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Bob Smith Motor Company Celebrates 50 Years |
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They just don’t make signs like that any more - the bold retro red arrow directing you into the small, neat car lot, its neon neatly spelling out “Bob Smith Motor Co.” Even that name seems like something out of the past – simple and straight-forward, like an honest handshake. These images are of the past – some 50 years past, to be exact. And happily, they’re part of the present, too. For this year marks Bob Smith Motor Company’s 50th anniversary in business, and with no apparent sign of letting up.
It was 1958 when Bob Smith started his automobile dealership. He came by his interest in selling cars naturally – both his father and uncle had dealerships. But from the beginning, Smith worked to build his own business, which for many years primarily served as a wholesale car buyer for dealerships in the four-state region. He started out on Prospect, where he first hung that sign during his second year in business. For the first 20 years of business, the dealership was on south Prospect and south Troost. But in 1978, he moved the sign and the dealership to its present location, tucked away on the corner of Gregory and Wornall.
The dealership hasn’t changed much over the years, at least not in terms of what matters. Now they sell all makes of new and used vehicles direct to the individual buyer. But it’s still individual service that is their hallmark. Like many successful businesses in the area, Smith attributes a good deal of his success to having catered to generations of customers, right in the area. “If you draw a circle five miles around us, you’d include 85 percent of our customers,” Smith said in a 1997 Kansas City Star article. Smith’s clientele stay with him, through two and three generations. As Smith’s office manager Jenny Ruppert says, “He’s the kind of car dealer who won’t sell you a car if he doesn’t think it’s right for your daughter.”
Today, Bob Smith is still on the job, but with the support of his staff of six, who have a combined experience of more than 50 years. That’s over and above Smith’s own 5 decades. That much know-how is a real rarity these days.
Yep, they just don’t make them like that any more.
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Storage Mart Named “Waldo’s Best” |
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For November, the WABA Property Committee selected Storage Mart, 7438 Wornall Road, as recipient of the monthly Waldo’s Best award.
Storage Mart moved into Waldo just eight years ago, built on the site of a former grocery store. In addition to being one of the few self-storage facilities in the central city, they provide other products and services, including UPS drop-off, U-Haul rental trucks, shipping materials, and even wine storage. According to manager Larry Hazel, “That’s what makes us unique, these products. Most other storage facilities don’t offer all we do.”
Storage Mart’s improvements were basic but important – a fresh coat of paint for the outside, and most importantly for a storage facility, a new roof! But there are changes on the inside as well. In September, Storage Mart announced the arrival of their new assistant manager, Aaron Lawrence, bringing their total staff to 5.
Storage Mart is open seven days a week, 9am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday, 9am to 2pm Saturday, and noon to 3pm on Sunday. Next time you’re in the heart of Waldo, stop by and thank Larry Hazel and his staff for helping to make Waldo such a great community.
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Monthly Events |
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Monthly November Luncheon
Join with friends from Waldo, Brookside and Southtown at the Monthly Luncheon on Wednesday, November 19, 11:45am at Broadway United Methodist Church, 406 W. 74th St. Councilwoman Jan Marcason (4th District At-Large) will be this month’s speaker. Pizza 51 is catering and lunch is $10/person. Reservations are required. Call 816-523-5553 by noon on Mon., October 17.
Monthly PM Networking
This month, Valley View Bank, 8520 Ward Parkway, is hosting the PM Networking event on Wednesday, November 12, 5pm to 7pm. This event is in cooperation with the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, so this is a great chance to meet a whole new group, plus see the facilities, and hear what’s happening in the community!
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Waldo Business Updates |
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Some recent additions and changes to the Waldo area:
• The Botwin Building has opened at 75th & Washington (more on this in next month’s newsletter)
• The Sweet Guy, a local chocolate shop, is moving from Parkville to 7439 Broadway, and will offer coffees and Italian gelato in addition to hand-crafted chocolates.
• Maura Coleman-Murray Photography is opening its premier location at 404½ W. 75th, specializing in children’s photography.
• The New Reform Temple at the corner of Gregory and Main has purchased the former LeVine Urban Flower Market just west of the Temple, for use as program and classroom space.
• The former Western Chandelier building at 72nd and Wornall has been renovated and is currently available for lease.
• Stonecrest Dance Studio has moved from their space near 75th & Wornall to a new studio at 205 E. Gregory.
• Pizza Oven is opening a location at 8017 State Line Road.
• Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating, is open now at 7429 Broadway.
• The Cook Shack Café is now open and serving breakfast and lunch at 8950 Wornall , the former Top O’ the Wornall site.
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CPAC Safety Notes, October 2008 |
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KCMO Police- Metro Patrol reported September crimes in Beat 231 included five robberies, eighteen burglaries, twenty-nine stealings and five stolen autos. Sergeant Pearce noted there were multiple occasions where residential doors were left unlocked and valuables, such as purses, were left near the unlocked door. Thieves opened the doors and grabbed the goods. He further suggests that you lock your doors, even if you are just stepping away for a moment. Make it a habit to lock doors “automatically” as you come into your home.
Safety Tip: Captain Robin Houston noted that early this fall there was a run of thefts from autos where people left GPS units, iPods and other valuables out in the open. Simply hiding or covering valuables can go a long way to reducing thefts.
