When it became clear that the storefront KD’s Books has long occupied in downtown Lee’s Summit was no longer a viable option for the business, Nicole Perne put out a call for help.
Under new landlords, rent for the business’s Main Street space was set to climb. She and her mom, Tina Perne, who took over the store in 2022, had found a new home for KD’s Books just down the street, one where expenses were a little more doable. But paying for a new space and moving costs were just too big of a bill for the business to handle all at once.
They turned to their loyal customers, wondering if they might help by chipping in to make the move possible. The Pernes just couldn’t bring themselves to close the store, at least not without exhausting every other option first…