BonnerSprings.com

The business environment in Bonner Springs is evolving. Three businesses have closed, at least six new businesses have come to town and seven current businesses have moved to a new location in town — all since June.

“For a while there, it was like someone upset the fruit basket,” said Marcia Ashford, Bonner Springs’ director of community and economic development.

While all the business changes and moves can be confusing, Ashford said she thought it was a positive sign that so many new businesses had come to town and so many existing businesses had made an effort to stay in town.

“It shows that existing businesses see the value to their business staying in Bonner Springs,” she said. “It points to a good customer base of which they don’t want to lose. For new businesses, it indicates that they believe there is a market here for their business and that they will succeed in doing business in Bonner Springs.”

The changes were especially apparent in the downtown area, where it seemed like a game of business musical chairs.

Madame Hatter’s Tea Room closed in June, but Freseros Mexican Restaurant moved in from the spot next door. The old Freseros spot was quickly filled by a new business, Melissa Rieke Photography.

Miller’s Pharmacy was sold to DeGoler’s, who decided to move across the street to a vacant store space. The longtime Miller’s spot was soon taken over by another Bonner business, Sunflower Embroidery, which moved from its former location on Kaw Drive.

Paint ‘N Place Ceramics opened in the space formerly occupied by DiAnne’s Alterations. Another new business that moved in downtown is Commercial Risk Associates, an independent health insurance agency, at 135 Oak St.

Near downtown, the Miller’s Too gift shop consolidated and moved in with The Pink Zebra downtown, but its former location was immediately filled with another new business, an architecture and interior design firm called BnB Design.

Many of the changes didn’t leave more vacancies downtown, with only one new vacancy created — the former spot of The Family Table Restaurant, which closed in June, remains empty. That’s a good sign, Ashford said.

“Even in light of a downturned economy, it shows that the business environment in the downtown business district is currently healthy and thriving,” she said. “Another possible factor is that lease rates are typically lower in the downtown area compared to the K-7 Highway area. Since a majority of the downtown businesses are locally-owned, lower lease and rent rates are more desirable to the smaller businesses.”

For the vacant spaces downtown, Ashford said she and retail merchants think an antique store, a coffee shop, a bakery with cakes and cookies, a candy store and a deli sandwich shop would complement the current retail mix.

The regional and national chains tend to locate adjacent to Kansas Highway 7, where rental rates are higher, Ashford said, which will be the case with another new business and one that is relocating.

Papa Murphy’s, a take and bake pizza chain, is set to open Nov. 14 at 608 Tulip Drive, Suite B. The Pizza Hut, which long has been on Front Street with dine-in services, will move to 13028 Kansas Avenue before the end of the year and will have carry-out and delivery only. Ashford said some interest already has been shown in the Pizza Hut building.

Other businesses have moved from the higher-rent areas to older sections of town. Grand Master Kim’s Taekwondo of Kansas moved to the Bonner Shops on Front Street, and Bonner Springs Eye Care is moving from K-7 and Kansas Avenue to 116 Cedar Street in the near future.

More businesses could be on their way if the city’s new Retail Attraction and Retention Incentive Policy proves successful. The city council adopted the policy in August, and Ashford said it has been of great interest to businesses that might be eligible for the program if they follow through with their business plans of either relocating or opening a new business.

“They think the program is a great idea and are surprised the city adopted this type of incentive,” she said. “I share the incentive information with each business that initially appears to meet the eligibility requirements. The Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Chamber of Commerce has helped in getting the word out, as well.”

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