Section A · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 3, 2000
Toy, antique markets gain new competitors
Owners don't think problems will arise
By John Audlehelm
writer @kansan.com
Kanson staff writer
The Billings family owns two stores in Lawrence — and both stores are receiving friendly competition.
Gwen and Larry Billings own the Lawrence Antique Mall, 830 Massachusetts St., and their sons, Kyle and Bryce, own Fun and Games, a toy store at 816 Massachusetts St.
But there are some new kids on
their block.
My Father's Daughter, an antique and furniture store at 844 Massachusetts St., opened Saturday. And The Toy Store, 841 Massachusetts St., will specialize in educational toys and is scheduled to open in early April.
But both Gwen and Kyle Billings said the competition was more cooperative than cthitroat because neither has a monopoly on the antique and toy market, respectively.
Angela Conrad, owner of My Father's Daughter, said her father thought of the store's name. Both of her parents work at the shop, she said.
“It's a family thing.” Conrad said. She said the shop sold Victorian antiques, furniture, home and garden accessories and gifts.
"We're kind of an eclectic mix," Conrad said.
She said she was not worried about competition from the Lawrence Antique Mall because antiques were specialized enough that it was difficult for stores' inventories to overlap.
"There's several varieties of antiques," Conrad said. "I carry antiques with a Victorian flavor."
Gwen Billings said Lawrence's antique stores cooperated with one another.
Billings said she was more concerned about people leaving Lawrence satisfied with their purchases rather than leaving her store with antiques they didn't really want.
A similar situation may emerge with the toy stores on Massachusetts Street.
Lana Best, manager of The Toy Store in downtown Topeka, said that she would leave the store in Topeka to manage the one in Lawrence.
Kyle Billings, manager of Fun and Games, said he hoped the two stores would refer customers to each other. He said his store had a good relationship with another downtown toy store, the Toy
Moon, 619 Massachusetts St., before it closed.
"I think it's going to work out really good because we didn't overlap too much on things we sold," he said.
In addition selling the same kind of toys, The Toy Store has another connection with the Toy Moon.
After the store's owner, Mike Cnoissens, was killed in a biking accident in September, his store stayed open through the Christmas season to liquidate its inventory — and The Tov Store bought what was left.
Best said that after Crossen's death and the subsequent close of his store, Lawrence had a niche that needed to be filled.
Flamingo Dance Academy, 1117 Massachusetts St., is a new dance studio and catering service that is scheduled to open downtown on March 12. The dance floor is 40 feet in diameter. It is one of the several recent additions to Massachusetts Street. Photo by Ellie Hajek/KANSAN
Studio to offer dancing, catering
The Flamingo Dance Academy, a dance studio that also caters to parties and special events, is set to open March 12.
Wade Qandil, owner of the building at 1117 Massachusetts St. and dance instructor, said he competed in dance competitions in the United States and internationally. This would be his first attempt at instructing, he said.
Qandil said he would teach 13 different kind of dances, including swing.
"This is not based on anything that is considered a fad," he said. "Ballroom dancing never dies. It is always there."
Qandil said the building had 3,500 square feet of dance and seating space, with a circular dance floor 40 feet in diameter.
"The place is also available for parties and special events," Qandil said.
He scheduled the first party for the academy's grand opening on March 12.
Qandil said it would feature two bands and a dance contest. The winning couple will receive a trip to Cancun, Mexico, minus airfare, he said.
caterer — but only to legal drinkers, he said.
The dance studio also will have a catering service that gives away alcohol to somebody who hires a
Qandil said that similar dance studios/caterers existed in other states, such as Minnesota and Illinois but that he also was planning to open one in Overland Park.
"There's nothing like it here," he said. "This one is small compared to other major ones."
Susan Elkins, faculty adviser for the Ballroom Dance Club, said she thought the club's members were planning to go to the studio. She said it would be a great opportunity for club members.
Restaurant adds flavor to Lawrence dining with a taste of Africa
— John Audlehelm
By Ryan Blethen
Kansan staff writer
"I thought it was the missing piece of the puzzle cuisine-wise," she said.
At the southwest corner of 19th and Haskell streets lies a nondescript strip mall that could be found in Anytown, U.S.A. Early last month, however, the 19th Street Center got a spicy new tenant when Bobo's Buka, a traditional African restaurant, opened February 5.
Modupe Ajijola opened the restaurant, at 1910 Haskell Ave., Suite 2, because she said she saw a need for an African restaurant in Lawrence.
Most of the dishes served are West and East African, and they range from soups to meat dishes. Occasionally, however, the cuisine will venture out of the two regions. When it is an African country's independence day, BoBo's Buka serves food that hails from that country
Tawesake Molsawat, Thailand graduate student, agreed that Lawrence needed more options in dining because of the diverse community the University of Kansas created.
"KU students are from around the
world." he said.
Ajiilja said some people compared the restaurant's dishes to Mexican food although she said they were authentic African dishes.
Supath Kookiatkoon, Thailand graduate student, said he had heard about Bobo's from a friend. Although he had only visited the restaurant once, he said he definitely would be back.
Molsaw said he was pleased with the food. "It's similar to Thai food, but it's not as spicy, which is good," he said.
The restaurant strives for authenticity.
Alijola said. In a back section, diners eat with their hands, which is the traditional style in many parts of West Africa.
For lunch, the food is served buffet style — all-you-can-eat for $7.99. Dinner is sit-down and ranges from around $10 to $15.
Not only can a customer get a bowl of ox tail and tripe pepper soup at Bobo's Buka, but Ajijola also plans and caters weddings.
Although Africans traditionally don't have dessert, the restaurant serves pies.
"If you were colonized by the English, their dessert is what you are used to," Aiiliola said.
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