Multimillion dollar renovation for B&B Theatres Shawnee 18; Tom Tivol opening Leawood shop

Gladstone-based B&B Theatres has started a multimillion dollar renovation of its B&B Theatres Shawnee 18.

The theater, in the Westglen development at 16301 Midland Drive in Shawnee, is currently open, but eight of the original screens that date to about 1994 have been shut down for renovation.

In late September, the theater will close for a few weeks to remodel four more of the original theaters, along with the lobby and exterior. Then it will reopen by late October.

It plans to remodel the other six screens — in an addition that opened in 1996 — after the holidays.

The aging seats will be removed and replaced by electric, leather reclining theater chairs. Lobby renovations include a new snack bar, self-service Pepsi and butter bar, new signage, carpet, lighting and paint. It also will have updated restrooms.

The building will have an updated facade and signage with resurfaced parking lot and landscaping.

New software will allow customers to reserve their seats, as well as participate in B&B Theatres’ “Backstage Pass Loyalty” program for discounts on tickets, concessions and other promotions.

Brock Bagby, director of programming and business development for B&B Theatres, said the company has no plans to raise ticket prices.

B&B, which took over the Shawnee theater in October 2014, has been a family-owned and operated business since Elmer Bills Sr. opened a movie house in Salisbury, Mo., in 1924. His future wife played the piano for silent movies.

Now in its fourth-generation, the company has 407 screens in 50 locations in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

In the Kansas City area it has B&B Lee’s Summit 16, B&B KC Northland 14, B&B Overland Park 16, B&B Grain Valley Marketplace 8, B&B I-70 Drive-In and B&B Twin Drive-in.

It also will open a 7-screen theater in New Longview in Lee’s Summit in October 2017, and a new flagship multi-screen theater and new headquarters in Liberty in late 2017.

Updates for Leawood’s Park Place

▪ Tom Tivol began apprenticing in the family business, Tivol jewelers, 40 years ago.

But his dream was to be a gemologist-appraiser. In mid-2005, he stepped out on his own, opening Tom Tivol Jewelry and Gemstone Appraisals in Leawood. He later relocated to Prairie Village.

Now he’s relocating and opening his first storefront in Park Place, taking a 361-square-foot space at 11553 Ash St. in Leawood. Tom Tivol Jewelers is scheduled to open in September.

Tivol has 40 years experience buying and selling diamonds, colored gemstones, classic and fashion cultured pearls, antique and estate jewelry, and custom jewelry designs for clients across the country. Services include jewelry and timepiece repair, appraisals, and jewelry restyling. He also will sell jewelry for clients. Tivol also puts on lectures and seminars.

He had a non-compete agreement with his family that, among other things, required he work inside an office building and limited the type of jewelry he could sell. But that agreement has expired.

“I’ve always wanted to open my own jewelry store. I’ve not been this excited in decades. I feel like I am 25 years old — starting over at the age of 67,” he said.

▪ Locally owned Alysa Rene Boutique, which opened at 11555 Ash St. in Park Place in in 2012, is relocating and expanding.

Owner Alysa Cascio is taking 1,519-square-feet at 11547 Ash St. and will relocate there in early-to-mid October. The shop sells contemporary women’s clothing, accessories and jewelry.

“It has a bigger storefront, more windows, more exposure,” Cascio said. “I have started to carry more shoes and the store is starting to be known for that.”

This story was originally published August 30, 2016 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Multimillion dollar renovation for B&B Theatres Shawnee 18; Tom Tivol opening Leawood shop."