Jocoscape: Strangers become business partners in Leawood accessories pop-up store

A year ago, James St. John didn’t even know he had two younger half-siblings. Now he’s opened a new Leawood pop-up store with them.

On Tuesday, St. John, his newly found sister, Danielle “Dee” Davidson, and brother, Teddy Haber, opened DeeLux in Town Center Plaza, 5053 W. 117th St. The store, which will be open through the holidays, sells jewelry, handbags and scarves in limited runs, so new shipments are expected every two weeks. It will have a grand opening celebration Saturday.

The store also will have a “selfie room” where customers can try on pieces and send photos of their selections to their friends for fun or just to get some input.

Dee Davidson (the Dee in DeeLux) and her brother, Haber, grew up in California. They knew they had three older half-siblings so Davidson scanned family Facebook pages until she was able to track down St. John. She was nervous, so she kept her message to “I’m your sister.” St. John, who didn’t know about his half-siblings, responded with “Tell me more.”

Now the two say they are almost as close as twins, even finishing each others sentences.

St. John has owned and operated several businesses and they are now combining his background with Davidson’s love of jewelry and Haber’s marketing experience. Davidson’s husband grew up in Belton and the couple recently relocated to the Kansas City area. St. John lives in Ohio and will come in for about a week each month to help with the store, and Haber also will fly in for a week or so each month.

“Even though we didn’t know each other it felt like we knew each other. You realize how connected you are to someone you didn’t even know,” Davidson said.

New Leawood crepe place

Let’s Crêpe plans an Oct. 15 opening in Town Center Plaza, 4872 W. 119th, across from the Town Center Plaza/Town Center Crossing office.

Menu items come in three categories.

▪ Sweet Crispy Crepes, which will include peanut butter and banana apple cinnamon, berries, and topical with coconut jam, pineapple and shredded coconut.

▪ Zesty Crispy Crepes, which will include cheddar, pesto pepperoni, chicken satay, barbecue chicken and black pepper chicken.

▪ Asian Flat Bread in such flavors as curry chicken, pesto pepperoni, chicken satay, barbecue chicken and black pepper chicken.

It is the first location for the Topeka-based company.

“We wanted to offer a different kind of food than is being offered there now,” said Linda Aziz, a partner in the new restaurant with Lonnie Williams and Rehan Reza.

Reader restaurant questions

▪ Is the Sutera’s in Shawnee related to the one that closed in Westwood?

Bruce Hamilton worked at the Sutera’s at Shawnee Crossings, 22716 Midland Drive, before purchasing it in 2013 from Jeff Sutera, one of the family members behind the original location in the West Bottoms. A couple of Sutera family members still work in the Shawnee restaurant and Hamilton said he still uses some of the Sutera family’s original recipes.

▪ What happened to Longbranch in Overland Park?

The longtime restaurant and bar closed Saturday at 9095 Metcalf Ave.

“New developers want to bring in national tenants and make it almost like a Prairiefire,” said Randy Lamb, a partner in Longbranch with Mike Day. “They will probably divide up our building. But we want to thank everyone for a 35-year tradition. It’s been a great run, but we have to run. It was good time to bow out gracefully.”

The partners plan to sell the Longbranch furnishings, equipment and memorabilia through an Equip-Bid.com auction.

This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Jocoscape: Strangers become business partners in Leawood accessories pop-up store."