Taco Bell expands, but another restaurant chain leaves Kansas City after 25 years

One national restaurant chain has expanded by opening six new locations in the metro since November.

But another chain said goodbye to Kansas City.

Diversified Restaurant Group in Sonoma, California, has 216 Taco Bells in Kansas, Missouri, California and Nevada.

It recently opened area locations at 4545 Blue Parkway (Nov. 13); 10456 S. Ridgeview Road, Olathe (Nov. 23); 1101 S. Buckner Tarsney, Grain Valley (Dec. 11); 15700 N. U.S. 169, Smithville (Dec. 18); 851 N.E. Woods Chapel Road, Lee’s Summit (Dec. 27); and 3225 S.W. Third St., Lee’s Summit (Dec. 27).

Meanwhile, Boston Market has pulled out of the Kansas City market. It closed restaurants at 1200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, and 11600 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, on Jan. 12.

In a statement, the company said: “After 25 great years of serving the Kansas City market we made the difficult decision to close our Overland Park and Shawnee restaurants . .... We would like to thank the people of Kansas City for their patronage and support and hope to return to the Kansas City market in the future.”

Boston Market’s home shipment program will deliver complete spreads, a la carte sides and desserts to customers’ doors (typically around the holidays), to heat and serve.