Urban Cafe Opening New Location at Armour and Troost

By Kevin Collison

The Urban Cafe is relocating 20 blocks farther north on Troost and will be a tenant in one of the new apartment buildings developed at the intersection of Armour by Mac Properties.

Fresh off opening an Urban Cafe at the new Kansas City International Airport terminal, owner Justin Clark wants to build on the reputation the cafe developed at its previous location at 55th and Troost.

“Our new place will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Clark said. “Our previous place was known for our brunch. We’re going to bring that back and hopefully have music and a full bar.”

Clark said the decision to leave 55th and Troost was prompted by problems with crime in the area including muggings, and burglaries and vandalism at the restaurant. The last straw occurred when a car rammed into its outdoor seating area on the sidewalk.

The new Urban Cafe will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. (Image from Urban Cafe website)

“A car hit us and I felt like it was a sign to leave, it was so stressful,” Clark said.

The new Urban Cafe will be at 3440 Troost at the northeast corner of the eight-story Roxford building. It’s one of four buildings developed by Mac at the intersection as part of a 340-unit development called The Crosswalks.

Mac also has attracted a Chase bank branch and a Community Groceries store as first floor tenants in its new residential development.

Justin Clark

Clark said Mac provides much better security for the area than he experienced at 55th and Troost, including surveillance cameras with views of the entire street.

“Mac Properties are a bigger real estate company than I was used to before,” he said.

The tentative plan is to be open six days a week, from about 7:30 or 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Clark anticipates opening the new Urban Cafe in March. The restaurant will have capacity for 107 patrons.

Peter Cassel, director of community development for Mac Properties, said attracting more retail fits with the goals established in 2014 by the Troost Coalition.

“The Troost Coalition’s earliest development goal was retail that helps make a simple two street intersection into a neighborhood and community,” he said.

“Justin Clark and Ron Evan’s Urban restaurant, along with Kortney Lee’s Community Groceries bodega, promise to fulfill that vision.”

He said 3,000 square-feet of retail space remains available in the Senate apartment building.