Cityscape

A month after JJ’s explosion, House of Elan relocates to new offices

Updated: 2013-03-22T22:12:00Z

By JOYCE SMITH

The Kansas City Star

Plaza Physicians Group — and its beloved yellow Labrador Perseus — are back in business.

A month after an explosion leveled JJ's restaurant and heavily damaged the physician group's House of Elan building next door, the practice has set up in new offices at Linwood Boulevard and Main Street.

John Verstraete purchased the House of Elan building at 906 W. 48th St., just west of the Country Club Plaza, eight years ago and turned the two-story structure into a medical spa. He later moved his Plaza Physicians Group to the site.

But February's natural gas explosion so heavily damaged the building that it was beyond repair Verstraete learned this week. So the Linwood office at 3215 Main St. is set to be the group's new home.

In a back office of the building, Perseus also is getting back to his normal routine, albeit one that includes a new younger brother, a five-month-old chocolate Labrador named Aries.

When the employees were escaping the House of Elan building, the explosion and sirens from first responders had Perseus spooked and the dog took off .

The search was on for more than two weeks. There were numerous calls and photos of Perseus sightings, including one of a poodle.

Then on March 9 the call came in. Perseus was spotted on the city's east side and soon reunited — 18 pounds lighter with a couple of cuts — with his owner Cisco Sherman,

Now he's nearly back to normal weight, and playing keep away with Aries, although the dog doesn't appear to be quite the same when he hears the wailing of sirens.

On Saturday, the Plaza Physicians Group will hold a fundraiser from 4 to 10 p.m. at the new offices, at 3215 Main St., just north of McDonald's. The $50 ticket, which will go to the group and its employees, will include a silent auction, live entertainment, snacks and drinks, along with a Perseus kissing booth.

To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send email to jsmith@kcstar.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at JoyceKC.

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