homes,” he says, Because Pet Smart did not provide this service, Deathe signed a six-month non-compete clause and began making plans to open his own business. What resulted was K.I.S.S. Dog Training. And, yes, that acronym does stand for what you think it does. “Keep It Simple Stupid Dog Training just fit,” he says of the name. “My sister is a retired art teacher, and she drew my first logo. I remember a heated conversation … where she said, ‘You can’t call your clients stupid!’ and I said, ‘Yes, I can.’” Deathe’s amusing approach to naming his business is a reflection not only of his humorous side but also of his dogtraining principles. “I do like to bring humor into dog training because, usually, there is already a pretty high level of frustration involved by the time people have hired me. If we can barb and laugh at ourselves and the mistakes we’ve made, it’s a lot easier to keep things fresh and open,” he laughs. Deathe’s model of going into the homes of pet owners to train their dogs is a far cry from stupid. In fact, it’s smart on a number

For More K.I.S.S Dog Training 913-269-7595 www.KISSDogTraining.com

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Local

resume

Tricks of the Trade Mike Deathe is pretty sharp when it comes to all things dogs. Here’s a quick rundown of his answers to a few big pet ponderances:

of levels. First, it allows for personalized and specific training. “It’s tough to bring a dog into a sterile environment and get them to show the problem behaviors they’re having in the house,” Deathe says. “For example, if it’s a barking issue, I need to see if it was the mailman at the front door causing the problem. It’s a lot easier to see the behavior in the dog’s world, and then fix it there.” The model also cuts down on business expenses. “If you’ve got 100-foot-by-100-foot facility, there’s a large lease payment, electricity, and other overhead involved,” Deathe says. With this unique and savvy business model, he still finds ways to socialize dogs and teach group classes. “Over the years, I’ve worked with Great Plains SPCA and Bar K (an off-leash dog park and bar in the River Market area). I partner with places like that to do my group classes.” In the 11 years since Deathe started K.I.S.S., he has provided multiple classes, trained countless dogs, and written eight books on the subject of dog training. He has also expanded his business to include another trainer. Business is booming despite some of the economic challenges faced in recent months. “I’m very fortunate to be in this business, in that everyone and their uncle went out and got COVID puppies,” says Deathe of the impacts of the pandemic on his business. “Everybody wanted a buddy to spend (lockdown) with, but a lot of people did not

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

realize the amount of work that was going to be required …. The business is, at least, at the same level it was before COVID, or maybe even a slight uptick.” Like every other business in the country, Deathe has had to get creative to deliver his services over the past year. “For the first four to six months of the pandemic, we did everything outdoors or via Zoom. Zoom is really hard, but we’ve got a lot of resources to support our clients. We’ve got pretty healthy social media accounts, blogs, and a YouTube Channel,” he says. Deathe finds support from the other trainer who works with K.I.S.S., Karen Engwall. Engwall is an elementary teacher turned dog trainer whom Deathe met when he was mentoring a dog training organization. “We jokingly call her the Puppy Princess of K.I.S.S. Dog Training because she loves working with puppies,” Deathe says. “The puppies are definitely her wheelhouse.” As for the future of K.I.S.S. Dog Training, Deathe hopes to continue to grow as a business, and as an individual. “Of our eight books, two of them are now audio books on Audible.com. It’s my goal to get all the books completed on audio. I’d also like to hire two to four more trainers and work in a consultant role. I’d love to see my job branch into travel and public speaking,” Deathe says. “If you’re not moving forward, you’re standing still.” And standing still is out of the question for a dog trainer.

• How can I stop my dog from being naughty? “If we can reward good behavior, they’ll repeat it. If we ignore or redirect bad behavior, we can turn bad behaviors into good behaviors.” • How much force can I use with a dog? “If you wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it with a 2-year-old, I probably wouldn’t be doing it with a dog.” • What breed of dog should I get? “I think it’s important for people to look themselves in the mirror to see what kind of personality they have (before) choosing a dog. Are you a runner? You want (an animal) that can get out there and run with you all day long like a German shorthair. If you want to do activities with a dog, get a herding breed because they’re smart.” • What’s the secret to training dogs? “It’s really not training the dogs. It’s training the humans. The dogs aren’t usually the ones with the problem.” • Thoughts on cats? “Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.”

Out & About in Shawnee

Pull out this map to explore Shawnee!

PARKS AND MORE

SHAWNEE

5 6 4

K A N S A S

Find a recreational outlet perfect for you and your family. Visit Stump Park with a walking trail, playground, shelters, and athletic fields. Or find your way to Mill Creek Streamway Park with its 14 miles of walking and biking trails, including the Gary L. Haller Trailer, designated a National Recreation Trail and stretching from Nelson Island on the Kansas River, crossing through Shawnee before it ends in Olathe. And don’t forget the equestrian trails at Mill Creek and Shawnee Mission Park.

1 7 culture

outside

misc.

