6 | THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM | NEWS | MONDAY, JULY 2, 2007
>> DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE
Construction controversy
Downtown resident says sushi shop worthy of boycott
By Joe Caponio jcaponio@kansan.com
If Jeremy Claeys gets his way, Wa Japanese Restaurant won't be moving to its new location anytime soon.
Claeys, 29, is trying to stop the restaurant from expanding because he says that the construction of the new restaurant is doing irrevocable damage to the historic building in which he lives at 742 1/2 Massachusetts St.
The owners of Wa purchased the lower level of the building in February in hopes of opening their new location by January 2008. The owners began construction on the new location in March, but were ordered by the city to stop three days later when Claeys alerted officials that damage was being done to his home.
"They basically smashed into my house and didn't give a damn," Claeys said.
"The insurance people told me that there was upwards of $20,000 in damage done." Claeys said.
Claeys, who lives on the upper level of the building, is trying to stop the restaurant's construction by claiming that the owners have purchased only the interior and have no right to alter the outside of the building.
Jun Kim, one of Wa's owners said that the construction is having no effect on the exterior of the building and that Claeys is fighting a battle that he can't win.
"He has been left with no legal options," Kim said.
Kim said that the people at Wa have nothing personal against Claeys, and he said though that Claeys shares the same feeling.
Kim said he was hoping to get a permit from the city sometime in the next two weeks that would allow construction to continue. Claeys said that if Wa gets its permit, he will have no choice but to sue the city.
"I think hed be putting up the same fight if it was any other tenant." Kim said.
"I can't let something like this go on, especially from one of my neighbors," Claeys said.
On Thursday, Claeys put signs up in his windows in the upper level of the building that read "BOYCOTT WA" and asked customers to visit his Web site at www.boycottwa.com. The site lists alternative sushi restaurants in the area and provides a link to a form that visitors can fill out to receive free anti-Wa T-shirts and flyers.
"The purpose of the boycott is to give the people at Wa an economic incentive to stop doing what they're doing," Claeys said.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Kim said that he was actually happy Claeys decided to put the signs up and started the Web site. The restaurant even has a new item on its menu, the "Boycott Wa Roll."
Lawrence resident Shelley Ford said that Claeys protest wouldn't stop
In protest to construction near his home at 742 1/2 Massachusetts St., Jeremy Claeys, Lawrence resident, put up a sign to encourage people to boycott the Wa restaurant.
her from visiting what she said was the best sushi restaurant in the area.
"How they're building the new site and who it's angering doesn't make the food taste any differently," Ford said.
- Edited by Ben Smith
LAWRENCE
7/7/07 lucky for brides, businesses
Date popular for summer weddings
By Maggie VanBuskirk mvanbuskirk@kansan.com
The commercial: A man trying to open his garage door forgets the keypad code. Over his shoulder, he asks his wife for the number. She simply says it's their anniversary. The man, feigning recognition, turns back to the keypad and, terrified, stares at the numbers in blank bafflement.
For Lance Willmann, 29, the solution to such a problem is simple: Get married on an unforgettable date, 7/7/07. Not only is it the most popular date to wed this summer, but it is a godsend for forgetful husbands.
"I've been engaged for the last two years and none of my guy friends have forgotten the date," said Willmann.
Besides being easy to remember, the consecutive sevens in the date are considered lucky. It has become a blessed day for brides, grooms and local businesses.
Christa Vagnozzi, senior editor for The Knot magazine, said, on an average Saturday in July, approximately 12,000 couples get married. But for 7/7/07 more than 38,000 couples plan to tie the knot, making it the biggest wedding date in history according to The Knot. Couples across the country are choosing this unique date and incorporating different themes like Vegas and "lucky in love."
"It's fun for it to become our big day. And it will become a big day for a lot of people." Willmann said.
"We did not have a lot of problems booking things because we started early.
Originally, Willmann and his fiance Reagan Mainz, 22, planned to get married on July 14. After checking the calendar and noticing the triple sevens, Willmann suggested the couple move the nuptials up a week. Despite the date's popularity, Willmann and Mainz said they have had no trouble planning the event.
Last year we went to a bridal fair, which really helped," Willmann said. "I'm sure if we waited it would have been difficult"
Local businesses also prosper from the lucky date. Jerry Yates, owner of Randall's Formal Wear, said this was the first time July had beaten out May and June for hosting weddings. He estimated Randall's July business had increased three times as much because of the "seven phenomenon."
"We really enjoy helping make their special day count," Yates said. "The more the merrier. And we are thankful for the increase in business"
Larry Ojeleye, owner and manager of Affordable Limousine Service, has been asking himself why everyone wants this date. Affordable Limousine, 952 N. 3rd St, has booked four limousines for weddings on 7/7/07. It is the business' busiest weekend in July. Ojeleye said he usually expects this kind of demand only in June.
Ashley Roth, cake decorator at the 6th Street Hy-Vee, said two wedding cakes are ordered for 7/17/07. One reservation was made a year in advance. Roth, Olathe senior, said many people reserved the date but most cancelled because of difficulties finding venues. Roth, who has heard brides-to-be at the bakery complaining about booking troubles, thinks the date's popularity has scared everyone off.
One couple avoided the planning stress associated with 7/7/07 by choosing 7/6/07 as their nuptial date. Amy Smith and Andrew Hill, 2005 KU alumni, first considered getting married on July 7. Smith said she reserved a venue but had trouble getting a florist and photographer. Because of the short amount of time to plan — he proposed in December — they opted to wed on July 6, which was also their dating anniversary.
Edited by Joe Caponio
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