Papa Keno’s Pizzeria is returning to Westport; Thai Place sign says it’s closed for remodeling

Papa Keno’s Pizzeria is returning to its original Westport space. The new owners plan a late summer opening at 415 Westport Road.

The first Papa Keno’s Pizzeria opened in the early 1990s in Lawrence and five years later expanded to Kansas City.

But that expansion did not always go smoothly. Locations in the River Market and Waldo closed. In 2008, its Westport landlord filed to evict the restaurant after three years of operations.

New owners took over the Overland Park and Lawrence locations in early 2012, and later they bought rights to the name and concept.

Brandon Graham, David Bennett and David Hawley are partners in PKDL LLC and plan to franchise Papa Keno’s. Hawley also now owns the Lawrence location, and one of his managers there, Tyler Parker, will be a partner in the new Westport restaurant, which will be remodeled for an open kitchen design.

“Westport is a good market for our concept,” said Hawley. “We tend to do well in entertainment districts where there is a lot of foot traffic. It’s easy to pop in and grab a pizza and beer before a show.”

Papa Keno’s Pizzeria offers New York-style, thin crust pizzas, including pizza by the slice, entree salads and specialty pizzas and sandwiches.

The Boot (after boot-shaped Italy), a casual Italian-inspired restaurant, opened in the Westport space in early 2012, next to sister restaurant Westport Cafe and Bar. But it closed a year later, and the space has been empty for two years.

Thai Place remodeling in Westport?

Westport’s Thai Place, 4130 Pennsylvania Ave., has a “closed for remodeling” sign on the front door.

The owner couldn’t be reached for comment. Officials with Copaken Brooks, the management company for the building, declined to comment.

Ted Liberda and his mother, Ann, opened the restaurant in 2002, in the former Classic Cup building. Ann Liberda was born in Thailand and moved to the U.S. in 1980. The first Thai Place opened in 1991.

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Papa Keno’s Pizzeria is returning to Westport; Thai Place sign says it’s closed for remodeling."