What & Where Shawnee Golf and Country Club Stump Park Mid-America West Mid-America Sports Complex Kansas City Ice Center Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball Mill Creek Streamway Park Starwood Park Shawnee Mission Park The Theatre in the Park Tomahawk Hills Golf Course Holiday Inn Express & Suites Courtyard by Marriott Hampton Inn Comfort Inn & Suites Fairfield Inn & Suites B&B Theatres/Music Theatre Kansas City The University of Kansas Health System Park Lanes Swarner Park Veterans Park Johnson County Library Thomas A. Soetart Aquatic Center Civic Centre 22 Incredible Pizza Company 23 Caenen Castle 24 Shawnee Town 1929 Herman Laird Park 25 Splash Cove 26 City Hall 27 Downtown Shawnee 28 Overland Park Regional Medical Center - ER of Shawnee 29 Pioneer Crossing Park 30 Centra Care Urgent Care Shawnee 31 SkyZone 32 Jaycee Park 33 Listowel Park 34 AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Explore the Visitors Guide (pg. 33) for dining and retail listings.

12 Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC BY-SA, www.openstreetmap.org

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

15 14

v 9

TO K-10

PLAY TIME! Visit Park Lanes for bowling and more; discover wonderful flavors and more fun at Incredible Pizza Company; or escape to SkyZone, where you’ll defy the law of gravity by soaring through the air only to make a soft landing amid a pool of foam squares, or reach for new heights on the trampoline court.

28 29

GO GREEN

16 17

Explore a locally owned tree nursery and garden center in the heart of Shawnee! Stop into Family Tree Nursery and explore beautiful shrubs, flowers, trees, succulents, and more than you can imagine. Best of all, local roaster Thou Mayest has set up a shop, Café Equinox, in the nursery so you can get your caffeine fix while browsing.

VISIT DOWNTOWN Make your way to the corner of Nieman Road and Johnson Drive to experience Shawnee’s core. On your way, take a moment at any of the pocket parks along Nieman Road. Afterwards stop at Transport or Servaes breweries for a fresh, local brew or Drastic Measures for a craft cocktail. Grab tasty street tacos at Sancho Streetside or a pastry at McLain’s Market and Bakery.

Comfort Inn & Suites 67 Rooms bit.ly/ComfortInnShawnee 913-962-5555

Courtyard by Marriott 90 Rooms marriott.com/mcism 913-631-8800

Fairfield Inn & Suites 78 rooms bit.ly/FairfieldInnShawnee 913-248-4444

Hampton Inn 127 Rooms bit.ly/HamptonInnShawnee 913-248-1900

Holiday Inn Express 114 Rooms holidayinnexpressshawneeks.com 913-400-2509

A Theater’s Nine Lives The future of the building now known as the Aztec Theater looks bright as it returns to its theatrical beginnings.

Story by Beth Kornegay | Photos by Kevin Anderson

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Whether You Are Buying Or Selling, I Have Your Back

Anica Milberger

REALTOR®, ABR®, PSA 816.719.3300 lovemykchome.com

hen a movie theater opened in downtown Shawnee on Labor Day of 1927, it quickly became a central hub of social activity. Over the years, it held memories for area children and adults alike, but since the 1990s, the building has been an empty shell, just waiting to be brought back to magnificent life. Thanks to three Shawnee residents, the Aztec Theater is now filled with music, and classic movies are on the horizon. Originally named the Mission Theater, reflecting the mission style of architecture, the theater was built by Shawnee’s third mayor, Marion Summerour. Summerour served as Shawnee’s mayor from 1927 to 1931 and was a partner in a business located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, that supplied hotels and other companies with chandeliers. He and his wife, Helen, lived near the theater and quickly realized the enthusiasm of Shawnee residents as they looked forward to “going to the show” each week. Especially in the sweltering heat of summer, guests at the Mission Theater enjoyed an early form of air conditioning. Behind the stage is a cistern that used to be filled with spring water, which was used to cool the building via fans blowing the moist air up a ramp into the theater seating area. It was Johnson County’s first building with air conditioning. The beige stucco building located at 11119 Johnson Drive has changed ownership several times. It was owned by

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

Dickinson Theatres from 1949 to 1974 when it was renamed the Aztec Theater. It was later sold to the Shawnee State Bank. Over the years, the theater stayed empty, filled with bank records stored by the Shawnee State Bank, which was located just a few doors to the east. When Commerce Bank merged with the Shawnee State Bank, those records were moved, and the theater sat empty for years, just waiting to be saved. In 1998, Shawnee’s chief codes administrator inspected the 4,200-squarefoot building when the City of Shawnee was considering purchasing the Aztec for just $61,000. The inspection revealed many alterations that would need to be made in order for the building to be safely used again, including making the restrooms wheelchair accessible, replacing the heating and air

conditioning systems, adding an additional fire exit and sprinkler system, and reconstructing and enlarging the stage. The cost at that time, estimated to be between $315,000 and $420,000, didn’t take into account addressing asbestos that may be found or repairing any roof damage. The city ultimately unanimously voted against the purchase. Over the years, there have been multiple owners and would-be owners of the Aztec, all with different visions about how to renovate the space and how to use it. It wasn’t until brothers Jeff and Chris Calkins and their business partner Bruce Young put their energies together that the Aztec truly came back to life in what they refer to as a labor of love. The Calkins brothers knew Young through their mutual love of classic cars and jukeboxes. They were looking for a third partner and knew

The newly renovated Aztec Theater in Shawnee contains details true to the historic nature of the building, including the 1920-style architectural features inside the bathrooms and the original 1927 glass blocks of the ticket booth complete with inlaid color lights.

