photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The section of Iowa Street between 15th and 23rd streets, is pictured Aug. 11, 2025.

Past generations talked of how there used to be a passageway through Lawrence known as Iowa Street. At some point, though, it became consumed by orange construction cones and single-file traffic, and was traveled only by the absent-minded or those souls who had lost all concept of time and space.

But, as we’ve reported, construction on Iowa Street is now complete, and traffic is once again free flowing. As you make your return to the street, be on the lookout for some business changes that are in the works. Here’s are three of them:

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The former Office Depot location at 2525 Iowa Street is pictured on Dec. 18, 2025.

• It appears a Savers thrift store will be going into the spot at 2525 Iowa Street that previously housed Office Depot. We reported months ago that Office Depot was closing, but now we’ve seen our first signs of what’s taking its place.

An application has been filed with City Hall for an $800,000 building permit to remodel the old Office Depot space, and a separate permit lists the future tenant as a Savers thrift store. That is a chain that has a pretty large presence in the Kansas City metro. According to its website, it has locations in Olathe, Shawnee, Overland Park, Kansas City, Mo. and Liberty. But it looks like Lawrence would be its first Kansas location outside the KC metro.

It certainly won’t be the first thrift store in town, though. Rather it will be at least the fourth general thrift store in the market — joining the Salvation Army, Goodwill and the Social Service League. Unlike those operations, Savers isn’t directly operated by a nonprofit charity. Rather, according to information on its website, Savers — which is a for-profit company — partners with a nonprofit in each community, but that nonprofit doesn’t directly operate the store.

I’ve got a message into a spokesperson with Savers to learn a bit more about the company’s decision to come to Lawrence, and a timeline for opening. In terms of what you will find at a Savers, the stores have a heavy dose of clothing and home goods, but also have some electronics, books, sporting goods and other items.

The stores also operate drop-off centers for residents who want to donate items. Part of the construction plans for the Lawrence location include creating a drop-off area for goods.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The McClain’s Market at 2412 Iowa Street is pictured on Dec. 18, 2025.

• Get ready to see a new name — but a familiar menu — at the McLain’s Market at 2412 Iowa Street. Come next month, the McLain’s name will be gone and replaced with Morning Fog Bakery & Cafe.

That’s because the Kansas City-based McClain’s chain has decided to exit the Lawrence market, and is doing so by selling the Lawrence business to a longtime employee.

Jessica Folken told me that she and her husband, Zachary, will take over operations of the business on Jan. 1. Its first day of operations will be Jan. 2.

Folken — who has worked for the owners of McLain’s since 2010 — said the menu will stay largely the same, featuring lots of sweet and savory baked goods, coffees, sandwiches, salads, soups and other such offerings.

The biggest change will be the change in geography for the shop’s owners. The McLain’s ownership is based in Kansas City, and many of the promotions and special events were geared to happenings in K.C., Folken said.

“It is going to be a completely Lawrence-focused location,” said Folken, who said she and her family have lived in Lawrence since 2018.

She also thinks a shop that is fully-based in Lawrence will be a unique draw for south Iowa Street shoppers. The corridor has become heavily populated with chain coffee shops, and long has been the location for big-box chain retailers.

“You know, we have a million out-of-state coffee chains, and I’m just really committed to the idea of let’s have some more local stuff, especially on the main drag,” she said. “We had such great community support that we feel we can really make it work here.”

For a brief time, McLain’s had two locations in Lawrence. Its first one was at the top of the Hill on the KU campus, occupying the spot that used to house the Jayhawk Bookstore. McLain’s closed that location in 2023 and began focusing on the newer Iowa Street location. Folken said McLain’s ownership decided to exit the Lawrence market to focus on its many Kansas City locations, which include shops in Overland Park, Stanley, Waldo, Shawnee, and North Kansas City.

photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

The former Cici’s Pizza buffet restaurant at 2020 W. 23rd Street is pictured on Dec. 18, 2025.

• There are also signs that WingStop soon will have a presence along Iowa Street. The restaurant appears to be headed for not just any location along the corridor but rather will plant itself at one of the busiest intersections along the road. An application has been filed at City Hall for WingStop to start construction activity in the shopping center at 23rd and Iowa streets.

The application lists 2020 W. 23rd Street as the location, which is where CiCi’s Pizza buffet was located years ago. The application material doesn’t make clear whether WingStop is planning to occupy the entire space, or just a portion of it. If the restaurant is going to fill the entire location, that would be quite an expansion over what it offers today. Currently, WingStop is located in a smaller space in the shopping center at 2233 Louisiana Street.

I don’t, however, have information about the project beyond what little was listed on the City Hall application. Of course, I do have basic information about WingStop itself (and probably a sauce-stained shirt or two to prove it.) It offers all types of wings, tenders, and fries, plus about a dozen different sauce offerings. It also has a big reputation as a late-night dining spot. Its new location — if it comes to be — would be just down the hill from KU’s largest group of dorms.