WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

New $30M Dillons grocery store to open along Iowa Street on Oct. 17; grocer biggest tenant yet for KU's West Campus project

A $30 million Dillons grocery store that is 30,000 square feet larger than its predecessor now has an official opening date: Friday, Oct. 17. The new store at 2205 Iowa St. is set to open at 7 a.m. on Oct. 17. The store — which is just north and west of the Clinton Parkway and Iowa Street intersection — is replacing Dillons’ longtime store at 1015 W. 23rd St. It is replacing it in a big way. The new ...

Kansas City promoter confirms he's opening The Comedy Club of Lawrence in downtown next month; says venue will attract national acts

Nationally-known comedians already make Kansas City a frequent stop on their tours. Dustin Kaufman is betting that he soon can get many of those comedians to make the short trip to downtown Lawrence, too. I reported last week there were signs a comedy club was set to open in a former restaurant space along New Hampshire Street. Now we know that is indeed the case, and that a top Kansas City comedy promoter is ...

Western Kansas bank enters Douglas County market, plus new report shows the biggest banks in Lawrence

I’ll start with a phrase that normally gives me shivers when uttered at my house: Let’s talk about banking matters. No need to grab your wallet or hide under the bed, though. Instead, there are a couple of deals to note and a new report on the Lawrence market to review. ••• First, there is a new entrant into the Douglas County banking scene. The Farmers State Bank of Oakley is not letting the ...

Charlie's Eastside Bar and Grill to return; also wings, beer near Ninth and Iowa, plus speculation of a downtown comedy club

Beer, wings and comedy. I know of Saturday nights where all three of those things have materialized — exactly in that order. However, this (mercifully) is not a recap of one of those evenings. Rather, it is a roster for the latest development news and notes from around town. ••• First, the beer. Look for a revival of a former iconic neighborhood bar. Construction work is set to begin on the former ...

KU sets record enrollment for second straight year; total student numbers top the 31K mark

UPDATED 11:45 A.M. OCT. 1 Another year, another record. Overall enrollment at the University of Kansas has hit a new all-time high for the second consecutive year, according to figures released Wednesday by the Kansas Board of Regents. KU’s overall enrollment increased to 31,169 students, topping by about 400 students the previous all-time high set last year. “We are pleased to have record-high ...

Thanks to quality of life, safety, Lawrence ranks among the best small cities in America, new report finds

There are multiple paths to becoming one of the best small cities in America. One might involve really affordable housing, another might involve really high incomes, or another might involve robust job growth. Or, you could eat and drink your way there. Lawrence indeed has been identified as one of the best small cities in America, and a quality of life score that involves measuring the amount of bars, ...