Kansas City Power & Light District
Encyclopedia
The Kansas City Power & Light District or Power & Light District is a shopping and entertainment district in Downtown
Kansas City, Missouri
, United States, developed by the Cordish Company
of Baltimore, Maryland and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle
and 360 Architecture
. The district comprises nine blocks on the south side of the downtown loop
. It is located between Baltimore Avenue to the west, Grand Boulevard
to the east, 12th Street to the north, and Interstate 670
to the south. The $850 million "mixed-use" district is one of the largest development projects in the Midwestern United States
The Power & Light District is one of only a few places in the United States where possession and consumption of open containers of alcoholic beverage
s are allowed on the street, although they remain prohibited on the street throughout the rest of Kansas City.
. It originally was to be named Kansas City Live!, but the Cordish Company decided instead to name the district after the art deco
Kansas City Power and Light Building
. The present headquarters of the Kansas City Power & Light Company (a subsidiary of Great Plains Energy
) is also located on the northern side of the district. A one-block area within the district, however, is called Kansas City Live!, and contains two floors of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, as well as a large, partially-enclosed courtyard and concert venue (see below).
At the heart of the Power & Light District is Kansas City Live!, a one block area devoted to live music and entertainment venues. At the center of Kansas City Live! is a covered outdoor plaza to be used for concerts. The roof system, produced by Structurflex, is made of an Ethylene TetraFluoro Ethylene (ETFE
) single-skin membrane. The first installation of an ETFE cushion solution in the United States was a facade in NYC for AOL Time Warner (2002/2003; 100m²). Credit for the first roof skylight application goes to the project Pasadena Art Center (690m², installation in 2004) and the first large scale pure roof application was for an aquatic facility in McGaheysville (appr. 4500m², installation in 2005).(previous installations have included AWD Arena in Hanover, Germany and Beijing National Stadium
). Construction of the roof began on August 17, 2007. The ground floor of the Kansas City Live! block focuses on bars and restaurants, including McFadden's Sports Saloon, Vinino, Ragland Road, Maker's Mark Bourbon House and Lounge, Tengo Sed Cantina, and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company. The second floor of Kansas City Live! houses the night clubs and entertainment concepts, including Mosaic Lounge, Lucky Strike Lanes, Angels Rock Bar, and Howl at the Moon.
The Kansas City Live! area of the Power & Light District was showcased before a television audience twice during May 2008. American Idol
finalist David Cook
played a short set from the Kansas City Live! stage on May 9, 2008, which aired during the television show the following week. The same location also hosted the official watch party for the final episode of the 2008 season, which featured a live television feed from the Power & Light District.
Late night visitors to the Kansas City Live! block are required to present identification for entry which is then scanned by a handheld scanner which collects demographic data without informed consent. Due to the lack of informed consent, this potential invasion of personal privacy goes largely unnoted. It has been reported that you can ask for your identification not to be scanned.
†- located in Kansas City Live!
headquarters, on a lot once occupied by the Jones Store Company's flagship store. The department store building was demolished during the summer of 2005 and the ground was leveled and dug out beginning in March, 2006.
left the stage early during a performance. Kansas City Power & Light District President Jon D. Stephens stated that "It was entirely an issue of audio and sound."
Cordish has also been criticized for being ungrateful for opposing festival licensing for other Kansas City businesses, festival licensing that it was granted to allow patrons to possess alcohol on the streets in the district.
In addition, Cordish CEO David Cordish has been criticized for repeatedly requesting additional taxpayer subsidies and police for the district. The tone of the requests was labeled "petulant", "greedy", and "uninformed" as it was noted that the company had already received over $300 million in taxpayer subsidies yet failed to open on schedule. This caused City officials to criticize the company for its "secretiveness and slowness."
, which are among the most permissive of any state in the United States, perhaps only exceeded by those of Nevada
. Missouri has no state law prohibiting open containers or public intoxication
. Generally, however, Missouri does prohibit bars and restaurants from allowing patrons to leave the premises with unfinished open containers of alcohol.
