Hey Lee’s Summit! Here’s what’s happening this week!

Welcome to the very first edition of the Lee’s Summit Lowdown! I’m so glad you’re here.

I started this because I love our city, but I don’t love how hard it is to find out what actually happened at a Tuesday night meeting or why a new bulldozer appeared on the corner. My goal is to give you 5 minutes of high-value info every Sunday so you can head into Monday like a LS expert.

No spin. No rage bait. Just the facts you actually care about.

The rumors are true: Lee’s Summit is getting its very own Costco! But this isn’t just about $1.50 hot dogs – it’s the anchor for a massive new “East Village” transformation at the SE corner of US 50 and 291.

​The “East Village” Snapshot: ​The Main Event: A 166,000 sq. ft. Costco (with fuel pumps!) aiming for a late 2026 opening.

​More Than Just Shopping: Phase 1 includes two large apartment buildings and 64,000 sq. ft. of new space for dinner spots and local boutiques. ​

The Long Game: This is a multi-phase project that will continue to evolve over the next decade. ​You can see the presentation given to the City Council here.

The Local Take: While many are clearing out their pantries in anticipation, neighbors closest to the site have expressed concerns regarding traffic, safety, drainage and the addition of more apartments. City Council has greenlit the TIF funding to get the ball rolling, but The Lowdown will stay on the beat—bringing you the latest on traffic studies and road improvements as this corner of LS transforms.

⏪ The Rearview Mirror

What happened while you were living your life last week.

Since we’re all just getting our coffee and kicking off 2026, City Hall and the School Board were quiet over the holiday break. No long meetings to recap this week—which means we get to start the year with a totally clean slate!

🍴 The Tasting Room

Weekly Craving: With the January chill setting in, head to Neighborhood Cafe for their soup of the day—and yes, the free cinnamon rolls are still the best way to start a morning. Check out the menu here.

🎸 The Soundcheck

 Live music to catch around town.

• Wednesday, January 7

  •  Iron Horse: Karaoke Night with DJ Martell Love starting at 7:30 PM. More info here.

  • The 1909 Club (Libations & Co): The Blues Experience w/ Nick Schnebelen. More info here.

• Thursday, January 8

  • Iron Horse: Scotty McBee. More info here.

  • The 1909 Club (Libations & Co): Soul Fundamentals w/ Julian Goff. More info here.

• Friday, January 9

  •  The 1909 Club (Libations & Co): Catch the Jackie Myers Trio at 7:00 PM. Think soul-filled jazz and funk in a cozy lounge. More info here.

  •  Konrad’s Kitchen and Tap House: Noah Austin. More info here.

• Saturday, January 10

  • The Goat Brewing Co: Live acoustic rock and soul music with Troy Chrisman. More info here.

  • Konrad’s Kitchen and Tap House: The American Way. More info here.

  • The 1909 Club (Libations & Co): Havilah Bruders Jazz Ensemble live at The 1909 Club — intimate vocals, classic standards, and Kansas City swing. More info here.

  • Llywelyn’s Pub: The band Montage will be rocking the house with 80’s and 90’s hits.

📝 The Cheat Sheet

Put these on your radar so you don’t miss out.

• LSR-7 Classes Resume | Tuesday, Jan 6

  • Winter break officially ends! Watch for increased traffic and school zones being active again Tuesday morning.

• TV Tunes Music Bingo | Tuesday, Jan 6 @ 6:30 PM

  • If you love iconic theme songs, check out B&B for TV Tunes Music Bingo. Free to play, open to all ages. More info here.

• Summit Pet Care Glow Pawty | Wednesday, Jan 7

  • It’s a Glow Pawty at Summit Pet Care! For just $8, pups get glow sticks, music, and a glow bandana to take home. Sign your pup up for some glowing fun! Added to any boarding or daycare stay. More info here.

• A Kids’ Historic Frolic with Frosty | Thursday, Jan 8 @ 6:00 PM

  • Sharing the tale of Frosty the Snowman. Includes an opportunity for selfies with Frosty, winter crafts, discovering what historic winters in Lee’s Summit were like, and taking a break for a tasty snack. $10. More info here.

• Summit Technology Academy (STA) Open House | Thursday, Jan 8 @ 6:00 PM

  • A showcase of the district’s award-winning career and tech programs for prospective students and families.

• How I Met Your Mother Trivia | Thursday, Jan 8 @ 7:00 PM

  • A night of How I Met Your Mother trivia, where you can test your knowledge of Ted’s love life, Barney’s play book, Robin Sparkles, and all the unforgettable moments from MacLaren’s Pub. Free to play – no registration required! More info here.

• Financial Peace University | Sunday, January 11 @ 5:00 PM

  • Ever feel like no matter what you do, you can’t get ahead with money? You’re not alone. Join the upcoming Financial Peace University classes and learn to pay off debt, save money, and build lasting wealth. FPU runs from January 11 through March 8. More info here.

P.S. Organizing a public event? Just hit reply and send me the details – I’d love to feature it!

🛍️ The Neighborly Nod

Keeping it local, one shop at a time.

This Week’s pick: A Thyme for Everything

• Where: 116 SW 3rd St. (Right in the heart of Downtown LS!)

  The Lowdown: More than just a kitchen store, this is the “village square” for Lee’s Summit foodies. Whether you’re looking for a hard-to-find gadget or a hands-on cooking class with a local chef, they’ve been the go-to spot for keeping LS kitchens inspired since 2004.

  How to support them this week:

  • 1. Warm up with a class: Check their online calendar – their winter classes fill up fast and are the perfect way to beat the January blues.

  • 2. Stock the pantry: Swing by and grab a jar of their signature dip mixes or a fresh bag of coffee to level up your Sunday brunch.

Editor’s note: I don’t get paid to feature these businesses – I just think they make Lee’s Summit a better place to live. If you have a local favorite I should know about, hit reply and let me know!

✍️ Help Me Shape the Lowdown

I want this to be the most useful email in your inbox. To do that, I need to know what you care about.

Hit reply (it takes 30 seconds!) and tell me:

1. What neighborhood do you live in?

2. What are you most interested in? (City Council, Schools, Roads, or Local Events?)

If you found this first issue helpful, could you do me a huge favor? Forward this to one neighbor who loves Lee’s Summit.

Thanks for being part of the very first “Lowdown” crew!

— Jen

 Editor, Lee’s Summit Lowdown

P.S. I’m off to go find a cinnamon roll the size of my head. If you see me at the Neighborhood Cafe, come say hi! ☕️

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