Buca di Beppo is a national Italian restaurant that will occupy9,550sf in a space previously leased by the Hilliard Gallery.Itwill be located in the lower level courtyard near Steve Shoes at312 W.47th St. and will have an outdoor dining area. The restaurantwill opensometime next year, according to Kelly Taylor, spokeswomanfor J.C.Nichols, a Highwoods Properties affiliate and landlord.

Betsey Johnson is an upscale women's clothing store that willoccupy 970sf at 225 W. 47th St. in the space formerly occupied byMondi.The Betsey Johnson store is scheduled to open before the endof theyear.

There has been much discussion surrounding chain stores movingintospaces on the Plaza that were formerly occupied by localmerchants."We are trying to offer a nice mix of stores," Taylorsaid. "And I wouldn't say we are putting chain stores in here. It'smore along the lines of putting in a store with a nationalpresence. Their location here may be the only one in Kansas City,like a Mark Shale for instance."