In 2005, the Cordish Company successfully lobbied the Missouri General Assembly
for a new law pertaining to any "entertainment district" in Downtown Kansas City which will allow patrons to remove any alcoholic beverage from any establishment in the District and carry it openly throughout the portions of the District not open to vehicular traffic, provided that the beverage is in a plastic cup marked with the logo of the establishment at which it was purchased. Although it remains unclear how this will be interpreted or enforced once the Power & Light District opens in the fall of 2007 through the spring of 2008, for now the provision widely has been accepted as allowing drinking "in the street." If so, the Power & Light District will be one of only a few places in the United States with such an open container allowance (along with the city of Butte, Montana
, the Las Vegas Strip
, the French Quarter
of New Orleans
, Key West FL, and the historic district of downtown Savannah, Georgia
). The City Council of Kansas City has extended this provision to include any portion not open to vehicular traffic of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
, the Crossroads Arts District
, the 18th and Vine Historic District, the Liberty Memorial
, Crown Center
, and the Union Hill neighborhood. Notably, historical entertainment district, Westport
does not benefit from this competitor's special legal provision.
Late night visitors to the outdoor Kansas City Live! venue space are required to present identification before entry which is then scanned by a hand held scanner which verifies ID and stores zip codes and age ranges for market research. The American Civil Liberties Union
has expressed disapproval of the practice and P&L representatives say that a person can ask for his or her license not to be scanned.
Downtown Kansas City
Downtown Kansas City is the central business district of Kansas City, Missouri and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It is located between the Missouri River in the north, to 31st Street in the south; and from the Kansas–Missouri state line east to Troost Avenue as defined by officials of the...
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, United States, developed by the Cordish Company
Cordish Company
The Cordish Company is a real estate development and entertainment operating company with its headquarters on the 6th floor of the Pratt Street Power Plant in Baltimore, Maryland...
of Baltimore, Maryland and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle
Beyer Blinder Belle
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP is an international architecture firm. It is based in New York City and has an additional office in Washington, DC. The firm's name is derived from the three founding partners: John H. Beyer, Richard Blinder, and John Belle. The three architects met...
and 360 Architecture
360 Architecture
360 Architecture is an American architectural practice focused on planning, design and execution. The firm provides services for a range of project types including corporate headquarters and commercial office buildings, sports arenas and ballparks, municipal facilities, single- and multi-family...
. The district comprises nine blocks on the south side of the downtown loop
Downtown freeway loop (Kansas City)
The downtown loop, also nicknamed the "Alphabet Loop", is a complex layout of highways in downtown Kansas City, Missouri involving 23 exits, four Interstate Highways, four U.S. Highways and numerous city streets...
. It is located between Baltimore Avenue to the west, Grand Boulevard
Grand Boulevard (Kansas City, Missouri)
Grand Boulevard or Grand Avenue is a north/south street that in Kansas City, Missouri. Grand runs along the 200 east block in the Kansas City street grid system . In the Downtown and Crown Center areas of Kansas City it is an arterial route, continuing on the north as the Grand Ave. Viaduct...
to the east, 12th Street to the north, and Interstate 670
Interstate 670 (Kansas-Missouri)
Interstate 670 is a 2.81 mile connector highway between I-70 in Kansas City, Kansas and I-70 in Kansas City, Missouri. The highway provides a more direct route through downtown Kansas City than the older mainline I-70, and avoids the sharp turn of the latter at the west end of the Intercity...
to the south. The $850 million "mixed-use" district is one of the largest development projects in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
The Power & Light District is one of only a few places in the United States where possession and consumption of open containers of alcoholic beverage
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
s are allowed on the street, although they remain prohibited on the street throughout the rest of Kansas City.
Location
The Power & Light District is immediately to the west of the Sprint CenterSprint Center
Sprint Center is a large, multi-use indoor arena in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The building is located at 14th Street and Grand Boulevard, on the east side of the Power & Light District...
. It originally was to be named Kansas City Live!, but the Cordish Company decided instead to name the district after the art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
Kansas City Power and Light Building
Kansas City Power and Light Building
The Kansas City Power and Light Building is a landmark skyscraper located in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri...
