Buca di Beppo is a national Italian restaurant that will occupy 9,550sf in a space previously leased by the Hilliard Gallery. Itwill be located in the lower level courtyard near Steve Shoes at 312 W.47th St. and will have an outdoor dining area. The restaurant will opensometime next year, according to Kelly Taylor, spokeswoman for J.C.Nichols, a Highwoods Properties affiliate and landlord.

Betsey Johnson is an upscale women's clothing store that will occupy 970sf at 225 W. 47th St. in the space formerly occupied by Mondi.The Betsey Johnson store is scheduled to open before the end of theyear.

There has been much discussion surrounding chain stores moving intospaces on the Plaza that were formerly occupied by local merchants."We are trying to offer a nice mix of stores," Taylor said. "And I wouldn't say we are putting chain stores in here. It's more along the lines of putting in a store with a national presence. Their location here may be the only one in Kansas City, like a Mark Shale for instance."