Chuy’s Tex-Mex grill for Olathe, Meshuggah Bagels for Overland Park

Chuy’s, a Tex-Mex chain based in Austin, Texas, entered the market with a Country Club Plaza location three years ago.

But the chain also was looking at locations in Johnson County and it has now found a spot.

According to the Olathe Planning Services Division, Chuy’s is taking the former Joe’s Crab Shack building at 11965 S. Strang Line Road and it was issued a demolition permit on Monday for cosmetic changes. Chuy’s officials couldn’t be reached for comment.

Mike Young and John Zapp opened the first Chuy's in 1982 in Texas. They had only a few dollars left to spend on decor. That went to a roadside vendor of velvet Stevie Wonder and Elvis paintings, and for old hubcaps to put on the ceiling. Early customers then brought them Elvis memorabilia, and they created an Elvis shrine. So all the Chuy's restaurants that have opened since pay homage to the original with an Elvis shrine and hubcap room.

Tortillas are made-to-order at a glass-enclosed stand in the dining room. Menu items include Baja tacos with lightly battered or grilled fish or shrimp, steak burritos and the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo (beef Tex-Mex enchilada, cheese Ranchero enchilada, chicken tomatillo enchilada, seasoned ground sirloin crispy taco and house-made tostada chips dipped in chile con queso).

Joe’s Crab Shack was an original tenant of Olathe Station, opening in April 1998 and closing on Nov. 22, according to company officials. But they declined to comment on the closing.

Bruce Smith reopening

The owners of Bruce Smith Drugs hoped to reopen their Prairie Village Shopping Center store after Thanksgiving but now they say they need a couple of more weeks.

The store at 71st street and Mission Road, which opened more than 60 years ago, temporarily shut down in early November to restructure.

Bruce Smith Drugs was founded in 1955 and at one time had four locations — including the Country Club Plaza, Red Bridge Shopping Center and Shannon Valley in Overland Park — and more than 100 employees.

The owners recently cut store hours and also some inventory in their efforts to turn the operation around.

JoCo restaurant updates

▪ Muscle Maker Grill recently entered the market with a new Olathe location that offers “healthier versions of mainstream-favorite dishes.”

The fast-casual restaurant brand took a 1,600-square-foot space in the Olathe Pointe Shopping Center, 14967 W. 119th St., Olathe.

Founded in 1995, Muscle Maker Grill offers chicken, seafood, pasta, burgers, wraps, entrée salads, fruit smoothies, protein shakes and energy bars. It has gluten-free and vegetarian selections, and uses grass-fed steak and all-natural chicken.

The area franchisees, Raymore-based Muscle Corp., signed an agreement to open 15 locations in the Kansas City area and surrounding region, including Lawrence. They plan to look for their second area location, probably in Overland Park, starting in January.

“But it depends on what we find. We were going to do the first one in Overland Park but we found the Olathe location so we opened there about two months ago,” said Harry Kang, partner in Muscle Corp.

The restaurants have about 15 to 18 employees, and seat about 30 to 45 people, depending on the size of the location, and also offer carryout and delivery.

▪ Smoothie King recently opened at 6600 Johnson Drive, Mission. The chain offers custom-blended smoothies with real fruit, pure juices, and nutritional supplements.

▪ Meshuggah Bagels, 1208 W. 39th St., plans to open by early March at 7096 W. 105th St. in Overland Park. Meshuggah serves “authentic New York-style” bagels.

▪ Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is going through Shawnee planning for a new location at 10704 Shawnee Mission Parkway. Company officials declined to comment.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 2:13 PM with the headline "Chuy’s Tex-Mex grill for Olathe, Meshuggah Bagels for Overland Park."