KC coffee shop, bakery to open in century-old building. ‘Invest in your neighborhood’
The old building at 612 E. 34th St. was built more than 100 years ago, first as a grocery store, then a few other businesses.
In the ‘60s —while Black Americans marched for civil rights and troops were sent overseas in the Vietnam War — the building was boarded up. And there it sat, mostly left to the elements, for decades.
Partners Keith Andrews and Steve Perry have had opening a coffee shop in the back of their minds for a while. When they saw the charming (crumbling) fixer-upper along 34th Street, they decided it would be the perfect spot for a cafe.
“We really want it to look historic and respect the age of the building, and the period of the building,” Andrews said. “It was literally falling down, and we saved it.”
Their coffee shop, which they’re planning to call Le Buzz, will take up half of the space. The second portion will be home to artisan bread business Jonny Bakes.
Both businesses will share a common seating area.
Bakery owner Jon Szajnuk has been making bread at pop-ups and the Brookside Farmers Market for five years.
“This location will allow me to provide wholesale to the restaurants and other customers,” he said.
Their coffee shop will be across the street from French immersion school Acadamie Lafayette. The trio hopes the cafe will attract students and parents.
There’s still much to be done to fix up the space, Andrews said. They’re hoping to have everything ready by mid-2026.
Before Szajnuk baked his first loaf, he was a high school student at Lee’s Summit North High School, where Perry (co-owner of Le Buzz) was the choir director. Perry also knew Szajnuk’s mother, who was a fellow teacher in the district.
When Perry and Andrews were looking for a baker to complement their space, Szajnuk felt like a no-brainer.
All his breads are made with all natural leavenings and locally milled flour. Szjanuk said he plans to make breads, sandwiches and other pastries at the shop.
“It’s a big deal for my customers, because ... I basically sell out every week,” he said.
Andrews and Perry are most looking forward to bringing a sense of community and fun to the North Hyde Park neighborhood. The two are lovers of the arts and hope to host music events at the location when it opens.
Having a place to socialize and build relationships was one of their main motivators to opening up a coffee shop.
“Our motto is … invest in your neighborhood and invest in your neighbor,” Andrews said. “I think we’re living up to that.”
Another Hyde Park coffee shop, Mother Earth Coffee at 3504 Gillham Road, will close Monday. The business announced on social media that it will pivot to wholesale.