Neighborhood Shopping District May Lose Another Tenant

KANSAS CITY-Protestors, most of them from the surrounding neighborhoods, are voicingtheir opinions this week over the proposed closing of a landmark in theBrookside neighborhood, just south of the Country Club Plaza. The Brookside Amoco gas station, which for decades has been a mainstayat the corner of 62nd Terrace and Brookside Boulevard, is scheduled to closeSaturday at 9 p.m. Paul West, who operates the station just as hisfather before him, cited increased rent as the reason for the closing.

Officials at Highwoods Properties, the owner of the shops on the northside of Brookside, confirmed a rent increase but would not disclose adollar figure. Highwoods has been speaking to Starbucks Coffee aboutleasing the space.

Owners of other stores in the neighborhood, such as the wooden-flooredDime Store, have noted that they may have to close down too if rentscontinue to rise. Brookside is one of the few remaining neighborhoodshopping districts in the metropolitan area.