About a month ago, longtime Prairie Village resident Dave Dozier posted a light‑hearted challenge in the “If You Grew Up In Prairie Village” Facebook group, asking members to meet at the Shops of Prairie Village and point out the locations of former restaurants and stores. The invitation quickly turned into a community‑wide walking tour.
Hundreds of responses, dozens of participants
Dozier said he expected only a few friends to show up, but within 24 hours he received 50‑60 replies. The response was so overwhelming that he scheduled a Sunday afternoon walk, hoping to coincide with a Kansas City Chiefs night game to draw even more participants.
On Sunday, roughly 40 people gathered outside Bag and Baggage, the former T. G. & Y. Stores Co., and set off down the historic Shops. Participants ranged from former residents who moved away for college or work to those who still live nearby in Overland Park, Shawnee and other Johnson County communities.
Personal stories bring the past to life
Dozier, who grew up in Prairie Village during the 1960s and 1970s, said the tour reminded him of his mother, who passed away while he was in high school. He recalled Sunday dinners at Waid’s, stopping at Velvet Freeze after a game, and the feeling of having an entire day ahead of him.
“It’s just engrained, certainly in my soul and my being, about how much I remember and love and appreciate the fact that I was lucky enough,” Dozier said. “My mother used to say, ‘Timing is everything.’ And certainly, I think for anybody who is going to be there Sunday … timing is everything as far as living in Prairie Village.”
Returning visitors share nostalgia
Among the walkers was Sandy Boothe, now living in Rogers, Arkansas. She drove to Lebanon, Missouri, to meet her father Glen Cummins before traveling together to Prairie Village. Boothe remembered shopping at the Safeway, taking guitar lessons at the Toon Shop, and her first job at Bruce Smith’s drug store. She noted that while the buildings have changed little—except for the Hen House—the old Jones’ storefront is still recognizable.
“The stores are different. It really feels like walking back into nostalgia,” Boothe said.
Community members recall favorite hangouts
Nancy Metcalfe, a Prairie Village alum from 1969‑1980, helped hand out name tags at the event. She described the Shops as her “old stomping grounds” and said the walk gave her a “nice, fuzzy feeling.” Metcalfe highlighted beloved spots such as Velvet Freeze and Topsy’s, recalling them as key places where she and her friends spent time during childhood and teenage years.
“It’s just part of my childhood and teen years, and I just wanted to visit it again,” Metcalfe said.
Preserving Prairie Village’s history
The walking tour coincides with Prairie Village’s 75th‑anniversary celebrations. A volunteer group is updating the city’s official history book and is inviting residents to submit photos and stories via an online form or by emailing [email protected].
As the city looks ahead, events like this walking tour demonstrate the strong sense of place and community pride that continues to bind former and current residents alike.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
