Muscle Maker Grill entering KC area market with an Olathe restaurant

Muscle Maker Grill is entering the market with a new Olathe location, and more locations are planned.

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

Founded in 1995, Muscle Maker Grill said it provides “healthier versions of mainstream-favorite dishes.” Menu items include 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 greater Kansas City area and surrounding region, including Lawrence, making their franchise agreement the largest single developer deal for the company thus far this year.

The locations are scheduled to open over the next eight years with the second area location scheduled to open in spring 2017.

“I’m from New York and have worked out all my life. I trained, my wife trained, and when I first went to (Muscle Maker Grill) in New Jersey I thought it was the greatest thing. People want to eat healthy,” Harry Kang, partner in Muscle Corp. along with his wife, Sim Kang, and another couple, Jay and Vinni Jathaul. “So we wanted to bring this to Kansas City. People can pick up a good meal, that’s healthy, clean eating, tasty food and you are paying the same price as you would for a fast food burger.”

Jay Jathaul has lived in the Kansas City area for 18 years, including the last 13 years in Raymore, and said he wanted to bring more jobs to the metro.

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

Muscle Maker Grill currently has nearly 50 franchised and corporate restaurants in 15 states.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Muscle Maker Grill entering KC area market with an Olathe restaurant."