Business & Finance

1874‑Built Kansas City Building Saved from Demolition, Set to Become Restaurant and Apartments

By TOI World Desk

A Kansas City building that dates to 1874 has been rescued from demolition after a roof section collapsed and city inspectors ordered its emergency removal. The former Seiden’s Furs building at 935 Broadway is widely regarded as the oldest surviving commercial structure in downtown Kansas City’s Loop. It is now being renovated into a Midwestern restaurant called Loretta Jean’s, with apartments planned for the upper floors.

The rescue was led by local developer Chris Sally, who bought the property in October 2023, shortly after city officials issued an emergency demolition order. The project required extensive cleaning and structural repairs. Workers removed more than 20 dumpsters of abandoned stock and rubbish that had accumulated over several decades and pumped out dangerous standing water that had built up in the basement.

The building fell into serious disrepair in July 2021 when heavy rainfall caused a large section of its roof to collapse. After the damage, city building inspectors declared the property dangerous, leaving the future of the historic structure uncertain for several years. Early engineering estimates cited by the non‑profit preservation group Preserve Missouri placed the cost of necessary repairs at about $2.1 million. Reports differ on the building’s interior size: Flatland KC described it as 14,000 sq ft, while The KC Pulse listed it as 7,500 sq ft. Jackson County’s property tax records valued the building at $316,135 in 2019, before the roof collapse.

Before Sally’s purchase, several proposals were considered to save the building, including an underground speakeasy bar and artist workspaces. Artist Peregrine Honig suggested affordable studios with monthly rents of $200 to $400.

Built in 1874, the building first opened as the Brackett Brothers Drug Store and later became a fur shop in 1935. Seiden’s Furs operated at the Broadway location for many years; the Kansas City Star reported it closed in 2006, while Preserve Missouri records state 2007.

Sally’s redevelopment plans preserve several historic features. The new restaurant will include a walk‑in fur storage vault, an old metal safe, vintage advertising posters, and original fashion mannequins, according to Axios and the Kansas City Star. Restoration workers have installed a new roof, repaired the mortar between exterior bricks, and restored the second‑floor windows to their original sizes.

Loretta Jean’s, developed by chef Rick Mullins and Candice Moore, will also feature a private dining area or basement bar called Josephine’s. The upper floor will be converted into residential apartments. The project received a 2025 Historic Kansas City Preservation Award for Neighborhood Stabilization from Kansas City Magazine and is expected to open in autumn 2026.

The rescue of the Seiden’s Furs building is part of a broader effort to preserve historic structures in downtown Kansas City. A similar project saved the former Cosby Hotel, built in 1881, from demolition and converted it into commercial offices and dining space. Local government action has also increased, with Mayor Quinton Lucas recently introducing three ordinances to prevent historic buildings from falling into serious disrepair. Historic KC has released its first Most Endangered Places list in five years to raise public awareness of historic buildings across the region.