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Young was perfect since they all shared the same passions. In February 2017, the three began negotiations with the building’s owner to purchase and renovate the theater. In June of that year, the contract was put together, and a few months later, the Shawnee City Council approved a $250,000 grant to be used solely for the renovation of the theater. In October 2017, the contract was finalized and the sale was complete. Now the work could begin. The partners were adamant that they did not want any sort of tax increment financing (TIF) to help pay for the renovations in order to bring the building up to code. That type of financing would have affected property values and taxes of surrounding businesses as a way of raising funds to renovate the Aztec. While investment money is going into the theater right now, plans are being made to bring business into the theater to help with cash flow. Weekend concerts are currently happening, and the partners will show movies in the near future. Private events and reunions are also being booked. “We’ve always talked about reopening the Aztec. We only thought about movies, but with Bruce’s music connections, we quickly realized we would also want to have concerts here. We’re getting so much satisfaction and joy out of seeing people have fun,” Jeff Calkins says. In addition to the money they’ve invested to purchase and renovate the theater, the partners spent countless hours of their own labor in lieu of hiring contractors. The Calkins brothers, who own Shawnee’s Calkins Electric Supply Co. just

two blocks north of the Aztec, were able to work on the wiring and electrical installation. Once the structure of the building was secured, the partners worked out the painstaking details to create a theater with new amenities while keeping true to the historic nature of the theater itself. Wanting to preserve as much of the original feel of the theater as possible, the partners have considered the smallest details. In the lobby, the glass blocks of the ticket booth are the same ones that graced the same ticket booth when the theater opened in 1927. While not original to the building, the lobby’s vintage Manley Co. popcorn machine is the same type that would have been in the lobby of the Mission Theater. The basket weave marble flooring in the restrooms on the first floor was matched to the original flooring in the original second floor bathroom. The chandeliers date from the 1920s and came from the Brookside Theater. They have been updated with LED lights. The 195 seats inside the theater aren’t vintage, but they do have a local tie. When the Crown Center Cinema closed in the 1980s, those seats went unused. They were purchased for the Aztec, stripped of their red cloth covering, and updated with black vinyl. The most historically significant piece of history isn’t inside the theater. The neon marquee on the front of the building originally hung at the Plaza Theater in Abilene, Kansas. Its claim to fame? Dwight Eisenhower walked under that marquee after announcing inside the theater that he would run for president of the United States. When the Abilene theater was

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

While the vintage Manley Co. popcorn machine is not the original, it is the same type that would have been found in the Mission Theatre in 1927. The three principal owners of Aztec Shawnee Theater are (from left) Chris Calkins, Jeff Calkins, and Bruce Young.

Memorabilia Search Do you have any memorabilia from the Mission Theater or Aztec Theater that you’d like to donate? Interested in renting the Aztec for a private event or checking availability of the outside marquee? If so, contact the partners via the Aztec’s website, www.AztecShawnee. com, or via Facebook (AztecShawneeTheater) or Instagram (AztecShawnee); all contain information on upcoming concerts and other events. For more information, email jeffc@AztecShawnee.com or call 913-207-4148.

Bundle. Save. Simple. For More Aztec Theater

11119 Johnson Drive 913-207-4147 www.AztecShawnee.com

movies will be better on a digital projection system. “It’s about the experience of being in the atmosphere and being at the movies,” Jeff Calkins says. “There’s just something really special about a single-screen theater that makes it so much better than a megaplex. “ Partner Bruce Young grew up in Shawnee and remembers going to the Aztec in the 1950s and 1960s on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Parents would drop their youngsters off at the theater to watch movies like The Bowery Boys film series, Sinbad, and cartoons for a quarter. Young always bought his favorite candy, a Slo-Poke sucker. He is also an avid vintage movie poster collector and has collected memorabilia related to the theater for many years, never knowing he might one day be one of the owners. While the history of the Aztec theater is rich, the partners are looking forward to forging their own path, keeping the past and future alive for generations to come. One thing they’re doing to leave their mark on the Aztec is to have the musical acts that perform on the stage autograph a door in the upstairs office. “The former Aztec had its own history and now we’ll have our own history as well,” Jeff Calkins says.

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Kurt Sumrall 913-748-2472

6100 Nieman Rd., Ste. 103 Shawnee, KS 66203 kurtsumrall@allstate.com I'm always here with local advice you can trust. Prices vary based on how you buy. Not applicable in CA. Based on coverage selected. Savings vary. Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. © 2019 Allstate Insurance Co.

F a l l

2 0 2 0

Leo Hayden The Art of

Legends, Celebrities and Locals

a community guide

SIX PHOTOGRAPHERS SHARE THEIR BEST TAKES ON MANHATTAN

$7 / sunflowerpub.com / spring 2020

Scenes from Home th e b eauty aro un d us

Our special photography issue! Six photographers present their responses to five themes about Topeka and the visual inspiration surrounding us.

and our creative team will provide you the experience and resources to produce your job quickly and effectively.

