KC Perky doesn’t Perk Up
Usually on here you hear me touting how awesome coffee shop X is. I’m a very up-beat guy. Especially just after having coffee. Not so much, today.
There’s this new branch of a coffee shop downtown called Perk Up. By virtue of the name, you would think I would love this place. In fact, when starting KC Perky, this new location of Perk Up had just opened a few weeks prior; I was concerned the two would get confused with each other. Now I’m really concerned, but for other reasons.
When I first went to Perk Up, it was their opening week, possibly their second day open. The facts that the coffee was so-so and the breakfast sandwich I had, The Samwich*, was very blah, I wrote off to them being a new, inexperienced shop. Fast forward two months to today. The sandwiches are still very, very blah. And the barrista was well below-par. For example, he was telling us how much he hated his job. He served the wrong type of jelly doughnut to my friend. In his defense, he also seemed over-worked. During opening week, there were 3 or 4 people behind the counter, today, just 1, and a long line of people waiting.
Now, just because the coffee and service are bad doesn’t mean I can’t say something nice about Perk Up. It does have a wide variety of sugary snacks and beverages that I’m sure go over quite well with the downtown office worker crowd. Its a perfect place to get dessert after you have Jimmy Johns for lunch next door. But that’s where the compliments stop.
Verdict: Avoid this place till it gets its act together. If you have to get your caffeine somehow, chew used coffee grounds before you go in here.
*The Samwich: egg and sausage between two pieces of french toast. Not made of the meat of Sam. Such a disappointment.
//update 3/1: Perk Up’s original location in Overland park [map] is way better than its new branch. Comfy chairs, friendly staff, and an eye given to the quality of the coffee. I consider these two shops entirely non-related aside from their names.
February 13th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I believe there is another Perk Up at Quivira and College in JoCo. Not sure if that one’s any better…
March 4th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
used coffee grounds? ouch
March 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Editor’s Note: This comment has been dramatically edited for politeness and spelling. Its content and message remain in tact.
You must not be talking about the same spot! it is some of the best coffee and service we’ve gotten at any coffee shop. Besides, we really don’t think of them as a coffee shop, as they do much more then that. Either you had a bad day that day, or its really not the coffee scene that you expected; they don’t fit the typical coffee house scene at all. Their coffee is very good. I have met both of the owners and I have never found a harder working pair that pays so close attention to details and to quality. Sorry you had a bad day.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I really wanted to support this place downtown because of their late hours. I became a quick regular, making it a point to go after 9 pm, sometimes staying until they closed at 11. Truth be told, I don’t go anymore and probably won’t. Three times, the drip coffee has been ICE cold. Once, my mocha had curdled milk that was chunky and chewy. And EVERY time I’ve been there, the man owner has been gabbing away on his damned Blue-tooth. I go up to the counter, order, and then he asks about the game Saturday, so I start to answer, low and behold he’s not even talking to me. VERY annoying, and I won’t return.
I did however enjoy the sandwiches and baked goods.
Too bad, they were about the only place in downtown with later hours for coffee.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:10 pm
You know, I LOVE when the owners of the business (dave) come to defend themselves because they get such low marks. I also will enjoy watching this guy crumble as he thinks he has the staying ability of Starbucks (and we all see how THAT is going..) to open a mere two blocks from his first downtown location. I give it a year… give or take a couple months.
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Dave didn’t even last a year at the 2nd downtown location. He is now on Broadway and I hear all of his vendors are still trying to collect from him. PAY YOUR BILLS DAVE!!! AND PAY THE HELP! And ask to see his health inspection before eating his food. He is one nasty man. He will scratch his…and then serve your food with that same hand.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:18 am
did they finally close the one @ 7th & broadway? last couple of times i’ve driven by the lights were shut off and blinds pulled. that’s a perfect location for a coffee shop but i wish dave would hurry up and get the heck out of there so someone with some staying power could give it a shot. i will not go back in there until he’s gone for good.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Dave has reopened between 11th and 12th on Oak. Under the parking garage and under a different name this time. Place seems a lot more… well just a lot more. A search on case net shows a lot of people after this guy so I don’t know how long he’ll last.
October 23rd, 2011 at 6:42 pm
In case anyone wants to know how to find Dave you can find him and his big black truck at 291 and Lakewood Blvd. He is working on his new location just down from Bank Of The West.