Starbucks is the latest loss for the Plaza. Here’s what else closed, what’s coming

Add the longtime Starbucks space to the nearly two dozen empty spots on the Country Club Plaza.

Starbucks was such a Plaza draw that just a few years ago the Plaza’s then owners were looking at ways to expand it.

“As a business owner on the Country Club Plaza it is certainly disappointing to lose Starbucks. As we understand it, it was one of the best performing Starbucks in Kansas City,” said Tyler Enders, partner in Made in KC and Kindred. “It’s unfortunate to lose another well-respected national tenant. I think there were a lot of fantastic employees over there.”

After Starbucks closed this past week, employees told The Star they suspected the reason was union-busting.

A Starbucks spokesperson said: “We regularly open and close stores as a standard part of our business operations. We apply the same focus on safety at unionized and non-union stores and are closing non-union stores where we are similarly challenged in providing a safe environment for our customer and partner experience.”

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But if Starbucks decides to return to the Plaza, it has several spots to choose from. Nearly as fast as the Plaza fills a space, another tenant closes.

Some updates:

▪ Parachute, a “modern lifestyle brand,” will open later this year at 333 W. 47th St., just east of Broadway. Its products are designed in Los Angeles and manufactured around the world using premium quality materials for apparel, decor, mattresses, bedding, bath and baby products, and furniture.

The company was founded in 2014 and currently has 18 stores in larger markets.

White House Black Market previously operated in the space but closed earlier this month.

▪ One of the Plaza’s exclusive national tenants, Marine Layer, closed at 225 Nichols Road. It was one of the first tenants to open in the redeveloped Halls Plaza building, Plaza 211, in mid-2017.

In a statement, a Marine Layer spokesman said, “We can’t share many details but we were sad to leave!”

▪ JD Sports, clothing and accessories, now has a sign up for a space at 235 W. 47th St. It had previously taken out a permit for a spot on Nichols Road.

Officials with JD Sports did not respond to requests for more information on the location.

Rally House had operated there before relocating on the Plaza.

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Nike took out a permit for the former Tesla space at 450 Nichols, down the street from the location where it had operated until May. Work has started on the new space but Nike has not confirmed it will be opening in the spot.

▪ Chico’s, a longtime tenant, recently closed at 4705 Broadway. Bath & Body Works relocated to that space from Nichols Road.

▪ 3DHQ, 3D printing, scanning and design, closed at 231 W. 47th St., and is relocating to the former Scooter’s Coffee space at 446 W. 47th St.

It said Claire’s, jewelry and accessories, would be opening in its former spot. Officials with Claire’s did not respond.

And still no word on what will take the former Nordstrom site, after the department store announced in April that it would no longer be relocating to the Plaza. Dillard’s and Target were in the running.

Back when there was talk of Starbucks expanding, not closing, one proposal called for taking the longtime Plaza Shoe Shine shop next door and some parking spaces on the street level, along with a lower level exit.

Now Starbucks is directing customers to its 4101 Main St. location, which has a drive-thru, as well as its shops on West 39th Street and in Brookside.

“It is unfortunate to see any place close but I know that Main Street and Brookside are really strong stores for them,” said Joe Zwillenberg, landlord for those locations.

Interactive maps: Who’s gone, who’s coming, who’s staying put on Kansas City’s Plaza