News Summary
The future of Temple Slug, a unique Kansas City retail shop specializing in alternative home décor, is in question after the deaths of its founder Bob Gamer and stepson Keith Buchanan. As the shop has been closed since the pandemic, local community members express concerns over its fate and the historical significance of the building it occupies. May Lin Gamer, the founder’s wife, is the presumed inheritor, but uncertainty looms over the management of the property and community advocacy for its preservation.
Uncertainty Surrounds the Future of Temple Slug After Deaths of Founder Bob Gamer and Stepson Keith Buchanan
Kansas City, MO – The future of Temple Slug, a unique retail shop known for its alternative home décor and counterculture atmosphere, remains uncertain following the recent deaths of its founder, Bob Gamer, and his stepson, Keith Buchanan. The shop, located at 4303 Jefferson St., has been closed since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and many in the community are left wondering about the fate of the business and the building it occupies.
Bob Gamer, who founded Temple Slug in 1970, passed away at the age of 86 in spring 2023. Just two days later, Keith Buchanan, who had taken on a management role at the shop in its latter years, also died unexpectedly. It is believed that May Lin Gamer, Bob’s wife and Keith’s mother, inherited the business and the property, though she is currently residing in a retirement home and is unreachable for comments regarding the shop’s future.
In the wake of both men’s deaths, the management of the property has transferred to a trust, but friends and former employees report that no information has been provided about what will happen next. Concerns have been raised within the local community, particularly among members of the Steptoe Lives Coalition, a group focused on historically preserving the Black community in the Steptoe neighborhood, who are advocating for the building’s preservation due to its historical significance.
Leah Suttington, a member of the coalition, shared her appreciation for Temple Slug and emphasized its role as an important gathering place that connected diverse communities in Kansas City. Some reports suggest that the building, along with other properties owned by Bob Gamer, may be put up for sale; however, this information has yet to be confirmed. Jackson County property records indicate that the buildings remain under the ownership of Jefferson Associates Inc., a company associated with Gamer that has seen administrative dissolution due to failure to file necessary registration reports.
Local resident Deitra Nealy-Shane expressed concern over the neighborhood’s overall future, recalling Bob Gamer’s commitment to maintaining affordable homes in the area. Temple Slug originally opened as a shop filled with goods from Gamer’s time in Singapore and evolved over the years into a head shop and a creative hub. In its early days, it became famous for its waterbeds and eclectic merchandise, drawing in many artists and members of the alternative culture in Westport.
In 2010, Buchanan expanded the business by opening a tea shop adjacent to Temple Slug, further enriching the community’s cultural landscape. However, due to the pandemic, the shop ceased operations in 2020 and subsequently shut down its online services after a year. Bob Gamer had been living with Parkinson’s disease prior to his passing, while Keith Buchanan’s death was reported to be sudden and unexpected.
To honor Bob Gamer and Keith Buchanan’s contributions, the community has organized celebrations of life for both individuals. As uncertainty looms over Temple Slug’s future, the local community continues to hold onto memories of the shop’s legacy and its impact on their lives.
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Additional Resources
- Kansas City Star: Business Openings and Closings
- Wikipedia: Temple
- Kansas City Star: Local News Articles
- Google Search: Bob Gamer
- Legacy: Keith Buchanan Obituary
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Counterculture
