Story by Dave Eckert / Intro photo courtesy of Pierpont’s
I received a press release not long ago announcing a new restaurant going into an historic building in downtown Kansas City. It got me thinking about food and beverage-based businesses throughout the metro residing in historic buildings. I thought it might make for an interesting exploration, and hopefully, read.
I’ll get back to the downtown restaurant in a bit, but I’d like to start by introducing you to the first building constructed in Platte City. It is the current home of Barley and Vine, a brewery and wine bar, and a personal favorite of mine. Laura Lowry is Barley and Vine’s owner, and the caretaker of 186 years of history. “The upstairs portion of the building was constructed around the time of the Civil War, but the cellar dates back to 1840, and that’s all that’s remaining of the original structure,” Lowry shared.
Photo courtesy of Barley and Vine
The building originally served as the Platte County Courthouse, which moved up the street after the structure was burned to the ground during the Civil War. Lowry acquired the building in 2021 and took two and a half years to bring it back to life before opening Barley and Vine – a cool space on the building’s top two floors. But it was the basement that really intrigued Lowry. “There is a tunnel in the basement that runs down to the river, which we believe was used for The Underground Railroad. What’s more, we think the building is haunted. I can be alone in the building upstairs and hear quite a racket downstairs. When we were renovating the basement, random items would mysteriously appear on the floor. Also, from time to time, a bitters bottle will slide off the shelf or a wine glass off the rack. I don’t mind the ghost’s presence, I just wish she wouldn’t break my wine glasses. And, yes, we believe the ghost is a she. We’ve named her Clara,” Lowry casually explained.
Photo courtesy of Tin Kitchen
I’ll stay up north for my next exploration, the building housing Tin Kitchen restaurant in Weston, run by Sean O’Malley, whose family purchased the building in 2012. “The building at 509 Main Street was built in 1842. In 1887, William J. Rumpel opened a hardware store there. The Rumpel family operated the store for 101 years, until George and Hazel Rumpel closed the business in 1988,” O’Malley shared. If you’ve spent any time in Weston, you will certainly recognize the O’Malley name, most likely from the long-running and very popular O’Malley’s Pub, which O’Malley ran with his parents from 1988 to 2005 when the pub was sold. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and in 2012, my two sisters and I were back in the restaurant business. We purchased the Rumpel building in 2012, spent two years lovingly and extensively restoring the building, and opened Tin Kitchen in October 2014.” O’Malley recalled.
O’Malley says he loves being a part of Weston’s history on a daily basis. Since 1887, the building has only been owned by the Rumpels and the O’Malleys. “I have memories as a youngster, going into Rumpel Hardware in the seventies and early eighties, purchasing nuts, bolts, lawnmower wheels, etc. from George and Hazel to build go-karts and other kid stuff! I love that I’m here doing adult stuff in the same building,” O’Malley smiled.
Photo courtesy of Pierpont’s
Next, perhaps the most famous of the historically delicious KC businesses – Pierpont’s at Union Station. “The original Union Station was built in 1914. Most of Pierpont’s three-story structure is historical space, including the former women and children’s waiting rooms and the women’s smoking lounge,” owner Mary Holland shared. “The space Pierpont’s occupies in Union Station has been a pleasure, and a challenge at times, to maintain and restore while honoring its historical and architectural beauty. It is an overwhelming honor to work in a space with such beauty and historical significance. I am filled with joy and pride when I walk through the restaurant!”
Photo courtesy of Loretta Jean’s Restaurant and Bar / Zach Bauman
Finally, the restaurant venture that got this whole article started – Loretta Jean’s Restaurant and Bar. Loretta Jean’s is a joint venture of chef Rick Mullins and hospitality veteran Candice Moore, which is exciting news on its own. The location makes the announcement even more deliciously appealing. Loretta Jean’s will be located at 935 Broadway, a building with a long and diverse history. First opened in 1874 as Brackett Brothers Drugstore, the building took a turn as a brothel before becoming home to Reich and Selden’s Furriers in 1931. It was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. “Rick and I decided we only wanted to do a restaurant if the space was right. When we walked in, we both fell silent. We knew it was right,” Moore reminisced.
A fur vault, a money safe, vintage posters, fashion mannequins, and a distinctive Seiden’s Furs neon sign featuring a sly fox are a few of the historic treasures that will anchor the restaurant’s contemporary design. Loretta Jean’s will feature a menu focused on farm-fresh ingredients, and a bar program offering spirited and non-alcoholic cocktails treated with equal reverence. The restaurant is scheduled to open this fall. Count me in for a visit to all of these deliciously historic businesses.
Cheers!
