‘A lot of good stuff.’ A look at retail stores, restaurants opening in Lee’s Summit
A drive around Lee’s Summit quickly reveals a number of new commercial developments, including several restaurants and large retail establishments recently launching or opening soon.
“Commercial development has been strong in Lee’s Summit,” said Joshua Johnson, assistant director for the City of Lee’s Summit Development Services.
Even a global pandemic did not significantly slow expansion of new housing and business projects.
“Our permits in both commercial and residential were strong throughout the pandemic,” Johnson said. “Commercial is one of our strongest areas now.”
A few of the recently opened commercial businesses generating public interest opened during the summer months. They include Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, 540 NW Chipman Road, the fourth Missouri site for this national chain; Roots Seasonal Cuisine, a new restaurant at 940 NW Pryor Road.; Iron Horse Bar and Grill, opening in the former Summit Hickory Pit at 1012 SE Blue Parkway; Dutch Bros Coffee, 500 NW Chipman Road; Downtown Deli and Market by Flavor, 316 SW Main St. in downtown Lee’s Summit; Twisted Fresh, 940 NW Pryor Road; and Lee’s Summit’s third Chipotle Mexican Grill, located at 1103 SW Oldham Parkway.
The previous Macy’s department store, located within the Summit Fair Shopping Center, is the new home of the Furniture Mall of Missouri. Macy’s, a long-time anchor of the shopping center, closed earlier in 2022.
The Furniture Mall of Missouri is scheduled to open this fall. The approximately 121,000-square-foot store includes a Howdy Cafe, a feature of other Furniture Malls operated by the same company. This location will be the first store in Missouri; several other Furniture Malls operate in Kansas and Texas.
Two new Lee’s Summit businesses opening their doors soon are Baxter’s Coffee and Donuts, 1729 Langsford Road; and Macadoodles, a wine, beer and spirits store opening this fall at 1499 SW Market St.
The location previously occupied by Ted’s Cafe Escondido will soon have a new tenant with the opening of Gus’s Fried Chicken at 636 NE M-291 Highway. Gus’s Fried Chicken currently has 34 locations in 14 states.
If community members are curious about a new business under construction or moving into an existing space, the City of Lee’s Summit webpage at https://cityofls.net/ includes a detailed project list as well as an interactive map focusing on current development. To find this information, select the “Development Services” link under the “City Government” option on the website toolbar. In addition, a four-minute how-to video from city staff goes through the process for each option.
The city also offers a video series, called the “Development Minute,” sharing updates about new development. These brief videos are available at the City of Lee’s Summit YouTube.
“We are ramping our efforts back up on the series and will be coming out with a new one in about two weeks,” Johnson added. “It will contain a lot of good stuff.”
