7 minute read
Revitalizing Downtown Shawnee
City, Chamber, businesses all partner to grow the city’s downtown area.
Story by Jill Dutton
Photographs by Kevin Anderson
Shawnee is experiencing a revival. Walk around downtown Shawnee and you’ll see evidence of a district that has reinvented itself as a vibrant destination filled with craft breweries and craft cocktails, a renovated historic theater, fine dining, and community events. Shawnee is a testament to the resilience of a community that treasures its past while embracing the opportunities of the future.
At the heart of this vibrant tapestry is the Downtown Shawnee Partnership. Aided by a partnership between the City of Shawnee and the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Shawnee Partnership has worked to position the downtown region as a top area entertainment district.
The Downtown Partnership, through its development projects, has breathed new life into the downtown district by simultaneously honoring its historical roots and embracing progress.
Kevin Tubbesing, a developer with Stag Commercial, says the innovations that snowballed into the current revitalization began in 2015 with the reimagination of Neiman Road.
“I am proud that we were a part of what really kicked the improvements to the downtown district into high gear,” Tubbesing says. “In June 2015, I approached the city manager, Carol Gonzales, with a harebrained idea to remove the pawn shop and dilapidated retail that greeted everyone when they entered Shawnee on Shawnee Mission Parkway and replace it with a gleaming office building and a couple of restaurants. But in order to do this, we needed the cooperation of the city and the county to move the creek that pressed up too close to the parkway and didn’t allow for depth of development.
“Using combined resources, we were able to come up with a plan that realigned the creek system that flows from Nigro’s up to the northwest by Saint Joseph school and church and allow the creek to be pushed north to accommodate development. When we completed this project in 2018, the city was able to use the impetus of the creek and stormwater changes to reimagine Nieman Road. As Nieman Road got new life, it opened up the area visually from a small confined street to a welcoming entry into our downtown.”
A Downtown Partnership
Marketing for Downtown Shawnee is a partnership that’s executed by the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, with the Downtown Shawnee board and the City of Shawnee providing oversight.
Michael K. McVey, manager at Transport Brewery and current chair of the Visit Shawnee Advisory Committee, says when the brewery opened in 2018, “There was little foot traffic, and not much momentum for the city. Since we’ve opened, the momentum has built to the point that formerly rundown buildings are finding new life with active retail tenants. The City and the Chamber have championed the rejuvenation of the heart of the city.”
McVey credits the Downtown Partnership with providing the support and funding needed to first start the Neiman Project and now continue the direct investment into the downtown properties.
This success, McVey says, is in part based on the draw of a variety of visitors. “We have the Valley of Champions, which attracts sports teams from across the country,” he says. “Then there’s beer tourism, which continues to grow with now three breweries. And the overall attraction of the historic area is unique to Downtown Shawnee. All of these aspects aid in drawing all kinds of visitors to Shawnee.”
Innovative Businesses
Although Jeffrey Calkins, co-owner of Aztec Shawnee Theater, doesn’t claim that the theater was the impetus for the revitalization of downtown Shawnee, he does say that opening a historic theater did lend to the overall excitement and aid in the draw of new businesses to the area.
“Originally built in 1927,” Calkins says, “the Aztec Theater (has been) ingrained in Shawnee for a long time.” With funding from the city, Calkins says they were able to begin renovations in 2017.
Beth Ansell, executive director of Visit Shawnee, says, “The revitalization of the Aztec Shawnee Theater by the Calkins and Young families is really what sparked the revitalization of Downtown Shawnee. Every weekend, they have concerts featuring local cover bands. On select dates, they team up with Shawnee Town 1929 for vintage movies.”
“We hoped,” Calkins says, “that reopening the theater would be the spark that would bring in new businesses, and it kind of was.”
Transport Brewery opened next door to the Aztec and ignited the craft brewing trend. Other unique businesses, such as Drastic Measures, a speakeasy, followed.
Of this unique variety of businesses in Downtown Shawnee, Calkins says, “I consider everything here as a hidden gem. I love all the people. I love all the businesses.
“Some other businesses that aided in the revitalization include the newest brewery, Servaes Brewing Co., Drastic Measures, which is a speakeasy, and Wild Child, which is a new wine bar and low ABV place with a cool vibe. And then Friction Beer Co. just opened a couple of months ago. We have Annedore’s Chocolates; we have the Flying Cow Gelato Shop. McLain’s Market opened up in the old OK Garage area. District Pour House & Kitchen just moved in a few months ago. Then there were some establishments, like Betty C’s Bar & Grill, that already had an established clientele.”
While each new business helped to grow Downtown Shawnee, Calkins says the true credit for the revitalization goes to the City of Shawnee and the Chamber of Commerce.
“They had a vision of what the downtown area could become, and they took the steps to create it.”
Key Partners and Popular Downtown Shawnee Businesses
Aztec Shawnee Theater
www.aztecshawnee.com
“The revitalization of the Aztec Shawnee Theater by the Calkins and Young families is really what sparked the revitalization of Downtown Shawnee. Every weekend they have concerts featuring local cover bands. On select dates they team up with Shawnee Town 1929 for vintage movies,” says Beth Ansell, executive director of Visit Shawnee.
Transport Brewery Shawnee
www.transportbrewery.com/s/stories/shawnee
City of Shawnee/Downtown Partnership / Moonlight Market
www.cityofshawnee.org/residents/moonlight_market
Mother Clucker!
www.mothercluckerofficial.com
“Shawnee was very excited to welcome Mother Clucker! as a new restaurant. They serve Nashville-style hot chicken and have a huge following at their Kansas City location,” Ansell says.
McLain’s Market Shawnee
www.mclainskc.com/shawnee
“McLain’s is a well-established Kansas City bakery. They were another huge addition to our downtown. They do catering and have recently added a rental space for parties and meetings. They host several events to draw people to their business throughout the year.”
The Land Source/Stag Commercial
www.thelandsource.com
Kevin Tubbesing is a Shawnee resident and developer who is committed to Shawnee, and is also the chair of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee.
Shawnee Town 1929
www.shawneetown.org
“Shawnee Town 1929 is our museum. Charlie and his staff have been instrumental in its growth and engaging programming. They host many events throughout the year. In the fall they are home to Shawnee Town Wheels & Dreams Car Show, Friends of Shawnee Town Craft Fair, Shawnee Great Grillers Competition, and Historical Hauntings. They are able to host events and weddings in Shawnee Town Hall. They are a favorite for school field trips and tours,” Ansell says.
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce/ Economic Development
www.shawnee-ks.com/chamber
www.shawnee-edc.com
“Ann Smith-Tate is the president/CEO of the Shawnee Chamber and oversees the Economic Development Council and Visit Shawnee. She has been an advocate and driving force for new business in downtown Shawnee,” Ansell says.
Drastic Measures/Wild Child
www.drasticbar.com
www.wildchildkc.com
“Drastic Measures and Wild Child are huge draws to our downtown. Recently Drastic Measures was nominated as a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bar,” Ansell says.
For More
Downtown Shawnee
www.shawnee-ks.com/downtown-shawnee