If you have safety concerns that you would like raised with KCPD officers at the monthly CPAC meeting, contact Pastor Barry Freese at 816-363-4084 or at barry@broadwaymethodist.org.
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Waldo Fall Festival a “Sweet” Success |
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Marking its “sweet 16” birthday this year, the 2008 Waldo Fall Festival, held September 20, proved to be one of the most successful to date, owing to great weather and even greater crowds.
The festival officially started that morning with the opening ceremonies, featuring the inauguration of newly “elected” Mayor John Cowan, and Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Sanders. Cowan earned the position by raising the most money for this year’s charity recipient, the Gillis Center. Cowan was sponsored by Tommy Farha’s Café/Bar, while runner-up Sanders was sponsored by Patrick’s Bar & No Grill. The entire campaign raised more than $8,000 for the Gillis Center’s work with at-risk youth.
The event is always a great family-fun day, and this year was no exception. Along with the bands and kids amusements that have become staples of the festival, new this year were the KCMO Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit, the KCPD fire trucks hosing down lots of hot children, and the Kansas City Academy band. More than 50 area businesses and associations participated in the booth area.
Although festival activities wound down in the afternoon, the Falldo Waldo Crawldo Pub Crawl kept the streets of Waldo humming through the evening. This year’s crawl was bigger and better than ever. In addition to the 75th & Wornall area pubs that have participated in the past, the crawl was expanded south to include Patrick’s Bar-No Grill, Murphy’s and Tasso’s. Participating establishments sponsored a shuttle bus that kept patrons moving safely and happily along the Wornall corridor crawl.
The staff and board of the Waldo Area Business Association wish to extend their thanks to all who attended, and a very special thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers who made this such a terrific festival. We look forward to seeing you all next year!
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Waldo Mayor Elected to Serve in 2008/2009 |
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Congratulations to John Cowan from Tommy Farha’s Café/Bar as the new Honorary Mayor of Waldo. For those of you who don’t know, WABA holds a year-long campaign for this honorary position. The person living, working, or doing business in Waldo who raises the most money by the first of September wins! This year, the proceeds from this fund-raising event benefit the Gillis Center. There were five contenders- Patrick Sanders (Patrick’s Bar- No Grill); John Cowan (Tommy Farha’s); Chris Morgan (75th St. Brewery); Susan Mitchell (The Wednesday) and Jerry Singer (Singer Automotive). Together they raised a total of $8118.00. Thanks to the candidates and special thanks to everyone for their financial support! The mayor will be inaugurated at the opening ceremony of the Waldo Fall Festival, 10am on Saturday, Sept. 20th.
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Local Business & Waldo School Partnering for a Good Cause |
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Brookside business 5B & Co. Candlemakers will be partnering with St. Elizabeth’s School in Waldo, to sell candles as a fundraiser. This fundraiser will support St. Elizabeth’s Technology goals as well as other school and classroom projects. 5B& Co. prides itself in creating hand-poured, highly-scented votive candles on site. The owner, Lori Woods, is working exclusively with St. Elizabeth to create several special gift wrapped boxed sets available only through the fundraiser. The sale will run for 4 weeks, October 7 – 31. The gift wrapped sets range in price from $4 to $26. For more information, contact St. Elizabeth’s fundraising hotline at 816-523-7101, ext. 4510.
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Kansas City Veterinary Care is “Waldo’s Best” for October |
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The recipient of the October 2008 “Waldo’s Best” Award is Kansas City Veterinary Care (formerly Hecker Animal Clinic), at 7240 Wornall Road.
The clinic has been a Waldo fixture since 1984. Five full-time veterinarians and a large technical staff provide the full complement of pet care services. Although the name has changed, the professional staff and ownership has not. The renovation work that earned the clinic this award is extensive and represents a dramatic new look for the building. Arts-and-crafts style porches wrap around the large converted house. The added entrance and large windows in the lobby area make the building lighter and brighter. Inside, the renovations are even more extensive, and include structural work, an enlarged visiting area, four additional exam rooms, and a consultation room, among other features.
The Waldo Area Business Association board and members congratulate the folks at Kansas City Veterinary Care for their outstanding work and their continued commitment to the Waldo community. We’re proud to name you “Waldo’s Best!”
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Waldo Bar & Grill Named “Waldo’s Best” for September |
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For September, the WABA Property Committee selected , 7438 Wornall Road, as recipient of the monthly Waldo’s Best award.
Established in 1947, the Waldo Bar & Grill has been a landmark in the heart of Waldo. Recently, Marshal Blount purchased the building and the renovations began. The entire front façade was upgraded as well as the interior. New floors, walls, and lighting were installed; the ceiling was raised; new TV’s and stereo systems were added; and the kitchen was re-opened with new equipment. The existing bar is still in place. The establishment is now operated by Steve and Ramona Hayes, also owners of Fabu, around the corner!
With all of the renovations completed, Waldo Bar & Grill now features both lunch and dinner. When asked of Blount what makes the Waldo Bar special, he replied, “We have high quality bar food, the new atmosphere from the change out of the façade is vastly improved, the service is great and most importantly, it is our customers that make us special!”
Congratulations to the Waldo Bar and Grill for being one of Waldo’s best!
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© Copyright 2002 - Waldo Area Business Association