A guitar pickers delight opens in the Northland

Mark Karst spent more than seven years working at a Guitar Center in Fort Collins, Colo., and for the last two years he was after the company to send him to Kansas City.

He grew up Hays, Kan., and now — with a 4 1/2-month-old daughter, Cadence, with his wife, Nikki — Karst wanted to be closer to his parents.

He got his wish. Karst is general manager of the chain’s new 7,000-square-foot Northland store at 9188 N.W. Skyview Ave.

Guitars line the walls of one corner, and the store also is filled with such items as amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards. Its six lesson rooms are for customers ages 4 years old and up and all skill levels, and instruments are provided. The rooms also have glass doors and security cameras.

Guitar Center also offers free workshops, such as Saturday guitar or ukulele lessons, as well as musical instrument repair services and a rental section for DJ and live sound equipment.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The company also holds national contests including “Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter,” “Guitar Center’s Drum-Off” and “Your Next Record, Get Out of the Garage.” Prizes vary but can include gear, studio time and money.

Guitar Center, based in Los Angeles, was founded in 1964 and now has 267 locations across the country, including in Independence and Overland Park. A sister brand, Music & Arts, operates more than 120 stores specializing in band and orchestral instruments. Another online sister brand is Musician’s Friend.

Ramen shop Kickstarter campaign surpasses its goal

Josh and Abbey-Jo Eans have raised the Kickstarter funds they need to open their second Columbus Park food operation.

The campaign, for Columbus Park Ramen Shop — Kansas City’s First Ramen Shop, hoped to raise $37,000 by April 19. It raised $41,100 from 349 backers.

Kickstarter projects such as the ramen shop must reach their funding goals to receive any money.

Pledgers receive something in return. For example, 30 people who pledged $50 will get to attend a free kimchi fermentation class and take home a quart of smoked chili kimchi, while people pledging $250 or more get two invitations to a pre-opening party.

Josh Eans said the idea for the ramen shop is a simple one — a menu offering several types of ramen (perhaps tonkotsu, chicken, dashi and vegetarian) and bone broth, as well as canned beer and specialty sodas. It will open in the garage next to their Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout at 549 Gillis St.

He also liked the idea of the community supporting his business idea.

“We are very excited and pretty overwhelmed by the support, and we are very grateful,” he said.

Happy Gillis will continue to serve breakfast and lunch, with the ramen shop open dinner-only Thursday through Sunday. The two venues would share a kitchen. But the couple have to put in a new bathroom for the garage to meet codes, as well as heating and cooling units, and fixtures and furnishings. A local potter will make the bowls.

They are waiting for contractors to submit bids but hope to open the shop in July, and then use profits from the restaurant to pay for other startup costs. The Columbus Park location will seat only 12 to 16 people, serving food hot and fast for the “eat it & beat it” ramen shop style popular in Japan.

They have been doing several ramen pop-ups to test out recipes and generate interest, and they plan several more, announcing the sites on their Facebook page.

The couple took over Happy Gillis in late 2013 and now live in an apartment above the restaurant.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 12:00 PM with the headline "A guitar pickers delight opens in the Northland."