(785) 832-7264 | SUNFLOWERPUB.COM

13864104

destroyed by a tornado, the marquee was purchased and moved to Shawnee. While the current Aztec marquee has been updated with LED lighting, the colorful scrolled neon is original. Now, the marquee announces community events, to wish citizens happy birthday or happy retirement, and to promote upcoming weekend concerts happening at the Aztec. The letters themselves are vintage and came with the theater. The 10-inch- and 12-inch-tall plastic letters are brittle and incredibly fragile. When the partners were looking for additional letters, the only place they could find them was in Harvey, Louisiana. It cost more to safely package and ship the additional letters than the actual purchase price of the original letters. Looking ahead, the partners have already experienced success bringing musical acts to the Aztec each weekend. By early fall, they are planning to begin showing weekday evening movies from the 1920s to the 1990s, including westerns, science fiction films, and comedies. Originally they planned to find a restored vintage projector to show the movies; they soon realized the quality of

Life can be complicated. I'm here to help simplify your insurance. Plus, the more you protect, the more you can save. Call or stop by today for a free quote.

Score for Shawnee! KC Ice Center grows amid national hockey interest. Story by Kari Williams | Photos by Katie Lewis

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

nterest in hockey has seen a gradual increase in the past decade, giving the Kansas City Ice Center an assist. “The program has literally gone bonkers with hockey expanding in the United States,” says Tom Prendergast, KCIC’s adult hockey commissioner. “If we had another rink, it would get bigger.” When Prendergast first moved to the Kansas City area in 1988, there were four adult hockey teams playing at King Louie West, which has since become the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center. Those teams then moved to what would become KCIC, he says. “When Pepsi Ice Center West came online, more ice meant more teams,” Prendergast says of the nowdefunct Overland Park skating rink. There are now more than 30 adult teams, according to Prendergast. USA Hockey’s membership throughout the past 10 years has seen a similar, gradual increase. In its 2009–2010 season, the organization reported 474,592 members, and, in 2019–2020, it reported 561,700 (www.USAHockey.com/membershipstats).

KCIC’s Growth KCIC has been a part of the Shawnee community for more than two decades, and in the nearly 10 years that manager Dean Nelson has worked at the center, class sizes and frequency have increased. About 10 years ago, KCIC, 19900 Johnson Drive, started its Learn to Play Hockey program with 10 players and now has around 140. Today, there also is a greater emphasis on developing players, according to Prendergast. “Back in the old days, you pretty much had to know how to skate and know how to play before you actually got on a team,” he says. The Learn to Skate program also has seen an increase, which Nelson says has benefited the figure skating and hockey clubs. Those programs, Prendergast says, provide an opportunity for children who have no prior experience to be introduced to the game. “Nowadays, (you) have a much, much better way for kids to get into the sport and actually become proficient at skating before they put a hockey stick in their hand,” he says. The Kansas City Stars youth club has between 400 and 450 players, while the adult league has about 350, Nelson says. KCIC also hosts two “try hockey for free” events per year—once in February and again in

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

For More Kansas City Ice Center

19900 Johnson Drive 913-441-3033 www.KCIceCenter.com

November—in conjunction with its hockey association, KC Stars. “It’s always in the top in the nation of kids coming out and trying hockey,” Nelson says. The most recent event drew 119 children, many of whom joined programs at KCIC. The center also holds a winter classic tournament for its youth hockey league and spring and winter figure skating shows. Hockey remains the biggest draw for the center though, Nelson says, figure skating has seen some growth as well. “Hockey is the one that has really exploded over the years,” he says. He credited that to awareness and consistency. “Half a million people come through our doors in a year,” Nelson says. “Having the programs available and having them consistent and running good programs at the same times are very important to people.” For Prendergast, who also plays in the adult league, one of the draws is the flexibility of working around players’ schedules. The league also is about 20% women, he says. “KCIC is in a pretty good place in regard to the city and where the hockey playing population is,” Prendergast says. Prendergast coached the University of Kansas Hockey Team from 2006 to 2010 and stepped back on the ice himself after that role ended. “My two boys were playing. I thought it would be fun to play with those guys. Back then I was probably 50,” Prendergast says. To step back on

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

the ice as a player, he says he didn’t know if he could still play. “It looks a lot easier on the outside of the glass versus the inside of the glass,” Prendergast says. Before working with the adult league, Prendergast was KCIC’s rink manager and the junior blades president; he spent time at Pepsi Ice Center West, where he started KC Stars, and he also ran a high school hockey league.

Built-in Marketing KCIC owners added an outdoor pavilion in 2012, which Nelson says has given KCIC “drive-by” visibility from motorists on Johnson Drive, serving as a marketing tool. “We’re getting large number of people saying (they) never knew there was an ice rink there,” Nelson says. The outdoor pavilion—which is the size of a regulation NHL rink—is the center’s biggest draw, he says. “Every sheet of ice that we can add to the area is going to grow the game and grow the participation,” Nelson says. After adding the outdoor rink, public skate participation increased between 30% to 40% because, Nelson says, people wanted to “skate outside in the open air.” Outdoor public skates typically brought in 150 to 200 people per twohour timeslot, Nelson says. “We’re looking forward to when things start getting back to normal here with all of us and looking at bringing back those public skates,” Nelson says.

Downtown Shawnee

Local Vendors Crafts Fresh Produce Live Music!

Third Thursday May - October  4pm-8pm

Downtown Shawnee  City Hall Parking Lot

A Home Plus So Much More Senior Living in Shawnee

Corporate Partners

The Cottages at Shawnee is a senior healthcare community. We offer 24/7 care in the comfort of our home to no more than 12 residents at a time.