. The present headquarters of the Kansas City Power & Light Company (a subsidiary of Great Plains Energy
Great Plains Energy
Great Plains Energy Incorporated is a holding company based in Kansas City, Missouri that owns electric utility Kansas City Power and Light Company and Strategic Energy, LLC, an energy management company....
) is also located on the northern side of the district. A one-block area within the district, however, is called Kansas City Live!, and contains two floors of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, as well as a large, partially-enclosed courtyard and concert venue (see below).
Kansas City Live!
ETFE
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, ETFE, a fluorine based plastic, was designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. ETFE is a polymer, and its systematic name is poly. ETFE has a very high melting temperature, excellent chemical, electrical and high energy...
) single-skin membrane. The first installation of an ETFE cushion solution in the United States was a facade in NYC for AOL Time Warner (2002/2003; 100m²). Credit for the first roof skylight application goes to the project Pasadena Art Center (690m², installation in 2004) and the first large scale pure roof application was for an aquatic facility in McGaheysville (appr. 4500m², installation in 2005).(previous installations have included AWD Arena in Hanover, Germany and Beijing National Stadium
Beijing National Stadium
Beijing National Stadium, also known officially as the National Stadium, or colloquially as the Bird's Nest , is a stadium in Beijing, China. The stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.-History:...
). Construction of the roof began on August 17, 2007. The ground floor of the Kansas City Live! block focuses on bars and restaurants, including McFadden's Sports Saloon, Vinino, Ragland Road, Maker's Mark Bourbon House and Lounge, Tengo Sed Cantina, and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company. The second floor of Kansas City Live! houses the night clubs and entertainment concepts, including Mosaic Lounge, Lucky Strike Lanes, Angels Rock Bar, and Howl at the Moon.
The Kansas City Live! area of the Power & Light District was showcased before a television audience twice during May 2008. American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
finalist David Cook
David Cook (singer)
David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol...
played a short set from the Kansas City Live! stage on May 9, 2008, which aired during the television show the following week. The same location also hosted the official watch party for the final episode of the 2008 season, which featured a live television feed from the Power & Light District.
Late night visitors to the Kansas City Live! block are required to present identification for entry which is then scanned by a handheld scanner which collects demographic data without informed consent. Due to the lack of informed consent, this potential invasion of personal privacy goes largely unnoted. It has been reported that you can ask for your identification not to be scanned.
Power & Light District Tenants
The following establishments have already opened for business in the Power & Light District:- 801 Steak & Chop House - 10314 sq ft (958.2 m²) Des Moines based steak house (opened October 1, 2008)
- AMC Mainstreet TheaterMainstreet Theater-The AMC Era:AMC Theaters, then known as Durwood Theatres, bought the theater in the late 1950s and reopened it in December 1960 as the Empire. The first film shown at the theater under the new name was Exodus. The standard seating configuration of the new Empire was reduced to 1260 in order to...
- first all-digital movie theaterMovie theaterA movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in the United States; shows current movies in six theaters; located at 14th & Main (opened May 1, 2009) - The Marquee - Cocktail lounge and restaurant inside the historic Mainstreet Theater, owned by AMC Theaters (opened October 2, 2010)
- Angel's Rock Bar - 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) music venue and club† (opened March 7, 2008)
- Drunken Fish - Sushi restaurant and cocktail lounge (opened February 24, 2011)
- Bristol Seafood Grill - 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) seafood restaurant (opened February 26, 2008)
- Whopper Bar - 3300 square feet (306.6 m²), the 7th global location for the "burger and beer" concept from Burger King (opened March 9, 2011)
- Chipotle Mexican GrillChipotle Mexican GrillChipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
- 2400 square feet (223 m²) location of the DenverDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
-based Fresh Mex chain (opened on February 27, 2008) - Cosentino's Downtown Gourmet Market - 37000 square feet (3,437.4 m²) upscale grocery store (opened January 6, 2009)
- The Drum Room - restaurant, martiniMartini (cocktail)The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years, the martini has become one of the best-known mixed alcoholic beverages. H. L. Mencken called the martini "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet" and E. B...
bar, and live entertainment lounge located in the historic President Hotel - Famous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-QueFamous Dave'sFamous Dave's Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que, formerly Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que Shack, is a chain of southern-style barbecue restaurants serving pork ribs, chicken, and beef brisket. Dave Anderson, an Ojibwe who served as the head of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs from 2004 to 2005, started the...
