Kansas City's Country Club Plaza remained closed Monday after some of its stores sustained broken windows and other damage from weekend protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In an emailed statement, Kasey Vena, General Manager of the Country Club Plaza, confirmed that damage had occurred at the destination shopping center west of 47th and Main streets. She said she would have no further comment about damages or costs.
“We will work with KCPD (Kansas City police) to ensure a safe reopening of the Plaza for our tenants, employees and customers,” Vena said in the statement. “We are committed to upholding this Kansas City landmark and working with our tenants to restore the beauty and charm for all of our visitors to experience.”
The closure Monday was noted with a one sentence mention at the top of the Plaza’s website.
It was not clear when the Plaza would resume operations. Vena said any plans to reopen would be communicated on the center’s website and other media channels when appropriate.
On Monday morning, police officers were at every corner blocking off entrances to the district. Passersby and pedestrians were asking whether places were open.
Many businesses were boarded up, but some had posted signs supporting the protesters.
Protesters had broken windows at some businesses during Saturday’s demonstrations, which attracted large crowds that were concentrated near the J.C. Nichols Fountain in Mill Creek Park.
The Plaza closed at 4 p.m. Saturday and remained closed and blocked off by police on Sunday. By Monday morning, nearly all glass and trash appeared to have been picked up. Graffiti was being painted over and power washed.
Some shops along Main Street north of the Plaza also sustained broken windows and graffiti.
American Century Investments, headquartered at 4500 Main, owns that block of storefronts where the damage occurred. Company officials were evaluating the damage Monday, according to Chris Doyle, vice president of communications for American Century.
“There were some broken windows at some businesses down the street,” Doyle said. “We had some graffiti toward the back of the building. But nothing serious.”
Doyle said most American Century employees have been working from home for two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic and there was no business disruption to American Century from the protests.