Andrews McMeel University Overland Park Regional Medical Center Westport Flea Market Hampton Inn–Shawnee Hereford House Lockton Courtyard by Marriott–Shawnee Play It Again Sports Kansas City Skin and Cancer Center Sportsman Cap Network

Reserve a Room Today! Call: (913) 268-2956

Take a Virtual Tour 13509 W. 67th St. Shawnee, KS 66216 sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

cottagesatshawnee.com

KCIC Hockey Programs ADULT HOCKEY Adult A/B League Bob Klem C/D League Adult Z League 45+ Senior League Adult Women’s League YOUTH HOCKEY Mini Mites Program Kansas City Stars Youth Hockey Club CAMPS AND CLINICS TOURNAMENTS Bantam (under 14) PeeWee (under 12) Squirt (under 10) LEARN TO Skate Play Hockey FIGURE SKATING Synchronized Skating PUBLIC SKATE Adult Coffee Club

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

The number of skaters (top two photos) in the Learn to Skate program have increased, which benefits the figure skating and the hockey clubs. Those skaters must wear a mask at all times. Hockey remains a major draw for KCIC (above), and, while it’s not required, some players do wear masks during games

Adapting amid the Pandemic KCIC was among the businesses that shut down last March at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but, according to Nelson, returned with a “plan of action” to keep employees and customers safe. “We went with small groups at first, and now we’re back to running pretty normal right now,” Nelson says. They also assign seats to spectators, arrange locker rooms to be socially distant, and take temperatures at the door. Still, Nelson says they haven’t seen a significant decline in participation in youth hockey leagues. “Most kids playing hockey still wanted to play hockey … we did it right, so the rink did it in a good way to keep it going,” he says.

Masks are required in the building, but not for players on the ice, though Prendergast says about 20% of the players still wear masks during games. Coaches, however, wear masks, along with students in the learn-to-skate classes. KCIC’s biggest adjustment during the pandemic has been not holding public skate sessions though overall attendance has been steadily increasing, Nelson says. KCIC offers recreational skating and hockey for youth and adults, along with figure skating clubs. They are considering starting with online registration, but plans to bring back public skating still are a work in progress. KCIC began offering an adult skate coffee club a few years ago, and it has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic since they have yet to bring back public skate sessions.

Visitors Guide Shawnee

19 34 SHAWNEE MAP

VISITORS GUIDE

V I S I T O R S

THINGS TO DO

AMERICA’S INCREDIBLE PIZZA COMPANY

VINTAGE IN KC CREATIVE ARTS 12045 Johnson Drive (913) 915-8200 vintageinkc.com

Downtown Shawnee

13110 W 62nd Terrace incrediblepizza.com

EAT & DRINK

AZTEC THEATER

B&B THEATRES / MUSIC THEATRE KANSAS CITY

Downtown Shawnee

11119 Johnson Drive (913) 207-4148 Facebook: AztecShawnee Recently renovated, the theater offers a single screen and a seating capacity of 250. It originally opened in 1927 as the MIssion Theater, and you can learn more about the theater on page 23.

CHIEF CHARLES BLUEJACKET STATUE

Johnson Drive and Cody Street, Herman Laird Park The statue welcomes visitors to Shawnee Town 1929 and depicts Charles Bluejacket, a Shawnee Indian chief and Methodist minister from the 19th century.

DOLL CRADLE

10910 Johnson Drive (913) 631-1900 dollcradle.com

I HEART LOCAL

10919 Johnson Drive iheartlocalkc.com

MOONLIGHT MARKET

(Third Thursdays May–September) 11110 Johnson Drive, City Hall (913) 248-2360 cityofshawnee.org

SHANANIGANNS BOUTIQUE 11006 Johnson Drive (913) 549-8793 Facebook: shananiganns

SHAWNEE TOWN 1929

11501 W. 57th St. (913) 248-2360 shawneetown.org Shawnee Town 1929 is an outdoor museum depicting a farm town community in the 1920s.

WELLS FARGO HOUSE

5707 Nieman Road Chris Fangro built the Wells Fargo House in 1824. It was heavily damaged during Quantrill’s Raid in 1862. After restoration it was a Wells Fargo Express Office on government trails.

Around Shawnee

G U I D E

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

16301 Midland Drive (913) 954-4671 / movie line (913) 341-8156 / Music Theatre KC bbtheatres.com/shawnee-18 mtkc.org

BY B! BOUTIQUE 6314 Monrovia (913) 213-5255 byBboutique.com

EMBELLISH BOUTIQUE

(913) 745-5380 showembellishboutique.com

FAMILY TREE NURSERY 7036 Nieman Road (913) 631-6121 familytreenursery.com

GRAMMY’S WALLS OF CLAY 12311 Johnson Dr. (913) 248-1117 wallsofclay-kc.com

HANDS OF FREEDOM MONUMENT / VETERANS TRIBUTE PARK

13500 Johnson Drive Designed by Maurice D. McMullen, the 20-foot statue is a tribute to all military veterans of the United States.

