Owners of West Plaza upscale bar to open ‘high-end and customized’ lounge in Leawood

The team behind West Plaza’s upscale The Monarch Cocktail Bar & Lounge will bring a similar concept to Leawood.

Verdigris cocktail lounge is scheduled to open in the spring in Leawood’s Park Place. It has started construction on the former Parisi Cafe space at 5245 W. 116th Place.

David Manica, president and owner of Manica Architecture in Kansas City, opened the Monarch Bar in 2017 at 4840 Roanoke Parkway, in the Plaza Vista development.

He wanted to create something “unique, high-end and customized” for the south Johnson County market. So he formed Exit Strategy LLC to open the new Leawood location. He is director of design and development. Christian Moscoso is director of operations and Brock Shulte is director of creation. Along with craft cocktails, the menu will include small plates.

The team plans another upscale bar for the metro under Exit Strategy, but they have not announced a site.

In a statement, Dan Park, senior vice president of KBS (owners of Park Place) and asset manager of the property, said, “The innovative and progressive design of the lounge will be the perfect fit for the area and enhance the other tenants’ experience, as well as local residents and hotel guests.”