- 6300 square feet (585.3 m²) location of the MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
-based barbecue restaurant chain (opened February 22, 2008; reopened March 6, 2009 ) - Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - 4600 square feet (427.4 m²) location of the Dallas/Ft. Worth-based beer bar chain, featuring 200 beers on tap† (opened May 5, 2008)
- Fran's Restaurant - a 5221 square feet (485 m²) 24-hour upscale dinerDinerA diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
(opened October 2009) - GNCGeneral Nutrition CentersGeneral Nutrition Centers is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based American commercial enterprise focused on the retail sale of health and nutrition related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet & energy products.-History:In 1935, David Shakarian opened a...
- 1700 square feet (157.9 m²) location of the PittsburghPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
-based chain of stores selling health and nutrition related products, over the counter drugs, and food supplements (opened December 31, 2008) - Genghis Grill - 4373 square feet (406.3 m²) Dallas-based stir fry restaurant to be located near 14th and Main streets (opened July 2009)
- Gordon Biersch Brewing CompanyGordon Biersch Brewing CompanyGordon Biersch Brewery is an American brewery founded by Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch. Gordon, a graduate from the five-year brewing engineering program at Weihenstephan, Germany, and Biersch opened their first brewery restaurant in Palo Alto, California in July 1988...
- 8500 square feet (789.7 m²) location of the ChattanoogaChattanooga, TennesseeChattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
-based chain of brewery/restaurants† (opened March 10, 2008) - H&R BlockH&R BlockH&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers...
world headquarters (opened October, 2006) - Hilton President Kansas CityHilton HotelsHilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
- 213-room refurbished historic 1926 hotel, featuring the Drum Room (reopened January 5, 2006) - Howl at the Moon Piano BarHowl at the Moon Piano BarHowl at the Moon is a franchise of dueling piano bars As of 2010, Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano Bars were located in or were being constructed in:***************The following cities were former sites of HATM:*Seattle, Washington...
- 4700 square feet (436.6 m²) location of the CincinnatiCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
-based chain of "dueling-piano barPiano barA piano bar consists of a piano or electronic keyboard played by a professional musician, located in a cocktail lounge, bar, hotel lobby, office building lobby, restaurant, or on a cruise ship. Usually the pianist receives a small salary plus tips in a jar or basket on or near the piano,...
s"† (opened February 7, 2008) - Johnny's Tavern - locally-owned sports bar chain (opened August 5, 2009)
- Jos. A. BankJoS. A. Bank ClothiersJoseph A. Bank Clothiers, Inc., also known by the abbreviated name JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, is an American manufacturer-retailers of men's classically-styled tailored and casual clothing, sportswear, footwear and accessories...
- 4300 square feet (399.5 m²) location of the MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
-based men's clothing designer and retailer located at 1320 Main St. (opened February 13, 2009) - Kobe Japanese Steakhouse - Japanese steakhouse chain (opened October 2009)
- Lucky Strike Lanes - 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²), 12-lane upscale Hollywood-based bowling alley, featuring live DJs, food, and drinks† (opened on March 6, 2008)
- Maker's MarkMaker's MarkMaker’s Mark is a small batch bourbon whiskey that is distilled in Loretto, Kentucky by Beam Inc.. It is sold in distinctively squarish bottles, which are sealed with red wax. The distillery offers tours, and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.- History...
Bourbon House and Lounge - 6000 square feet (557.4 m²) location of the KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
-based whiskey distiller's chain of restaurants and lounges† (opened Friday May 2, 2008) - McFadden’s Sports Saloon - 6900 sq ft (641 m²) IrishIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-themed sports bar† (opened November 9, 2007) - MeMa's Bakery - bakery featuring cookies and sandwiches
- Midland TheatreMidland TheatreThe Midland Theatre is a 3,573-seat theater located in the Power & Light District of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.The National Collegiate Athletic Association under Walter Byers had its headquarters in the building from the 1950s until it moved to 6299 Nall Avenue at Shawnee Mission Parkway in...
