RAYTOWN, Mo. – A shopping center some thought was destined for demolition is getting some new life.
One year ago the Raytown Plaza at 63
rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard was almost vacant.
Over the past few months five new businesses moved in including a karate studio, racetrack, salon, laundry mat and an audio/visual store.
Greg Ramsey, the owner of Ramsey’s Audio & Visual, says the leasing offer was one he could not turn down.
“Obviously the price of it really interested me because they were looking for tenants and I was looking for a place that was inexpensive to get into,” says Ramsey.
He believes he is seeing the rebirth of downtown Raytown.
"I think as you start getting businesses interested in a center it kind of perpetuates itself. It just kind of keeps growing,” he says.
The revitalization effort comes in part from the work of Raytown resident Cindy McPherrin.
"It was just important to me that you didn't have a dead spot in your downtown area. And people were going to Lee's Summit, Independence and the Plaza to do all their shopping,” says McPherrin.
Last Christmas McPherrin decided to decorate all the empty store fronts in the Raytown Plaza. She got donations from local businesses. The store fronts were put on display during the annual lighting ceremony.
“People could see after the lighting ceremony last year how this place could come back to life,” she says.
With half of the space filled now Ramsey is hopeful. He knows the revitalization won't be easy.
This holiday season the shopping center will host a scavenger hunt to draw people there. Contestants will have to visit the stores to find the price of a specific item. The winner will be named at the Raytown Lighting Ceremony on December 4
th at Raytown Pocket Park.
You can find more information at
www.raytownmainstreet.org.
