Bluestem to close after 17 years; owners to focus on family, Rye

TESTING.THE NEED FOR A VACCINEIS GREATER THAN EVER ASWE CONTINUE SEEINGRECORD HIGH NUMBERSCONNECTED TO COVID-19.TODAY -- 32 PEOPLE INTHE METRO DIED FROMCOVID-19.ITS A SINGLE-DAY RECORDFOR OUR AREA.ON TOP OF THAT -- 610NEW CASES WEREDIAGNOSED TODAY.NUMBERS LIKE THESE --AND NEW RESTRICTIONS --PUSHED ONE RESTAURANTTO CLOSE EARLIER THANEXPECTED.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESSHARES HOW THEOWNERS OF BLUESTEMARE FEELING AFTEMAKING THIS DECISION.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Megan and Colby Garreltsown three restaurants in theKC metro, but they sayBluestem here in Westport istheir baby.

The couple openedit 17 years ago and areheartbroken to close the doorsfor good in December."COLBY GARRELTS, CO-OWNER,BLUEST"It hurts our hearts to makethis decision but you know atthe end of the day you havemake good decisions inbusiness especially therestaurant business."COLBY AND MEGANGARRELTS TELL METHEY'VE BEENCONSIDERING CLOSINGDOWN THEIR AWARDWINNING RESTAURANTFOR A FEW YEARS ASTHEIR LEASE CAME TO ANEND.THEY SAY THE MANYCHALLENGES OF THEPANDEMIC CONFIRMTHEIR TOUGH DECISION.MEGAN GARRELTS, CO-OWNERBLUESTEM"You know we absolutelwant to keep people safe asbest we can you know,running a business and tryingto keep livelihoods a float isvery challenging during thistime."THEY HOPED TO STAYOPEN UNTIL THE NEWYEAR'S HOLIDAY BUT SAYIT DOESN'T MAKE MUCHSENSE NOW WITH THELATEST CAPACITY ANDCLOSING TIMERESTRICTIONS IN THECITY.COLBY GARRELTS, CO-OWNER,BLUESTEM"We understand everythingthat are local governments aredoing and respect that but it'shard."THEIR HEARTS ACHE FORTHEIR CUSTOMERS, THEIRWORKERS, AND OTHERRESTAURANT OWNERSMAKING THE SAMEDECISION.MEGAN GARRELTS, CO-OWNER,BLUESTEM"All of our colleagues arefeeling this you know it's a lotof fear, a lot of uncertainty."AFTER 17 YEARS INBUSINESS - COLBY SAYSHE HOPES THEY MADE ANIMPACT.LOYAL CUSTOMERS LIKEJOYA CLEVELAND PROVETHEY DID.JOYA CLEVELAND, LONG-TIMEBLUESTEM CUSTOMER"I love all the people who haveworked here throughout theyears, the food, the creativityof what they do here, theatmosphere."AS THE GARRELTSPREPARE TO SAYGOODBYE - THEY SAYTHEY'RE PROUD OF THEBUSINESS THEY'VE BUILTAND THE CONNECTIONSTHEY'VE MADE.MEGAN GARRELTS, CO-OWNER,BLUESTEM"We are very grateful for theyears and for the community."EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"COLBY AND MEGAN ALSOOWN TWO OTHERRESTAURANTS IN THEMETRO - RYE PLAZA ANDRYE LEAWOOD.THEY SAY THEY FEGOOD ABOUT HOW THOSETWO BUSINESSES AREDOING AND THEY'REHOPEFUL THEY'LL BOCEBACK AFTER THEPANDEMIC.THEY'RE ASKINGEVERYONE IN THECOMMUNITY TO CONTINUETO SUPPORT LOCALBUSINESSES.

IN KAN