When the party dress needs to be perfect, it’s a Cinderella story

Jenny Maloney relates a story of one of her first Cinderella’s Couture rentals.

The customer picked out a black strapless evening gown with folded layers that made it fit like a glove. Perfect, she said, for the policeman’s ball.

But her husband had other ideas.

He guided her to a white mermaid-style trumpet gown, jeweled encrusted. She considered it “too much” until she tried it on and had a Cinderella moment.

“It has been one of my most popular. I’ve reserved it four times — three proms and the policeman’s ball,” Maloney said.

Maloney attends numerous events throughout the year and grew tired of spending so much on new gowns and not finding the styles she wanted.

In early January, she opened Cinderella’s Couture at 9662 Quivira Road, Lenexa, just across Quivira from Oak Park Mall.

She has a variety of styles from short and flirty to long and elegant. But teenagers scouting out prom dresses have zeroed on one high neck/low back black gown with gold/nude jewels and nude panels on the train.

“That surprised me. I thought they would be more drawn to the lighter colors,” Maloney said. “I bought some that I thought this would definitely be rented by prom girls, and this for galas and charity events.”

The three-day rental cost is $85 for short dresses, $105 for gowns or $135 for more embellished gowns.

Maloney asks for a 50 percent payment upon reservation. She also will make sure none of her customers wear the same gown to the same event.

“Some girls don’t want to take them off after they try them on,” Maloney said. “I enjoy seeing the smile on their faces and helping them find their perfect dress so they can have a night to remember.”

Four years after opening, Take Five Coffee + Bar has “standing room only” crowds during its live music events.

So the coffee shop and jazz bar plans to close at 5336 W. 151st St., Leawood, in late June or early July and relocate to Corbin Park.

It is taking a 4,800-square-foot space on the south side of the development at 6601 W. 135th St., Suite A-21. The plan is to create a new Take Five from the ground up, one that is still cozy and intimate but that will comfortably seat its growing clientele.

John Story, sound supervisor for Kansas City Repertory Theatre, will handle the acoustical design.

“I want to create an atmosphere that is conducive to both performance and listening. To make the most enjoyable experience for everyone,” Story said.

The new location also will have a full kitchen so it will be able to offer an expanded menu including an omelet bar and Belgian waffles for breakfast, and more sandwiches and entrees for lunch and dinner.

On Sundays it will have a jazz brunch.

Doug and Lori Chandler opened Take Five in the Nall Valley Shops in January 2010.

They are taking a Corbin Park space that was set for another tenant called The Bakery. .

In other Corbin Park news, Kirkland’s has opened at 6403 W. 135th St. The specialty home decor store had previously been located in The Fountains.

This story was originally published February 4, 2014 at 8:45 PM with the headline "When the party dress needs to be perfect, it’s a Cinderella story."