KC Perky

Financial planners often talk about the “Latte Factor” as an example of how to save a lot of money by cutting just a little thing from your life: your gourmet coffee.  With everybody thinking we’re in a recession, I’m afraid too many people are taking this to heart.  That plus the heat of the summer seems to be taking its toll.  Just yesterday I learned of two more shops that have closed.  River Rock Coffee Co in Parkville and Waldo Coffee Cup.  This makes 6 closings that I heard of in just the last 8 weeks, not counting Starbucks shops!

Are there a bunch of openings I’m missing?  Songbird Cafe is a great new shop, but I can’t help but notice that its the ONLY opening amidst this flurry of closings.

They’re closing some KC Starbucks shops.

Just like they’re doing all over the country.

Meh.

• Elm Street location in Lee’s Summit
• H&R Block Headquarters store on 13th and Main
• 95th & Quivira
• College Blvd. & Pflumm

Sadly, I have to report yet another shop closing.  Rev! Cafe and Gallery.  When they opened 4 months ago,  I had high hopes, but realistic questions.  Mostly: how are they going to get people in the door?  It was a great little shop, don’t get me wrong, and they were fantastic people.  Its just that the location wasn’t condusive to their business.  Close, oh so close, but just out of the way enough.  Plus, I bet there are still some people who think the shop isn’t open yet– the ‘Coming Soon’ sign was there WAY longer than the actual shop.  They tried to do fun things with their space, generate some buzz, but none ever seemed to connect enough.

Alas.

No longer a full coffee shop, Planet Cafe has been downgraded to just a myspace page. They’ve been closed since June 29th. Kudos to AMNewsBoy for the tip.

Anybody need some run-down furniture?

In the productive department, The Broadway Roasting Company’s new location seems to be well underway. They’ve already closed down their east Westport location. This new location will be in the old firehouse just north of Broadway and Westport, near the BP.