New Brookside restaurant turns to Kickstarter

The owners of a proposed east Brookside restaurant have turned to Kickstarter to help finance the project.

Christian and Andrea Joseph opened Season + Square at 6205 Oak St. in February 2014. The shop sells high-quality kitchen and bar items from mom-and-pop vendors across the country, including linens, eco-friendly soaps and specialty foods.

Now they plan a fall opening for their Plate restaurant just to the north, in a corner space at 6201 Oak. It will use only local vendors for Italian-influenced, continental cuisine, including house-made pasta with seasonal produce from local farmers, as well as specialty cocktails.

“We do want it to be a neighborhood restaurant, for people to be able to get away and have a nice meal and food to go, but we also want to draw destination diners as well,” said Christian Joseph.

The space has been dark for about three years and needs a new HVAC system, electrical, plumbing, and restrooms. The Josephs hope to raise $20,000 in their Kickstarter campaign to help pay some of those expenses. As of Monday night, nine backers had already pledged $850 since the campaign started a week ago.

“It is helpful and a good way to get the community involved,” he said.

The restaurant will seat 60 people in the dining room and the bar, and its windows will open up during nicer weather. It will be open for happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. A Sunday brunch will be added later.

Andrea Joseph had worked in her family’s Torreon Mexican Restaurant in Overland Park and for PB&J Restaurants Inc. Christian Joseph had stints at such restaurants as Il Sansovino in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Phoenician, a luxury resort in Scottsdale, Ariz.

‘It has been my dream to have my own restaurant. I love serving people and having them enjoy what I cook for them. We want to share our passion with the neighborhood,” he said.

The Kickstarter projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money. Pledgers receive something in return. For example, those pledging $100 to Plate’s campaign receive two Plate-branded wine glasses.

Josh and Abbey-Jo Eans, owners of Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout at 549 Gillis St. in Columbus Park, recently did a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for their Columbus Park Ramen Shop — Kansas City's First Ramen Shop, opening next door. They had hoped to raise $37,000 by April 19 and raised $41,100 from 349 backers.

Warby Parker coming to the Plaza

Eyewear brand Warby Parker got its start five years ago as an online company.

But in the last couple of years it has opened a dozen brick-and-mortar stores. Now it plans a summer opening at 307 Nichols Road on the Country Club Plaza.

It will take 1,462 square feet in the former Ann Taylor space. Madewell, a women’s clothing and accessories store, plans an August opening at 309 Nichols Road, also part of the former Ann Taylor space.

In other Plaza updates, Texas-based jewelry retailer Kendra Scott plans a late summer opening at 412 Nichols Road.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 6:59 PM with the headline "New Brookside restaurant turns to Kickstarter."