French-Inspired Paris Baguette bakery sets timer for downtown KC opening; B&B shutters historic theater down the block

As one high-profile set of doors closes, another is expected to open by year’s end, the Power & Light District announced Monday, teasing the late-2026 arrival of a viral scratch bakery that already has kneaded its way into Johnson County with immediate word-of-mouth success.

A storefront at 1360 Main St. slated to become a downtown Kansas City location for Paris Baguette; Google image

Paris Baguette, a global franchise-based bakery with more than 4,000 locations worldwide — including two in the metro — is planning to launch its newest location at 1360 Main St. in the shadows of The President hotel and the Kansas City Power & Light building.

The all-day café concept is to be owned and operated by franchisees Kari and Sandeep Khandelwal, who opened a Paris Baguette in August at 15895 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park. 

Their Power & Light location sits just a block away from B&B Theatres’ historic Mainstreet Theater, which B&B on Sunday announced had closed, effective immediately.

ICYMI: Kansas City’s downtown movie theater closes, leaving historic spot vacant

Paris Baguette is set to bring its wide assortment of premium pastries and handcrafted cakes (made from scratch daily), premier Italian coffee and lunch-friendly options to downtown Kansas City, said John Moncke, president of Power & Light District.

Downtown residents, office workers, locals and visitors can look forward to French-style bakery amenities in one of Kansas City’s most walkable neighborhoods, he added.

“An exceptional bakery is part of what makes an attractive neighborhood,” Moncke continued. “Paris Baguette will enhance the quality of life in the District for residents, office workers, and visitors. This addition reflects the steady growth we’re seeing downtown. We are very deliberate about curating the downtown experience, and we are focused on building a walkable neighborhood with the right mix of everyday amenities.”

Click here to check out the menu from Paris Baguette.

Core pastries from Paris Baguette; courtesy photo

Paris Baguette is on a mission to re-establish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of the community across the U.S., said Darren Tipton, CEO of Paris Baguette, in a statement.

“In our cafés, we like to say, ‘Happy to see you. Happier to serve you,’” he said. “That spirit of hospitality is at the core of everything we do, and we look forward to becoming a place where the Downtown KC community can gather, celebrate and create everyday moments of joy.”

Another Johnson County Paris Baguette location at 11125 W. 95th St is owned by a Wichita restaurant group that also owns and operates an IHOP franchise in the same building near Oak Park Mall.

The 1360 Main St. space at Power & Light previously had been announced as a new flagship location for pet treat retailer Three Dog Bakery, though the project never fully materialized and became the subject of litigation in 2025, according to reporting by the Kansas City Business Journal.

B&B Theatres Mainstreet KC at The Power & Light District in 2023; Startland News photo

Nearby, B&B Theatres’ sudden closure Sunday of its theater at 1400 Main St. came with little explanation.

“B&B routinely reviews the theatres in our circuit and makes decisions based on what will best strengthen the Company going forward. After thoughtful review, we have made the decision to exit this location,” a brief social media statement from B&B read.

Reopened by AMC in 2009 after restoration in partnership with the Power & Light District, the site later became an Alamo Drafthouse. It shuttered mid-pandemic with ownership ultimately moving to B&B Theatres in 2021.

B&B is expected to continue operations at other Kansas City locations in Shawnee, Overland Park, Liberty, Lee’s Summit, Harrisonville, Grain Valley and Leavenworth.

In response to media inquiries related to the downtown closing, the Power & Light District encouraged Kansas Citians to “Stay tuned for a very exciting announcement.” 

Veteran small business journalist Joyce Smith contributed to this story.