- 3,500-person capacity concert and live music venue (reopened September 2008) - The Indie - bar and cocktail lounge adjoining the Midland Theatre.
- The Mixx - 2966 square feet (275.6 m²) soup, salad, and pasta restaurant (opened October 9, 2009)
- Mosaic Lounge - 7100 square feet (659.6 m²) location of the SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
-based chain of nightclubNightclubA nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s† (opened on April 11, 2008) - Organic Power Dry Cleaners - 950 square feet (88.3 m²) locally-owned laundry and dry-cleaner
- Polished - 1195 square feet (111 m²) nail salonNail salonA nail salon or nail bar is a beauty services establishment that primarily offers nail care services such as manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements. Often, nail salons also offer skin care services. There are approximately 9,900 nail salons in the U.S., up 23% from 2007 according to the ....
and day spaDay spaA day spa is a business establishment which people visit for professionally administered personal care treatments such as massages and facials. It is similar to a beauty salon in that it is only visited for the duration of the treatment. Day spas sited in airport terminals are often called airport... - PBR Big Sky - country and western bar located at the north end of the Kansas City Live! block at 111 E. 13th St. (opened April 10, 2008)
- Pizza Bar - upscale pizza in the space formerly occupied by Vinino†, which had opened November 16, 2007 (opened October 10, 2009)
- Raglan Road - IrishIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
pubPublic houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
made of pieces transported from Ireland† (opened March 4, 2008) On August 31st 2011, Raglan Road at The Power and Light District was officially closed. - Shark Bar - beach-themed bar and grill located on the second level of Grand Boulevard between 13th and 14th streets. (opened August 8, 2008)
- Sprint StudioSprint NextelSprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
- 5500 square feet (511 m²) store in the district. The interactive, high-tech store will "coach" customers on the latest technology from Sprint NextelSprint NextelSprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
. (opened March 5, 2008) - Tengo Sed Cantina (Flash only) - Mexican-themed bar and nightclubNightclubA nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
(opened March 7, 2008) - T-MobileT-MobileT-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
- 1800 square feet (167.2 m²) store - LatteLand Esspresso and Tea - locally owned coffee and tea purveyor.
- The Garment District Boutique - a boutique featuring cutting edge men's and womens fashions, also featuring an in-store full service bar.
- Envolve Boutique - a chic selection of clothing and accessories for men, women and children.
- Lovebird - a chic women's clothing, accessories and gift boutique.
- Polished Edge Fine Jewelry - a modern jewelry boutique featuring exquisite fine jewelry for men and women.
- Zafar Salon, Spa & Boutique - a spa featuring 10 salon stations, a private line of salon/spa products and a wide array of top quality clothes and accessories for the professional man and woman.
- Living Room (seasonal) - a seasonal outdoor bar within the Live! block and under the raised canopy, featuring views of Kansas City's largest outdoor non-stadium video screen.
- Elements (seasonal) - a seasonal outdoor courtyard bar with fire and water features.
- The Jones (seasonal) - an outdoor pool on the roof of a two story building, the Jones features private cabanas and swim up bars.
- Rooftop Park (seasonal) - a rooftop park area located North of the Jones.
†- located in Kansas City Live!
Future plans
Cordish also plans to build four residential towers in the project. As of August, 2007, only one is under construction: a 38-floor 350-unit residential tower, which may include a boutique hotel. The site is just north of the H&R BlockH&R Block
H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers...
headquarters, on a lot once occupied by the Jones Store Company's flagship store. The department store building was demolished during the summer of 2005 and the ground was leveled and dug out beginning in March, 2006.
