Southmoreland on the Plaza is a two-building inn that can be found in Kansas City, Missouri, which is on the edge of the state border that separates Missouri and Kansas. The inn is located in a neighborhood on the edge of the central-south side of the city, next to Southmoreland Park. The bed and breakfast has 14 rooms in total that guests may choose to rent. One unique thing about the property is that every evening they have what is called Happy Hour. During Happy Hour, guests can get locally crafted beers, wines, or cocktails provided by Southmoreland on the Plaza. Breakfast is served in the mornings, with special home-style breakfast dishes on the weekends, which are included with reservations.
Southmoreland on the Plaza has a total of 14 rooms split up between the three floors of the main building and The Carriage House. One living space is located on the first floor, seven occupy the second floor, four are found on the third floor, and the last two are in The Carriage House. All of the rooms have been remodeled and have different decorations. They are also all named after other cities and more noteworthy people of Missouri. The owners did this to help highlight some of the more notable places and people of the surrounding city.
Each bedroom comes with two spa robes, a Keurig coffee-making kit, and private bathrooms. They also have a television with cable access, ice buckets, cups, wine openers, a fan, and a space heater to help guests cool or warm the rooms to their liking. Breakfast and Happy Hour are included with each reservation. Happy Hour is an evening tradition that occurs each night and allows guests the chance to try some beer, wine, and cocktails if they would like.
The Carriage House has two rooms, the George Kessler room, and the Charlie "Bird" Parker room. These rooms are significantly larger and, due to the fact that they are the only two rooms in The Carriage House, they tend to be quieter living spaces. The Charlie "Bird" Parker room encompasses the entire first floor of the building, while the George Kessler room covers the second floor.
Southmoreland on the Plaza does breakfast in the mornings, but it is done in a different style on the weekends than it is on the weekdays. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, they may serve quick homemade slices of bread, like banana bread or other types of fruit bread, a fruit course, such as pears in a berry sauce, and entrees, like sheared eggs with potatoes. Juice and coffee are offered for beverages. To make sure guests get something new each morning, the property alternates between serving savory dishes sweeter courses. One example of a savory dish would be something egg-based, whereas sweet meals consist of items like pancakes or waffles. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. and continues until 9:30 a.m. on weekends.
During the weekdays, breakfast typically consists of continental items. Several items they have done in the past include quick-oats with cinnamon and granola, yogurt, cereal, hard-boiled eggs, scones, sweet bread, parfaits, mixed fruit, and more. There will usually be four or five items out each morning to give guests more options. On the weekdays, guests can get breakfast starting at 7:00 a.m. up until 9:30 a.m. The manager explains that they can usually cater to gluten-free needs as well as other dietary needs, as long as she and her crew are given enough time to prepare the meals.
Southmoreland on the Plaza has a store that sells snacks, sparkling water, chips, cookies, granola bars, and more. They also sell several trinkets like coffee mugs and cookbooks. The manager mentions that they are planning on updating the cookbooks to have more and different recipes than the current one.
In the main building, patrons of Southmoreland on the Plaza have access to all of the common areas. Breakfast is served on the first floor, and guests are able to eat in any of the common areas or outside if they would like. The main dining room, sunroom, and veranda are available to guests at their leisure. The sunroom tends to be more popular with guests as it has a wooden swing and windows to allow natural sunlight into the room. The parlor has a television and couch and caters more to guests that want to play board games or card games.
On the outside of the property, visitors may find the gardens on the side of the building, next to the veranda. The patio has a large fireplace that is used on the cooler nights of the year to make the deck a little warmer. In the fall, Southmoreland on the Plaza will hold a small gathering they call Fall Friday Fire Nights, where guests can get together around the outdoor fireplace. A koi pond with a working fountain and an abundant amount of plants can be found out back as well, though they haven't filled it with fish yet. The establishment is able to host small events like wedding parties, baby showers, and more.
