A new family-friendly tenant is moving into this former KC-area department store
A children’s entertainment venue is moving into the shuttered Northland Macy’s, joining a 150,000-square-foot furniture store.
Dan Horn, who leads the redevelopment of the former Metro North Mall, told the Kansas City Plan Commission on Wednesday that NRG Adventure Park will occupy part of the Macy’s building, 400 N.W. Barry Rd.
The Macy’s closed earlier this year, and the site will be further folded into the mixed-use makeover of the Metro North Mall site after it closed over a decade ago.
NRG Adventure Park, which bills itself as an “extreme indoor playground,” with climbing, jumping, ball pits and more, will take over about half of the second floor, while the Furniture Mall of Missouri will fill the rest of the building.
NRG has announced new locations filling vacant retail space in other cities in recent months as well. The Kansas City location’s opening date is to be announced.
“From day one at Metro North, every time we’ve had conversations with any potential tenant, restaurant group, retail group, etc., the first question is always, ‘Well, what’s going on with that big Macy’s building?’” Horn told the committee. “It’s been really nice to have a good answer for that question now, and a good long-term solution.”
Having an answer has led to exciting conversations with more potential tenants for the future, he said.
Horn said the development group is investing about $1.5 million to give the exterior of the Macy’s building a facelift and make sure it fits with the rest of the project.
The Plan Commission forwarded a plan change to allow for more types of businesses at the location, instead of just a Macy’s. The City Council would have final approval at a later date.
The developers are looking ahead to future development that could replace some of the former department store’s vast parking lots, alongside a planned second phase of residential development that could start construction next year.
A new Chick-fil-a was recently announced for the area.