The project’s November fundraiser was the perfect place for dog lovers and their four-legged friends to sit back and have a beer\u2014or a nice long drink of water.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/b>Bar K is opening next spring in Kansas City to change the way people socialize with their dogs<\/span><\/h5>\n

Words by Allison Trebacz<\/span><\/em>
\nPhotos by Gracie Piper<\/em><\/p>\n

So if a dog is a man\u2019s best friend, why aren\u2019t there more places for dogs and their owners to spend time together? Maybe enjoy an appetizer and a drink? Well, the FDA, mostly. <\/span><\/p>\n

Long-established health codes don\u2019t allow dogs anywhere near a space where food is prepared unless they\u2019re a service animal or if several other clauses in the law\u2014proper partitioning, a certain classification of establishment, proper containment, et cetera\u2014can be met.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luckily, one man in Kansas City had an idea. He\u2019s attempting a more satisfying solution to our 21<\/span>st<\/span> century woes: A dog park and restaurant hybrid\u2014a dog country club, if you will, where everyone knows your dog\u2019s name. Dogs still aren\u2019t allowed inside, but it\u2019s a step in the right direction for dog owners.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The project is called <\/span>Bar K<\/span><\/a>, and it\u2019s been met with overwhelming support: 1,500 likes on <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0considerable pop-up event attendance. But it hasn\u2019t opened yet. Bar K is set to open spring of 2017, just in time for dog park season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dave Hensley, managing partner of Bar K, compares the fully staffed dog park to a doggy daycare. \u201cYou\u2019ll be able to drop your dog off in the park, and you can either hang out with your dog at the park, or you can go inside and hang out.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s taken the better part of two years for Hensley and his team to get as far as they have. What they\u2019re creating with Bar K is a unique experience for dogs and people.<\/span><\/p>\n

And they\u2019re going all out.<\/span><\/p>\n

The indoor restaurant has a strict \u201cno dogs allowed\u201d policy, but they\u2019ll serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a casual, local and healthy menu with coffeehouse fare. A full bar will feature a craft cocktail menu. The patio will allow diners and dogs to eat together, if that\u2019s what they prefer. Only dogs and owners with memberships will be admitted, but with that membership they\u2019ll have access to the fully staffed dog park at any time. \u201cPart of the job of the park [staff],\u201d Hensley said, \u201cis going to be to entertain the dogs and make sure they\u2019re well behaved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Memberships will run about $149 with an additional $25 fee for each additional dog in the household. The membership is a way for Bar K to better regulate vaccinations and socialization and guarantee a safe and fun environment for all patrons\u2014especially the four-legged ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, they\u2019re hosting a \u201cPup UP Event\u201d every month called \u201cRover\u201d that will bring the small-scale Bar K experience to different destinations around Kansas City. Jennifer Lorincz attended a Bar K-sponsored event in November with her dog, Daisy. \u201cI think that\u2019s a great idea,\u201d Lorincz said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait until it opens. I think it\u2019s fantastic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n