NIGRO’S WESTERN STORE

10509 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 631-2226 Facebook: nigroskc

PINK CHARMING BOUTIQUE 22736 Midland Drive (816) 844-8154 pinkcharmingkc.com

PIONEER CROSSING STATUE Shawnee Mission Parkway at Melrose Lane Statue by artist Charles Goslin celebrates the pioneers who traveled through and settled Shawnee in the 1800s.

SKY ZONE

6495 Quivira Road (913) 213-5900 skyzone.com/kansascity

AUNT JEAN’S CUP & CONE 11210 Johnson Drive (816) 668-3731 aunt-jeans.business.site

BETTY C’S

11121 Johnson Drive (913) 701-6342

BIG BAM’S BURGERS 5930 Nieman Road (913) 962-1230 bigbams.com

DRASTIC MEASURES 5817 Nieman Road drasticbar.com

MCLAIN’S MARKET 5833 Nieman Road mcclainskc.com

OLD SHAWNEE PIZZA

BARLEY’S KITCHEN & TAP SHAWNEE

16649 Midland Drive (913) 268-5160 barleysbrewhaus.com

BATES CITY BBQ

6493 Quivira Road (913) 962-7447 batescitybarbque.com

THE BIG BISCUIT

12276 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 912-7350 bigbiscuitrestaurant.com

BLIND BOX BBQ

13214 W. 62nd Terrace (913) 268-4227 blindboxbbq.com

CHEN’S KITCHEN

7166 Renner Road (913) 268-1668 chenskitchenshawnee.com

COUNTRY CLUB CAFE 21911 W. 66th St. (913) 441-2444 cccshawnee.com

CAFÉ EQUINOX

6000 Rogers Drive (913) 631-5716 shawneepizza.com

7036 Nieman Road (913) 631-6121 familytreenursery.com/cafeequinox

SANCHO STREETSIDE

DOS REALES

11101 Johnson Drive (913) 251-6814 sanchostreetside.com

SERVAES BREWING CO. 10921 Johnson Drive servaesbrewco.com

SUSHI MIDO

6010 Nieman Road (913) 322-8888 sushimidoks.com

TRANSPORT BREWERY 11113 Johnson Drive (913) 766-6673 transportbrewery.com

6453 Quivira Road (913) 962-5014 dosrealeskc.com

EGGTC.

7182 Renner Road (913) 631-4400 eggtckc.com

FIREHOUSE SUBS 6415 Quivira Road (913) 631-0033 firehousesubs.com

FRITZ’S RAILROAD RESTAURANT

Around Shawnee

13803 W. 63rd St. (913) 375-1000 fritzskc.com

ANDY’S FROZEN CUSTARD

GRAND WOK

10816 Shawnee Mission Parkway eatandys.com

BAR WEST

7174 Renner Road (913) 248-9378 Facebook: barwestkc

15810 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 268-8668 grandwokks.com

HAYWARD’S PIT BAR B QUE

10901 W 75th St. Shawnee, KS 66214 haywardspitbarbque.menufy.com

V I S I T O R S

G U I D E

HEREFORD HOUSE SHAWNEE

SEAFOOD ISLAND

HAMPTON INN

JAKE’S PLACE

SHERIDAN’S LATTES & FROZEN CUSTARD

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES

17244 Midland Drive (913) 268-8000 herefordhouse.com

12001 Johnson Drive (913) 962-5253 jakesplacebar.com

JOHNNY’S TAVERN

13131 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 962-5777 johnnystavern.com

JOSE PEPPER’S BORDER GRILL & CANTINA 16605 Midland Drive (913) 631-1011 josepeppers.com

KNUB’S PUB

5386 Roberts St. (913) 441-5682 Facebook: knubspub

MCALISTER’S DELI

11330 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 268-3354 mcalistersdeli.com

MINSKY’S PIZZA

7198 Renner Road (913) 631-0059 minskys.com

NICK AND JAKE’S

22220 Midland Drive (913) 914-8535 nickandjakes.com

PATHLIGHT BREWING 11200 W. 75th St, (913) 400-2615 pathlightbrewing.com

PAULO & BILL

16501 Midland Drive (913) 962-9900 pauloandbill.com

PEGAH’S FAMILY RESTAURANT 11005 Johnson Drive (East Location) (913) 962-6700

5354 Roberts St. (West Location) (913) 422-3600 pegahs.com

PINE & BAMBOO GARDEN

10915 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 268-9545 pinebamboogarden.com

SAKURA SUSHI TRAIN 7474 Nieman Road (913) 962-6361 sakurasushitrain.com

10810 W. 75th St. (913) 270-9999 seafoodislandks.com

13655 W. 63rd St. (913) 268-9999 sheridansfrozencustard.com

SOMBRERO’S MEXICAN CANTINA 22702 Midland Drive (913) 441-6700 sombreroskc.com

SUTERA’S PIZZA

22716 Midland Drive (913) 667-3000 suterasshawnee.com

TWISTED FRESH

22030 W. 66th St. (913) 441-0444 twistedfresh.com

TANNER’S BAR & GRILL 22374 W. 66th St. (913) 745-8100 tannersbarandgrill.com

THE OTHER PLACE SHAWNEE 22730 Midland Drive Shawnee, KS 66226 (913) 441-0094 theotherplace.com

WANDERING VINE AT THE CASTLE

12401 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66216 wanderingvine.com

