Friday, October 9, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
Potato Mountain Cafe peaks interest
Restaurant plans new design, menu for next location
=y Chris Fickott
Kansan staff writer
A unique Lawrence restaurant is budding thanks to an increase in customers and interest in franchising.
The Potato Mountain Cafe, Eighth and Ver-
streets, plans to open a franchise showcase at 27th and Iowa streets in November.
The restaurant, which offers more than 100 kinds of mashed potatoes, will expand its menu to include beef, pork and fish varieties of mashed potatoes. It also will include salads and a vegetarian menu.
Brent McClun, president of Potato Mountain Cafe, said that the increased attention and business the store received since its summer opening would allow him to expand the business and fulfill his
original plans for the restaurant.
The store took one step toward expansion by moving to a larger location. The restaurant used to seat 10 at its location on Massachusetts Streets. The new location seats 54.
McClun said now he had the opportunity to design and build a store around the theme of a potato mountain.
The franchise showcase will feature a trail leading to a ranger station where customers will order mashed potatoes off of a menu posted on a picture of a mountain.
Then, customers will seat them-
them, customers will seat themselves at tables surrounded
selves at tables surrounded by log cabin walls and life-like Canadian alpine trees, he said.
"When you walk in,
it's actually like being in a forest," McClun said.
The present location has a similar look, decorated with posters of mountain peaks and pine branches. Kelli Durston Poster
Kelli Durkin, Potato Mountain Cafe manager, said she liked the decor at the restaurant, and she was interested to see the appearance of the 27th and Iowa location.
"I think it's fitting with the concept," she said.
Potato Mountain Cafe's menu also revolves around the mountain theme. The mashed potato dishes are named after some of the world's famous mountains, such as an Italian-style potato dish named Mount Vesuvius.
People Magazine will feature the Potato Mountain Cafe by the end of October. McClun said he was excited about the exposure.
"It's really starting to look up for us." he said.
McClun said that he was anxious to get the franchise showcase running so that prospective buyers could check out his store.
"As we grow and get all of this attention, we have calls nationwide about franchising," he said.
Durkin said that even though the restaurant was attracting attention from Lawrence and beyond, people were coming into the cafe for the first time.
"We're still bringing them in," she said.
The Potato Mountain Cafe offers a wide variety of toppings for its mashed potatoes. The store will be featured in People Magazine in October. Photo by Kate Levenson/KANSAN
Kohl's store opening highlights retail shift
Kohl's, 3240 Iowa St., has its grand opening today. Kohl's was one of three department stores to begin construction along Iowa Street between 27th and 34th streets. Photo by Augustus Anthony Piazza/KANSAN
Kansan staff writer
By Chris Fickott
The first of three new department stores along Iowa Street between 27th and 34th streets opened Monday, marking a recent shift of retail activity away from downtown Lawrence.
Kohl's department store, 3420 Iowa St., has its grand opening today. The store is scheduled to open at 8 a.m. with a grand-opening sale, contests and giveaways. The opening is preceded by a 7:45 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.
KOHL'S GRAND OPENING
Kohl's has five stores in the Kansas City area and wants to expand its market with the Lawrence opening. The department store chain also has one store in Topeka and two in Wichita.
"We carry all the same brands as the moderate priced department stores." he said.
Gary Vasques of Kohl's headquarters in Menomonee Falls, Wis., said that the department store offered national brands of apparel, fashions, accessories and housewares at discount prices.
The store will have company in the south Iowa Street area later this month when two other department stores open. Sears will open
Kohl's Department Store will have its official grand opening at 8 a.m. today.
- The grand opening will be preceded by a 7:45 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Today's grand opening will feature a sale, prizes and giveaways.
its first retail store in Lawrence on Oct. 21 at 2727 Iowa St. In the first week of November, JC Penney will relocate from 1801 W. 23rd St. to a new store at 34th and Iowa streets.
Marcia McFarlane, administrator for Downtown Lawrence, said that the boom of department stores on Iowa Street was not in direct competition with downtown merchants.
McFarlane said that Downtow. Lawrence's philosophy accepted the change in shopping trends from quaint shops to retail outlets.
She said that because downtown offered ambiance and atmosphere, consumers could stroll down Massachusetts Street, enjoy something to eat or drink and shop.
"We are now an area that we can bill as an attraction," she said.
McFarlane said that Weaver's
Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St., was the closest store downtown that could be in competition with Kohl's.
Joe Flannery, Weaver's president, said that his store would continue to prosper because it offered good brands, good prices and good customer service.
Weaver's is the oldest department store west of the Mississippi River. Flannery said that products, service and prices were the key to the store's longevity.
"As long as we continue to do those three, we'll be all right," he said.
"Nostalgia only gets you so far," he said.
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KU Athletic Department Kansan
Nigeria's Independence Day Celebration
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