KANSAS CITY, Mo. - We hear the news each day of more lay-offs and more companies going out of business. However, in these tough economic times, not everyone is sitting on the sidelines. New businesses continue to open in the Kansas City Metro. And NBC Action News is launching a year-long commitment to track the ups and downs of three randomly selected businesses.
They're Here
The sounds of progress reverberate on the Country Club Plaza. Inside the old Talbot's store at 4725 Wyandotte Ave., a new business comes to life. Workers are doing drywall by hand, and painting and install light fixtures. Once the dust settles, MLB Designs will offer three floors of one stop shopping for your home decorating needs. In Overland Park, Kan., a “now open” sign hangs in the window of MedExpress Labs, a new direct access lab testing company. It's a new concept the owners call pro-active healthcare.
Nearby in Hawthorne Plaza, evening falls and another night of fine dining comes to life at the new West Chase Grille.
MedExpress Labs
David Rexroat is proud of his new concept at MedExpress Labs.
"We do well over 500 tests that you can come to us directly,” he explains. “You don't need a doctor's order, a prescription.” David and his wife Prudence opened their doors on Nov. 3rd, 2008. They’re located in the new Southridge Shopping Center on 121st Street in Overland Park, just across the street from Costco. In minutes, patients can test their cholesterol, insulin and thyroid levels. They also offer complete wellness tests and tests in additional areas like drugs, cancer or STD’s. “What we’ve done is we’ve taken tests and we’ve put them together,” Prudence Rexroat says. “So again, it’s a lot more cost effective for the patient to come in and get a group of tests.” The Rexroats each worked in the fields of insurance and employee benefits for years. When they set out to open their own business, David Rexroat says the economy was much stronger. “Every decision was made before the bottom hit the market, when the market kind of went crazy. And so we all were locked in and our decision was long made on what to do.”
West Chase Grille
The owners of West Chase Grille share a similar tale. John Westerhaus and Chase Wilcox opened their doors on Nov. 20th, 2008. “It's all the qualities that you want in fine dining in terms of the quality of food and the presentation,” Westerhaus says. “But a little more relaxed atmosphere.”After years of working in other upscale restaurants, in Colorado and New Mexico, they set a plan in motion last year to open their own place. “Yeah, we were committed at that time,” Westerhaus reflects. “We were under construction. We had signed what amounts to a 10-year lease. You know, had gotten financing, had left our jobs.”
Wilcox admits it was a difficult time to open a restaurant, but he remains positive for the future.
“People are going to go out to eat regardless,” he says. “And if we can make them have a good time and enjoy themselves, when they leave they think 'Wow, that was fun. Those guys were fun.' Hopefully they'll keep coming back.”
MLB Designs
Marie Bertholet Smith talks over the sound of hammers as she proudly shows off her soon to be open new location, pointing out locations for furniture, jewelry and accessories. “I decided to do this over a year ago,” she says. “And it's taken that long to renovate our space.”Smith owns MLB Designs and has spent the past 35-years helping turn houses into homes. She's doubling her square footage with this costly move to the Country Club Plaza. She too remains determined: “I love making people happy,” she smiles. The owners of all three new businesses know they're in for an interesting year, but they are set to roll with the punches. Each year, the number of new business starts has dwindled for the Kansas City Metro, according to data tracked by Mid-America Regional Council. In 2006, the Metro saw 4,406 new business starts. The number dropped to 3,620 in 2007 and just 3,122 news businesses started last year. With fewer starts, there's no telling how many will still be in business at the end of the year.
Determination
Chase Wilcox hold strong to the belief that West Chase Grille will make it. “Determination,” Wilcox says strongly. He smiles before continuing. “We need to make it!”The West Chase guys have already made some minor tweaks, according to Westerhaus: “We faced a couple of different challenges watching the economy continue to slide, but you know we make adjustments. That's what we do. We're entrepreneurs.”The Rexroats also have confidence in the fact people will always need health care.“I think, as the downturn happens,” David Rexroat says. “People that might be uninsured or underinsured can actually save money by coming to us.”And as Marie Bertholet Smith prepares for her grand opening next month, she says the flat housing market is already sending more people her way.“I'm seeing people staying put,” Smith says. “I see them renovating their existing home. In bad times and in good, people always need things for their home.”Look for additional reports throughout the year as we track the progress of these new business ventures.
The Key to Success
The key to launching a successful new business is the business plan. You can find a great resource for that in the Small Business Administration. For more information, watch our complete interview Dr. Gary Cook, the Director of the Kansas City District office.
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