The Drawing Board Restaurant plans May opening and other retail updates

A year after opening in Overland Park, Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery has closed and plans to reopen in a new location by summer.

The Celtic-themed sports bar chain — known for its scantily clad servers — opened in the former Wil Jenny’s building, at 6700 W. 135th St.

Area franchisee, TK KC LLC, leased the 9,000-square-foot space — about twice the size of a typical Tilted Kilt. Now it wants a smaller spot and is looking at several sites, including in downtown and the Power & Light District, according to Michael Matson, director of operations for TK KC. The franchisee also plans to open one more Tilted Kilt in the Kansas City region this year.

At Tilted Kilt, female employees wear “sexy plaid kilts and matching plaid bras with white camp shirt,” and male employees wear traditional-length black kilts and black T-shirts. The menu includes Irish dip (shaved ribeye steak topped with melted Swiss cheese and a side of hot au jus for dipping), fish and chips, blackened chicken flatbread, shepherd’s pie, Dublin Irish stew and specialty burgers.

Meanwhile, the owners plan to open The Drawing Board Restaurant & Pub in the former Tilted Kilt space in May. It will feature a scratch kitchen and classic crafted cocktails.

Olathe’s K-macho’s temporarily closed

Customers were pulling up to the Olathe K-macho’s Mexican Grill and Cantina this week only to be stopped at the door.

A sign says: “We apologize for the inconvenience, this location is currently closed due to renovations (changing floor). We will open soon. Thanks.”

The Romano family opened the K-macho’s, at 1229 E. Santa Fe St., in mid-2013, next to their Bonito Michoacan Meat Market, Produce & Bakery. They completely remodeled the former pool hall, separating it into sections — front entrance, main dining room, back bar area and private dining room.

Officials with K-macho’s declined to comment on the temporary closing “at this time.”

However, in a statement, Shawn Neudauer, spokesman for Homeland Security Investigations, said K-macho was “recently served, via U.S. mail, an official notice to submit all Form I-9 documentation to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) auditors for inspection. At no time did federal authorities enter the business, make any arrests or ask the business be closed.”

Meanwhile, K-macho’s owners are directing customers to their location at 11741 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park.

Now open

Locally owned Sawa Sushi & Hibachi has opened at 9557 Nall Ave., Overland Park. It offers sushi, sashimi, appetizers like edamame and soft shell crab, teriyaki and hibachi dinners and more.

Sushi Gin Japanese Cuisine had operated in the center nearly 20 years before closing a year ago. Sawa took part of the space.

Coming soon

▪ The owners of Conroy’s Public House are taking the former Sutera’s Restaurant & Bar space at 4730 Rainbow Blvd., Westwood.

It is scheduled to open as Conroy’s Rainbow by late May.

“I think that is a solid location,” said Ray Dunlea, owner of Conroy’s with Pat Walsh.

They also have a Conroy’s at 5285 W. 95th St. in Overland Park.

Sutera’s shut down its Westwood location in September 2015.

▪ Nuts and Bolts True Value Hardware plans a grand opening at 8 a.m. Thursday for its new store at 13229 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee.

▪ A local franchisee for Pita Pit has leased 1,567 square feet at 39Rainbow, 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard., in Kansas City, Kan. An early June opening is scheduled.

▪ Potbelly Sandwich Shop is now open at 11780 W. 95th St. in Overland Park, across from Oak Park Mall. The shops offer such items as toasted sandwiches, salads, sides, shakes, malts and smoothies, along with live music at lunchtime.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 6:17 PM with the headline "The Drawing Board Restaurant plans May opening and other retail updates."