After my big city friend moved to New York and we began visiting regularly, I confessed, “I can’t figure out this upper-lower-east-west-village thing. What the heck?!”
And he patiently pulled out my Streetwise Manhattan and pointed saying, “Prairie Village, Mission Hills, Leawood, Brookside. They’re neighborhoods.” And I was never confused again.
We have our own names for things here, too, and shorthands and zip codes.
Which can be cozy. And reassuring. The only problem being that sometimes something really good is happening outside your burg.
For me, this means I sometimes need a little extra nudge.
The Star. Spaces. And finally a text from Mrs. Larson (reaffirming my belief that personal is the most influential) asking, “Have you been to the General Store in downtown OP?”
Overland Park is not my usual stomping ground, though there are several cute shops and good places to eat. In the midst of carrot cake and swim pick up I dashed over.
Really, it’s too good to be true. Chocked full of carefully curated treasures, you are sure to find something you need.
Design services, too.
OP has a downtown? Who knew?
Hi Patricia, I'm impressed–those cashmere shawl chairs sing! And the lucite encased specimens–not my cup of tea, but fantastic nonetheless. Did you make it back for swim pick-up? Mary
Patricia I have bee in several of the fun shops in Old OP not the General Store though!! I will visit very soon!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
What a treasure! I drove by yesterday on my way to 10,000 Villages, but didn't take time to go in. Thanks for the nudge.
We moved to Overland Park in the late 1940's. The telephone system only had only party lines. The best you could get was a 2 party line which is what we had. Each party had a unique number of rings. My nosy Mother would pick up the phone when it rang for the other party and listen in on their conversations. If you wanted to call someone you picked up the receiver and turned a crank and the operator came on, took your number and placed your call.
Never never ever would we have projected Overland Park as a boutique shopping site. The Plaza or nothing was the way of it then. I'm always so tickled to read your blog and remember what it used to be like. I moved away to L.A. after collage, then to Honolulu for a job which propelled me to Washington DC where I now live. But my heart belongs to Kansas City. Ann
My Dad was part of the construction of the then new Movie theatre which was located in a vacant cow pasture.
Looks like fun.
Great shop…as a non KC gal living here and more familiar with the New York City map of upper west, upper east, the village etc. Curious how that relates to Mission HIlls, Sunset, Brookside, Prairie Village, Leawood etc. here….fill me in please.
I've heard a lot of good things about The General Store, but haven't had a chance to visit. (It's out of my area as well) Maybe I'll wander down this weekend..
Yet again you find something wonderful that makes me want to visit. Given your warm temps, and the near blizzard outside my window, maybe we'll spend spring break in KC this year.
Next time you are there, check out El Salvadoreno a couple of doors down. Not for the decor–they need a lighting consultant, stat!–but for the food: the pupusas, pasteles and tamales are amazing.
those re-done cane chairs are awesome! I am going to Manhattan in 2 weeks for work – I might have to try and sneak into that stores – thanks for sharing.
The "curiosities" embedded in acrylic blocks are quite amazing!