A historic building in Kansas City, dating back to 1874, has been saved from demolition after part of its roof collapsed and city inspectors ordered its emergency removal. The former Seiden’s Furs building at 935 Broadway is widely considered the oldest surviving commercial building in downtown Kansas City’s Downtown 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 stepped in to buy the property in October 2023, shortly after city officials issued an emergency demolition order. This was reported by the Kansas City Business Journal and Flatland KC. The project required major cleaning and structural repairs. Workers removed more than 20 dumpsters of abandoned stock and rubbish that had built up over several decades. They also pumped out dangerous standing water that had collected in the basement.
Collapse and municipal action
The building began falling into serious disrepair in July 2021, when heavy rainfall caused a large section of its roof to collapse. After the damage, city building inspectors officially declared the property dangerous. This led to several years of uncertainty about whether the historic building would survive. According to records cited by the non-profit preservation group Preserve Missouri, early engineering estimates placed the cost of necessary repairs at around $2.1 million (£1.6 million). There are still differences in reports about the building’s total interior size. An early report by Flatland KC described it as covering 14,000 square feet. However, a later report published by The KC Pulse listed its size as 7,500 square feet. Jackson County’s property tax records valued the building at $316,135 in 2019, before the roof collapsed. Before Sally agreed to buy the property, several other ideas were suggested to save it. Local reports by Flatland KC mentioned plans ranging from an underground speakeasy bar to workspaces for artists. One proposal came from artist Peregrine Honig, who wanted to create affordable artist studios with monthly rents of $200 to $400.
Retail history from 1874 to 2006
Built 152 years ago, the building first opened as the Brackett Brothers Drug Store. It later became a fur shop in 1935, according to coverage by the Kansas City Star. The business, known as Seiden’s Furs, operated at the Broadway location for many years. However, historical records differ slightly about when it finally closed. The Kansas City Star reported that the fur shop remained open until 2006, while historical records kept by Preserve Missouri state that it closed in 2007. Sally’s redevelopment plans aim to keep several features from the building’s retail history. According to reports by Axios and the Kansas City Star, the new restaurant will include a preserved walk-in fur storage vault, an old metal safe used to store money, vintage advertising posters, and original fashion mannequins. These items will help maintain the building’s historic character. Restoration workers have installed a completely new roof, repaired the mortar between the exterior bricks, and returned the second-floor windows to their original sizes, according to project updates from The KC Pulse.
Restaurant plans and preservation honors
The renovated building will house Loretta Jean’s, a restaurant being developed by chef Rick Mullins and Candice Moore. According to details reported by Axios, the plans also include a separate private dining area or basement bar called Josephine’s. The entire upper floor will be converted into residential apartments. The project received recognition from regional historic preservation groups even before the restaurant officially opened. According to Kansas City Magazine, the redevelopment received a 2025 Historic Kansas City Preservation Award for Neighborhood Stabilization. The publication reported that Loretta Jean’s is expected to open in autumn 2026.
Broader urban preservation efforts
The rescue of the Seiden’s Furs building is part of a growing effort to save old and damaged historic buildings across downtown Kansas City. According to reporting by Flatland KC, a similar project saved the former Cosby Hotel, a building dating back to 1881. The property was close to demolition before private developers stepped in and turned it into commercial offices and dining space. The problem of neglected historic buildings has also led to action from local government officials and community leaders. Reporting by public broadcaster KCUR confirms that Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas recently introduced three city ordinances aimed at stopping historic buildings from falling into serious disrepair. At the same time, the non-profit organisation Historic KC published its first Most Endangered Places list in five years. The list aims to draw public attention to historic buildings and architecture across the region, according to additional reporting by KCUR.
