In the past couple of years, downtown Olathe has seen its fair share of transformation; old auto garages turning into pizzerias, historic buildings on Cherry Street turning into bakeries and cocktail lounges.
Through it all, just a bit west of the bulk of recent redevelopment, a house on Cedar Street has stood for more than a century. The house has lived many lives — including, most recently, as a holiday event space for nearby boutique Junque Drawer.
Now its new owners are busy readying the space for its next chapter. If all goes according to plan, the newest occupant — 3 of Cups Bookstore & Commons — will open there in the coming weeks.
3 of Cups is coming to 101 W. Cedar St.
- The store is taking over a space just off Cedar and Cherry streets in downtown Olathe.
- There, it operates near the Junque Drawer boutique, and just south of other recent additions like Third Street Social and Pizza 51.
- Once it opens, 3 of Cups’ regular hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
3 of Cups will offer books, events and more
The shelves at 3 of Cups will hold books of a wide variety of genres; romance, fantasy, self-help, and so on.
The goal, co-owner Ashley Mantooth said, is for every shopper to feel represented there.
“We will have pretty much something for everybody,” she said. “We want anyone who comes in to be able to see themselves on our shelves. In terms of gender identity, sexual orientation, physical and mental abilities, race, nationality, people of all backgrounds.”
In addition to books, 3 of Cups will offer some other items like puzzles and games, as well as some snacks and libations like coffee, cocktails, charcuterie and dips.
The space itself is still in the thick of transformation. But while every surface will be painted by the end of it (along with some minor lighting and tile upgrades), Mantooth said she and her co-owners will otherwise be doing their best to preserve the historic feel of it.
“When you walk in, you really get a sense of the history that the house holds,” she said. “We have left the original beautiful woodwork untouched. It’s going to be very cool.”
The shop will also be a gathering space
The shop’s name is a nod to the tarot card of the same name — generally considered the card of friendship, community and gathering.
That’s exactly what Mantooth said she and her co-owners, twin sisters Jasmine and Starla Titus, intend to bring into the new Olathe space. 3 of Cups plans to host a variety of events there, from book clubs to art events with local makers.
Initially, Mantooth said, the Titus sisters (who met Mantooth when the three of them worked “many moons ago” for furniture company Thomasville) envisioned 3 of Cups as sort of a someday project.
Then the Olathe space became available, and someday became now.
“They actually started this as a retirement idea, and then we just happened upon the perfect space and the perfect timing,” Mantooth said. “So they decided to jump in about 20 years early and say, ‘OK, let’s do this.'”
Once the last of the paint has dried and all of the shelves are full, the trio looks forward to welcoming people in — in hopes that it can be a space where everyone’s cup gets filled.
“We want it to be an easy place to hang out, somewhere to spend your time and maybe pick up a new book or a new hobby or meet a new friend,” Mantooth said.
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