Criticism
Cordish instituted a dress code in June 2008 that has been called racist by critics. The dress code includes a ban on bandanas, work boots, ripped or baggy clothing, shorts that fall below the knees, athletic jerseys, and chains. City Hall questioned the Cordish company about the dress code, noting that the dress code seemed targeted towards black males and was inconsistently enforced. Councilwoman Melba Curls said her son was turned away from the district, while Counselwoman Beth Gottstein stated that "the message I keep getting is that Cordish is only available to some." David Cordish stated that the company was merely attempting to reduce gang related activity. Critics further accused Cordish of exhibiting racial bias when DJ Jazzy JeffDJ Jazzy Jeff
Jeffrey Allen Townes , also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff or simply Jazz, is an American hip hop, R&B record producer, turntablist and actor. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince...
left the stage early during a performance. Kansas City Power & Light District President Jon D. Stephens stated that "It was entirely an issue of audio and sound."
Cordish has also been criticized for being ungrateful for opposing festival licensing for other Kansas City businesses, festival licensing that it was granted to allow patrons to possess alcohol on the streets in the district.
In addition, Cordish CEO David Cordish has been criticized for repeatedly requesting additional taxpayer subsidies and police for the district. The tone of the requests was labeled "petulant", "greedy", and "uninformed" as it was noted that the company had already received over $300 million in taxpayer subsidies yet failed to open on schedule. This caused City officials to criticize the company for its "secretiveness and slowness."
Alcohol and the Power & Light District
Missouri already widely is known for its lax alcohol lawsAlcohol laws of Missouri
The alcohol laws of Missouri are among the most permissive in the United States when compared to other U.S. states, though Nevada's and Louisiana's are similar...
, which are among the most permissive of any state in the United States, perhaps only exceeded by those of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Missouri has no state law prohibiting open containers or public intoxication
Public intoxication
Public intoxication, also known as "drunk and disorderly", is a summary offense in many countries rated to public cases or displays of drunkenness...
. Generally, however, Missouri does prohibit bars and restaurants from allowing patrons to leave the premises with unfinished open containers of alcohol.
In 2005, the Cordish Company successfully lobbied the Missouri General Assembly
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
for a new law pertaining to any "entertainment district" in Downtown Kansas City which will allow patrons to remove any alcoholic beverage from any establishment in the District and carry it openly throughout the portions of the District not open to vehicular traffic, provided that the beverage is in a plastic cup marked with the logo of the establishment at which it was purchased. Although it remains unclear how this will be interpreted or enforced once the Power & Light District opens in the fall of 2007 through the spring of 2008, for now the provision widely has been accepted as allowing drinking "in the street." If so, the Power & Light District will be one of only a few places in the United States with such an open container allowance (along with the city of Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
, the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Key West FL, and the historic district of downtown Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
). The City Council of Kansas City has extended this provision to include any portion not open to vehicular traffic of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is a newly inaugurated performing arts center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, at 16th and Broadway near the Power & Light District, the Sprint Center and the Crossroads Arts District. Its construction was a major part of the ongoing redevelopment...
, the Crossroads Arts District
Crossroads Arts District
The Crossroads is a historic neighborhood near Downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It is centered at approximately 19th Street and Baltimore Avenue, directly south of the downtown loop and north of Crown Center. It is the city's main art gallery district and center for the visual arts...
, the 18th and Vine Historic District, the Liberty Memorial
Liberty Memorial
The Liberty Memorial, located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War I and houses the The National World War I Museum, as designated by the United States Congress in 2004.. Groundbreaking commenced November 1, 1921, and the city held a site dedication...
, Crown Center
Crown Center
Crown Center is a commercial complex and neighborhood located near Downtown Kansas City, Missouri located between Gillham Road and Grand Boulevard to the east and west, and between Pershing Boulevard and Union Hill to the north and south. The shopping center is anchored by Halls, a department store...
, and the Union Hill neighborhood. Notably, historical entertainment district, Westport
Westport, Kansas City
Westport is a historic neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Originally its own town, it was annexed by Kansas City in 1897. Today, it is one of Kansas City's main entertainment districts.-Background:...
does not benefit from this competitor's special legal provision.
Late night visitors to the outdoor Kansas City Live! venue space are required to present identification before entry which is then scanned by a hand held scanner which verifies ID and stores zip codes and age ranges for market research. The American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
has expressed disapproval of the practice and P&L representatives say that a person can ask for his or her license not to be scanned.