Shopping in Prairie Village

Jay Mathiesen cooked up Backyard Bash as a means to combine his passion for barbecue with his years of business experience. His dedicated team helps grilling fanatics navigate the store's collection of seasoned rubs, savory sauces, and recipe books. Mathiesen's collection of meat-heating paraphernalia also includes Weber grills and essential barbecuing tools and utensils. Neophyte grill masters can even enroll in cooking classes taught by award-winning chef Chris Marks. The topics of these classes range from how to prepare succulent ribs and grilled seafood to how to safeguard your eyebrows from overly exuberant flames.:m]]

In a short time, Alysa Rene Boutique has gained quite a bit of attention from fashionistas, allowing it to open a second location after only two years in business. The shop's ever-changing stock of colorful dresses, playful tops, and chunky metal cuffs presents shoppers with vibrant options that show off their personalities more attractively than a handheld banner listing their pet peeves. Apparel from designers such as BB Dakota, Ark & Co., Line & Dot, and Genetic Denim has even attracted the attention of Shawnee Mission KIA, who used several outfits from the boutique in a recent commercial.

Theresa Van Ackeren grew up riding her bike on her afternoon paper route along the streets of Omaha, Nebraska. On her 40th birthday, she decided to return to that simple happiness by quitting her day job and opening Family Bicycles. She strives to make biking accessible to all who want to try by hosting rides, special events, and classes to bring newbies into the fold. In the shop, tools sing a tinny song as mechanics true wheels and spruce up soiled drivetrains. Family Bicycles also hosts a winter film series, showing bike-centric Hollywood dramas, documentaries, and the one where the Three Stooges lose their driver’s license.

The Wheel Cyclery helps to pair patrons with cycles from manufacturers such as Giant, Orbea, Scott, and Colnago and keeps them safely rolling with gear and maintenance services. Shelves brim with equipment from brands such as Sugoi and CamelBak, stocked alongside bike pumps, safety lights, custom insoles, and other accessories.

Maintenance services range from simple adjustments and lubrication to tune-up packages with wheel truing and complete drivetrain cleanings. The Wheel Cyclery’s calendar bursts with events that build a community of bike enthusiasts via weekly group bike rides with onsite childcare, maintenance classes, and spin classes for off-road finessing. To nurture the environment, staffers recycle or reuse 80% of the shop’s waste.