Take Five Coffee + Bar closing in Overland Park’s Corbin Park

After four years in Leawood, Take Five Coffee + Bar had “standing room only” crowds during its live music events.

So a year ago, the coffee shop and jazz bar moved into a 4,800-square-foot space on the south side of Overland Park’s Corbin Park. A sound supervisor for Kansas City Repertory Theatre handled the acoustical design and the space had a full kitchen to support Take Five’s expanded menu, which included an omelet bar and Belgian waffles for breakfast, and more sandwiches and entrees for lunch and dinner.

But now the owners plan to close Take Five on Aug. 15, citing the lack of foot traffic on the center’s south side, plumbing issues and new competition from a Starbucks in mega sports retailer Scheels.

Doug and Lori Chandler, owners of Take Five, posted a statement on their website that included:

“When we signed the lease in December 2013 for our new location, we did so with all the excitement, hopes and expectations you could possibly imagine; a prime shopping center filling up quickly, and a brand new flagship sporting goods store on the way to bring even more people by our front door. We knew we were taking a risk being on the south side of the center – it was so hard to find we even had to call Google to get our map point fixed – but we knew we’d have more stores and more cars very soon. We designed the room from the ground up for acoustics and gave our musicians the stage they very richly deserved – and people came, and listened, and it was amazing. We continued our dedication to quality coffee and added a quality full menu to the mix; we hosted a rehearsal dinner, a wedding and three graduation parties in just 9 months. Fast forward to today, and those doorways next to us still aren’t full, and information about when they will be isn’t available. Additionally, two days before Scheels opened we found out they had a Starbucks in their lobby. The day they opened we had our second major plumbing backup, nearly closing us down on what should have been our biggest sales day in this location.”

The Chandlers opened Take Five in the Nall Valley Shops, at 151st and Nall Avenue, in January 2010. They signed a 10-year lease in late 2013 for the Corbin Park space at 6601 W. 135th St., Suite A-21, on the center’s south side.

“A year-and-a half ago, when we signed the lease, we expected we would have company back there by now,” Lori Chandler said Friday. “And Starbucks most definitely cut into sales.”

She said the plumbing issue is subject to ongoing legal action but declined to elaborate. The Chandlers said they currently do not have the funds to relocate Take Five.

“But the outpouring of love from the music community makes me confident that we can do this again,” she said.

It will be open regular business hours through Aug. 15: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

Take Five Coffee + Bar will have a “Set Break Party” starting at 8 p.m. August 15 and hosted by Mark Lowrey and the La Fonda All Stars.

Corbin Park landlord and developer Mike Schlup said: “I believe she needed to adjust her concept and offer more food. There is a huge amount of traffic now with Scheels open, the parking lot is just packed. The restaurants in Corbin are exceeding all their expectations.”

This story was originally published July 31, 2015 at 1:46 PM with the headline "Take Five Coffee + Bar closing in Overland Park’s Corbin Park."