For those interested in a little history, the Emery Bird and Thayer Department Store was Kansas City’s first department store: founded in 1863. The store served generations of Midwesterners during a century of business at its 11th and Grand location. 

In 1979, Emery, Bird and Thayer was reborn as EBT restaurant.  An upscale fine dining restaurant fashioned from artifacts and memorabilia from the old department store. 

Artifacts taken from the old department store and showcased in the restaurant are the sandstone column capitals, the chandeliers, stained glass, and of course, the original elevator cages.