Magnolia’s moving to south KC; Brazilian steakhouse opening in Overland Park

▪ Shanita McAfee shuttered her Magnolia’s Contemporary Southern Bistro in February after nearly three years of operations.

The location, just south of Hospital Hill at 2932 Cherry St., just didn’t have enough visibility and foot traffic, she said. She also needed to remodel and expand the kitchen to keep up with the growing business. And she wanted to add a bar but there wasn’t enough room in the building.

Landlords from downtown to south Kansas City have since tried to sign the restaurateur. Now she’s picked a site in Gomer’s Plaza, 9916B Holmes Road, and plans to open there by late summer or early fall. McAfee also will do a Kickstarter campaign starting next week to help with some expenses.

McAfee worked at several area restaurants before opening Magnolia’s Catering in 2008 and then the restaurant in April 2012. In September 2014, she appeared on the Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen,” winning $14,800.

While some naysayers have reminded McAfee that several restaurants have come and gone in the Gomer’s Plaza space in recent years, she said they also didn’t think she would draw customers to her Cherry Street location. But her catering customers became loyal restaurant customers and now she thinks her restaurant customers will follow her to south Kansas City.

Magnolia’s menu includes shrimp and grits, Gouda mac-and-cheese, pulled pork sliders, and cast iron seared scallops. The new venue also will offer live jazz.

▪ A year after Elephant Bar Restaurant closed its Overland Park restaurant, a new locally owned Brazilian steakhouse and churrascaria is taking the space.

Edson and Leonice Ludwig will open Espirito do Sul in the 8,300-square-foot building at 11900 Metcalf Ave. The Ludwigs sold Elephant Bar’s African decor at auction and are remodeling the spot for a late July or early August opening.

Later this year they also hope to expand the building with two private dining rooms and a patio on the north side.

Elephant Bar Restaurant closed in June 2014 after a decade of operations. The company said there wasn’t enough food traffic at that location to sustain the business.

This story was originally published June 11, 2015 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Magnolia’s moving to south KC; Brazilian steakhouse opening in Overland Park."