The manager says that she and the staff do their best to create an atmosphere that is relaxing and peaceful for the visitors that stay at Southmoreland on the Plaza. Many people come for anniversaries, getaways, weddings, and other special gatherings, and they want to take care of them to the best of their abilities. Those that would like to make their trip a little more special can purchase add-ons at the same time that they are reserving their rooms. These add-ons can be a number of different things including, chocolate strawberries, flowers, sparkling cider, and sometimes wine if they are able to accommodate such a request. These additional purchases are prepared and then put into the rooms of the guests for when they arrive.
Several policies are in place to help maintain a relaxing environment for everyone at Southmoreland on the Plaza. One noteworthy policy is that there is no smoking allowed inside the houses or any of the rooms. Some rooms have outdoor patios, which are also off-limits for smoking to make sure no smoke blows into the room. However, guests are able to smoke in the other outdoor areas, away from the building. There is no way for the inn to accommodate pets, and they ask that guests do not bring animals with them when they come for their stay. They also do not allow children that are younger than ten years old to stay at the inn. Quiet hours are enforced, starting around 10:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 a.m. to allow time for guests to get to sleep easier.
To help create a welcoming atmosphere, the manager explains that, whenever possible, she likes to surprise people with welcome notes if she knows the guests are celebrating a special occasion, like birthdays and anniversaries. Other ways they try to accomplish this include the fact that children under the age of ten are not allowed, as well as the enforced quiet hours. Sound speakers on the first floor will often play music to help create a more pleasant ambiance. The lights have dimmers on them, which allow for the staff to change the lighting in the rooms, depending on the time of day and how bright they would like it. During the winter, they will light the fireplaces to warm the area. Guests can also pull out board games and card games. Finally, the staff tries their best to check in with their guests as often as possible to help ensure that they are enjoying their time and that they have what they need.
Guests can also take advantage of Happy Hour, which takes place every evening from four to six during check-in times. That way, guests that are just arriving can have some food and drinks. This also allows the staff to meet them and make sure they have everything they need and answer any questions they may have. During Happy Hour, they tend to serve local beers, red wines, white wines, fruity cocktails, and sometimes various snacks.
There have been a number of visitors that have visited in the past. Many of them have left reviews regarding the quality of their stay at Southmoreland on the Plaza. One person that stayed at the bed and breakfast wrote, "Everyone was very kind and accommodating. Breakfast was perfect - very filling and full of unique dishes I have not had before. Walk down the block and through the park to the plaza for great dining and shopping options, or walk a block in the other direction for world-class art at the Nelson Atkins."
Southmoreland on the Plaza has been in business for about 31 years since it first opened in 1990 and has seen a number of different owners over the years. The building itself was initially built in 1913 and was used as a single-family home when the construction was completed. The last owners of the house were a pair of sisters, who had owned it since 1948 and hadn't done very much with it. After a time, they wanted to sell it and leave the corporate world. That opportunity came in 1990 when they sold it to the subsequent owners, who then turned the building into the Southmoreland on the Plaza.
When the old family house was converted into a bed and breakfast, there were a number of changes that took place to transform the building into a suitable inn for travelers. There was an extensive remodeling that took place for the first year that turned the house into a proper place for multiple visitors to stay. They turned the kitchen of the old house into one of the bedrooms that guests can choose when making reservations. They also added bathrooms to all of the bedrooms for guest convenience. The stairs were refurbished to maintain their history and make them safer. When the current owners took over, there were some more changes made to Southmoreland on the Plaza. Besides remodeling and altering some of the more cosmetic aspects, they also added Wi-Fi locks, which means they no longer have to give physical keys to their guests when they arrive. It can make checking in and out much quicker and more efficient for both the staff and the visitors.
While there has been a large amount of work done on the buildings and grounds, there are several future plans for the establishment that will be added. There are plans to work on the stones that surround the edges of the pond, as well as add koi to it once the pond is done being enhanced. The manager also explains that they would like to have live musicians play in the front yard of the property in the evenings. This would allow people, not only those who are staying at Southmoreland on the Plaza, but also neighbors and other outsiders, to come and enjoy the music.
The manager mentions that she joined the industry because she wants to own her own bed and breakfast and decided to join Southmoreland on the Plaza's team. The owners wanted to get into hospitality and real estate, so they purchased the property after they retired from their last jobs.
116 East 46th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Erin & Audrey Clemmons
