In 1976, André Bollier, owner of André's Confiserie Suisse added a tea room onto the Swiss chocolate shop he opened in 1955 just south of the Country Club Plaza.
Inside of the tea room, he built, with the help of a friend, the façade of a Swiss-style chalet made entirely of wood which added warmth and authenticity to the popular Kansas City lunchroom.
Now, more than forty years later, his grandson, René Bollier, and son, Marcel Bollier, along with Rene’s Mom, Connie Bollier, all plan to embark on a one-month renovation, which will close the tea room this summer from July 1- August 1 to update the tea room in a subtle, but thoroughly modern way.
“I have always loved the Tea Room with the Swiss style chalet and old world feel, but as with everything in life, time takes its toll on certain elements. There are a number of items that we need to have fixed, replaced or updated and we felt this was the right time to do a major overhaul," says René.
This project is the second half of an overall update that originally kicked off in 2014, when André's did a major renovation of its front retail space adding a coffee and wine bar designed by KEM Studios and built by Pearce Construction.
The same team is working on this renovation but with a much tougher task. Bollier explained they are sensitive to the history of the tea room and how the guests feel about it. “We are conscious of how special the tea room is to so many. We needed a design that maintains the key elements that give the tea room its warm Old World feel but at the same time makes it feel up to date."
KEM's design will do just that by making the main chalet the focal point of the new tea room. A new coffee area will open up the space, and hardwood floors will replace the carpet. The ceiling in the back will be taken out to help reduce noise and give it an airy open feel. An alcove will be constructed in the front that can be used for larger parties as well as for normal lunch service.
During construction, the tea room will be closed, but breakfast, lunch and dinner will continue to be served in the front cafe as well as on the front patio.
André's Confiserie Suisse, 5018 Main St, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.561.3440, andreschocolates.com
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