YO’S DONUTS

7170 Renner Road (913) 631-7023

STAY IN SHAWNEE Hotels COMFORT INN & SUITES 16510 Midland Drive (913) 962-5555 choicehotels.com

16555 Midland Drive (913) 248-1900 hamptoninn.com

17346 Midland Drive (913) 400-2509 hiexpress.com

RV Parks WALNUT GROVE

10218 Johnson Drive Merriam, KS 66203 (913) 262-3023 walnutgroverv.com

SHAWNEE INFO VISIT SHAWNEE

15100 W. 67th St., Suite 202 (913) 631-6545 visitshawneeks.com

SHAWNEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

15100 W. 67th St., Suite 202 (913) 631-6545 shawneekschamber.com

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE (888) 497-8668 sunflowerpub.com

EMERGENCY CITY & MEDICAL SERVICES EMERGENCY 9-1-1

ADVENTHEALTH SHAWNEE MISSION 9100 W. 74th St. (913) 676-2000 shawneemission.org

CENTRA CARE SHAWNEE

11245 Shawnee Mission Parkway (913) 268-4455 centracare.org/Kansas

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM / KU MEDWEST 7405 Renner Road (913) 588-1227 kansashealthsystem.com

OVERLAND PARK REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER—ER OF SHAWNEE

CITY HALL

11110 Johnson Drive (913) 631-2500 cityofshawnee.org

CITY OF SHAWNEE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT 13817 Johnson Drive (913) 631-5200 cityofshawnee.org

FIRE DEPARTMENT

6501 Quivira Road (913) 631-1080 (nonemergency number) cityofshawnee.org

POLICE DEPARTMENT

5850 Renner Road (913) 631-2150 (nonemergency number) cityofshawnee.org

10310 W. 63rd St. (913) 227-8400 hcamidwest.com/service/ emergency-care

ST. LUKES COMMUNITY HOSPITAL 14950 W. 67th St. (913) 323-5125 saintlukeskc.org

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT 17250 Midland Drive (913) 631-8800 marriott.com

FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES 16550 Midland Drive (888) 236-2427 marriott.com

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

S H A W N E E

MAY 2021 MAY 2 31ST ANNUAL TOUR DE SHAWNEE

A Shawnee staple, Tour De Shawnee is a cycling event that offers various lengths and routes for all riders! Traditionally kicking off early Sunday morning at Shawnee Civic Centre, the event provides riders an on-street, bicycle-friendly route, escorted by Shawnee police. Cyclists of all ages and experience are encouraged to participate. It’s the perfect first-timer race or one to hone your skills. Pre-registration required. Sponsored by Shawnee Parks & Rec. 13817 Johnson Dr.

JUNE 2021 JUNE 25 PARKED

PARKED is a Fourth of July– themed food truck and music festival! Each year held at Stump Park, it’s a great way to get outdoors with the whole family on a Friday evening. Stop by and grab a bite to eat from any of the dozen food trucks parked nearby and find a spot to listen to the band. 4751 Woodland Dr.

MAY 20 MOONLIGHT MARKET

Gather up your family and friends and head to downtown Shawnee for our NEW monthly Moonlight Market! You’ll be able to grab fresh fruits and veggies from our Farmers Market vendors, check out unique, local crafts and handmade items, all while grooving to live music. And while you are down here, be sure to stop in at some of our local restaurants, breweries, and shops! 4 to 8 p.m., City Hall parking lot, 11110 Johnson Dr. Also June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, and October 21.

MAY 29 SHAWNEE POOLS OPEN

Kick off the summer by visiting one of Shawnee’s two aquatic facilities. The City of Shawnee offers two wonderful opportunities to cool off in the heat: Splash Cove is the perfect destination for young children, and the Thomas A. Soetert Aquatic Center offers amenities for anyone and everyone. Splash Cove, 5800 King Ave.; Aquatic Center, 13805 Johnson Dr.

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

E V E N T S

AUGUST 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

AUGUST 6

SEPTEMBER 12

SUMMER CONCERT IN THE PARK

WHEELS & DREAMS CAR, TRUCK AND BIKE SHOW

In late summer, the City of Shawnee Parks and Rec hosts a concert in the intimate West Flanders Park nestled in downtown Shawnee near 55th and Nieman. Stop by for some energetic and fun live music and grab a bite to eat at the specially selected food truck. Best of all ... it’s free! Fun begins at 6:30 p.m. 11098 W 55th St.

Gear heads and car aficionados are invited to the annual Wheels and Dreams Car, Truck, and Bike Show. With live music, vendors, food trucks, and, of course, hundreds of classic and soupedup vehicles, it’s the perfect weekend outing for the family. Have a cool ride you want to show off? You can do that too! 1 to 4 p.m., Shawnee Town 1929, 1501 W. 57th St.

SEPTEMBER 18 45TH ANNUAL FRIENDS OF SHAWNEE TOWN CRAFT FAIR

Each fall, the Friends of Shawnee Town host an annual Craft and Fall Festival on the Shawnee Town grounds! Explore the entire event and visit dozens of vendors who can offer great items to spruce up the house, serve as a great gift, or even get your earliest of early Christmas shopping done, and there are free activities as well to entertain the kiddos. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1501 W. 57th St.

