KANSAS CITY, MO. — A fire triggered by a natural gas leak has destroyed a decades-old restaurant at Country Club Plaza, one of the nation’s first shopping centers, in Kansas City. The explosion, which injured at least 16 people, occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday at JJ’s restaurant, according to The Kansas City Star. The corner restaurant, located at 910 W. 48th St., was flattened, and the force from the explosion knocked out windows at least a half-block away and was felt nearly a mile away. People located in nearby apartments were forced to evacuate and took advantage of free lodging at the hotel in Westport. According the local paper, witnesses reported a strong odor of natural gas in the area hours before the explosion occurred. Missouri Gas Energy issued a statement late Tuesday saying “early indications are that a contractor doing underground work struck a natural gas line, but the investigation continues.” Established in 1922 by J.C. Nichols, Country Club Plaza was the first shopping center designed to accommodate shoppers arriving by vehicle. The upscale shopping center sits on 55 acres and is located about four miles south of downtown Kansas City, between 45th and 51st streets. The plaza, …
