Houston-based fund leads effort to restore KC’s iconic Garment House with $3.2M already invested

A strategic investment in Kansas City history is expected to bring new purpose to a downtown building known locally as The Garment House — creating what developers envision as an eclectic, but contemporary experience.

Revitalization Unlimited — a fund dedicated to preserving historically significant U.S. real estate and legacy industrial businesses in local communities — recently announced its latest investment effort in Kansas City: a multimillion-dollar deal with 10 Broadway, LLC, the property owner of The Garment House, which shuttered during the pandemic.

A historic Garment House as seen in a photo dated 1950 within the Robert Askren Photograph Collection at the Kansas City Public Library

The Houston-based fund already has committed $3.2 million to the restoration with an additional $3 to $4 million allocated for renovations. The iconic building at 1000 Broadway was once a thriving hub of clothing-related businesses and key piece of Kansas City’s famed Garment District, which made KC the epicenter of fashion in the early to mid-20th Century.

 (The Garment House’s most recent incarnation was billed as a “multi-level entertainment district with a speakeasy, made-from-scratch restaurant, arcade, and live music venue all under one roof.” It closed in 2020.)

Plans for the building include modern upgrades and the creation of a diverse tenant mix featuring restaurants, bars, catering services and entertainment venues. Targeted rents are projected at $20 per square foot (full service), with $1 million in tenant improvement allowances available for qualifying tenants.

Revitalization Unlimited — in collaboration with 10 Broadway, LLC and Haith & Company, Inc., a commercial real estate brokerage in Overland Park — remains committed to investing in properties with strong growth potential and high returns on investment, said Dustin Webber, COO of the fund.

“This partnership demonstrates our ability to bring the capital, expertise and determination required to make timely and transformative investments,” he added.

Kansas City’s commercial real estate market presents strong growth opportunities, Webber said, noting the partners on the project are positioning The Garment House to capitalize on that upward trajectory — while adhering to Revitalization Unlimited’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding America’s historic assets and creating lasting value for investors and local neighborhoods alike.

“This project will help preserve Kansas City’s heritage while providing a vibrant, modern experience for the community,” added Josh Haith, managing principal of Haith & Company.