SEPTEMBER 24 26TH ANNUAL SHAWNEE GREAT GRILLERS BBQ CONTEST Shawnee’s sanctioned BBQ competition, features live music, select food trucks, and more at this two-day festival-style event. Shawnee Town 1929’s grounds are taken over by dozens of competitive teams creating a partylike atmosphere! 1501 W. 57th St.

S H A W N E E

E V E N T S

OCTOBER 2021

DECEMBER 2021

MARCH 2022

JUNE 2022

OCTOBER 1

DECEMBER 4 CHRISTKINDLMARKT

TRADITIONALLY THE WEEKEND BEFORE ST. PATRICK’S DAY

JUNE 2–5

OKTOBERFEST

Prost! Each year, the world celebrates Germany’s traditional Oktoberfest, and Shawnee joins in! Held at the Shawnee Civic Centre, this event highlights all that is German, including food, Deutsche Musik, and beer. Admission is encouraged for the entire family as the kiddos can enjoy the crafts area on the Civic Centre upper level. 5:30 to 10 pm., 13817 Johnson Drive; sponsored by the German American Club of Shawnee.

OCTOBER 2 SCARECROW FESTIVAL

This child-focused fall crafting event is held in downtown Shawnee in the parking lot at City Hall! Children are able to decorate pumpkins and complete other fall-related crafts. Parents can enjoy the Farmers Market and seasonal displays. Explore other areas of downtown Shawnee to see businesses’ decorated and themed Scarecrows for the annual competition. 9 to 11:30 a.m. City Hall Parking lot, 11110 Johnson Dr.

Explore three different Christmas cultures in one event at Shawnee’s Christkindlmarkt. Hosted by the Shawnee Sister Cities Committee, the holiday-themed event features an appearance by Santa, carolers, holiday treats, and crafts for entertaining the children. 2 to 6 p.m., starts at City Hall, 11110 Johnson Drive. Shawnee’s Sister Cities are Pittem, Belgium; Listowel, Ireland; and Erfurt, Germany.

ST. PATRICK’S PARADE & CELEBRATION

OLD SHAWNEE DAYS

The Shawnee St. Patrick’s Parade is a full day of family fun featuring a variety of activities all centered around a parade that heads east down Johnson Drive. The parade traditionally ends in Downtown Shawnee at Johnson and Nieman and is then followed by the annual (rubber) Duck Race benefitting the Shawnee Sister Cities Committee. Traditional Irish food and drink will be available with the purchase of a ticket to the after-party at the Shawnee Knights of Columbus.

Old Shawnee Days is the city’s marquee annual event featuring an entire weekend of fun! Known as one of the largest carnivals in the area, it features tons of games, rides, and more. The weekend traditionally kicks off with rides opening Thursday evening and then vendor booths opening Friday evening. Saturday is jam-packed with things to do as the morning brings a full parade featuring floats from local businesses and elected officials, followed by the annual Tomato Roll, pie and baking contests, and a Rolle Bolle Championship. Many activities will be available around Shawnee Town 1929 for the whole family to enjoy on Saturday as well, and, in the evening, the headlining band plays a concert that thousands usually attend. Enjoy the music for free! Rides and concessions are also open during the day on Sunday. NOTE: All-You-Can-Ride wristbands available for Thursday and Sunday.

OCTOBER 23 HOLIDAY TREASURES CRAFT FESTIVALS

Visiting the Holiday Treasures Craft Festival is the perfect way to cross off items on your holiday shopping list! Held at the Shawnee Civic Centre, there are so many vendors offering goods it’s hard not to be overwhelmed; keep in mind, admission is free so you have nothing to lose by stopping by. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission, 13817 Johnson Drive.

OCTOBER 30

For more information on Shawnee events, visit our website! visitshawneeks.com

HISTORICAL HAUNTINGS

Many children claim their favorite holiday is Halloween … and for good reason! They get to come to Shawnee Town 1929 the evening before for a wonderful not-so-spooky event. Admission is free for all adults and children with just a small donation suggested. The evening is full of activities, including hayrides, trick-or-treating, photos, and, of course, lots of candy! 6 to 8:30 p.m., 1501 W. 57th St. sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

PARKED

Oktoberfest

St. Patrick’s Parade

SHAWNEE MAGAZINE | sunflowerpub.com

Old Shawnee Days

GALLERY S H A W N E E

Old Shawnee Days

PARKED

sunflowerpub.com | SHAWNEE MAGAZINE

Emergency Experts Always Close By At AdventHealth’s four convenient ER locations, you’re cared for by the emergency team that Johnson County trusts most. It’s the compassionate care you want — when and where you need it. If you experience any of the symptoms below, don’t hesitate to seek emergency care:

- Abdominal pain - Chest pain - Debilitating back pain - Fractures - Head injuries - Pelvic and urinary pain - Severe headaches - Shortness of breath - Weakness / dizziness When minutes matter, choose the experts.

AdventHealthKC.com/ER

Locations at: • AdventHealth Shawnee Mission • AdventHealth Lenexa* • AdventHealth South Overland Park* • AdventHealth College Boulevard* *A part of AdventHealth Shawnee Mission

Shawnee Magazine, Spring 2021

Articles inside

Score for Shawnee!

A Theater’s Nine Lives

Keeping It Simple

History Abounds in Shawnee

Expanding a KC Tradition

Brews for All