Johnson Countians learning to play the bagpipes don’t exactly have a plethora of options when trying to buy one — or the attire typically worn when playing them.
For multiple decades, one local shop has been trying to change that. Over time, J. Higgins has worked up a loyal customer base of Johnson Countians (and even some customers from beyond the county) looking for bagpipes, kilts and other Scottish accoutrements that you can’t find anywhere else locally.
It’s done so out of a rented suite in an industrial park in Lenexa, but not anymore.
J. Higgins recently relocated to a brand new storefront in Old Town Lenexa, a move that staff say is both a practical expansion and a defining moment for the unique brand.
J. Higgins opened at 9211 Pflumm Road
- The store occupies a space in Old Town Lenexa, just off 92nd Street and Pflumm Road.
- There, it operates near Pop’s Sweet Shop and Maps Coffee & Chocolate.
- J. Higgins’ regular hours in Lenexa are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
J. Higgins offers a nod to Scottish heritage
J. Higgins stocks more than 5,000 different products, including kilts and bagpipes (which gave the company its start).
In addition to kilts, the shop is also phasing in a growing line of uniforms and accessories for police, fire and sheriff’s honor guards.
J. Higgins’ ever-growing inventory is what ultimately pushed the company to seek a larger (and more visible) space in Lenexa. The new space means more shelving and more inventory for both men and women.
“We needed growth first and foremost,” said Griffin Hall, J. Higgins’ media manager. “The space that we were in before was somewhat limiting, and now we’re able to carry a bit more on the shelves. More jackets, more pants, more shoes, hats, gloves. We’ve got new products that are coming out just about every other week on the website.”
In addition to a larger space, Hall said the mix of redevelopment and historic charm of Old Town Lenexa made for an appealing new home. That, and its proximity to the post office — which matters for a business that frequently ships specialty items across the country.
“The place where we are right now in Old Town is a really charming place,” Hall said. “The place is being glamorized continually, so it was an attractive selling point for us.”
J. Higgins got its start 40+ years ago
J. Higgins was initially founded in 1983, but before moving to Old Town Lenexa, the store occupied its former Lenexa space for roughly 26 years.
The company’s story traces back to owner John Higgins, a competitive bagpiper who first got his start making reeds before branching into apparel and other gear.
Starting in Higgins’ home, the brand eventually outgrew his living room, and then it outgrew the longtime industrial-park space in Lenexa. Over the years, customer demand has more or less driven the car when it comes to inventory growth.
“People come from all across the country to see us, especially for kilt fittings and stuff,” Hall said. “Places like this are few and far spread out in the world, really, and we’re certainly among the oldest —if not the oldest — and biggest Scottish supply store.”
Before Hall became J. Higgins’ media manager, he was a customer. A competitive bagpiper himself, Hall first walked into the store as a teenager, in search of his first practice chanter and music book. (The chanter is the pipe with finger holes part of a bagpipe.)
Now he gets to help other curious Johnson Countians navigate that same beginning.
“Bagpiping certainly isn’t something that you can walk into your (typical) music store and get quality information on,” he said. “That’s a unique thing that we get to do here — educate people on how it’s supposed to be done. Seeing them light up and show a sense of passion about it all, that’s really encouraging.”
The relocation to Old Town Lenexa (and the store’s newly built space there) was a two-year work in progress. Some inventory still is to be moved to the new store, but so far, Hall said, things seem to be off to an optimistic start.
“It’s really cool to come to a brand new building that has the company’s name above it, and it’s built from the ground up for this purpose,” he said. “It’s taken a long road to get here, but I think we’re all pretty satisfied with the product, and hope the customers are as well.”
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