St. Louis-based pizza staple expanding to second KC-area spot with family partnership

St. Louis-based Imo’s Pizza is adding a second metro location.

Lucas Commodore of Commodore Collective LLC plans a fall opening at 4200 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, Kan.

The freestanding building was formerly a Pizza Hut.

Imo’s Pizza offers thin crust pizzas with house-made sauce, Provel cheese and a variety of toppings, in five sizes.

Specialty pizzas include a chicken barbecue, and the Creamy Garlic Garden with baby spinach, broccoli and roasted red peppers. It also has appetizers, salads, pasta, sandwiches, desserts and lunch specials.

Commodore’s parents own the Imo’s at 11552 W. 135th St. in Overland Park and will be partners in the new location. It will have 20 to 25 employees.

The dining room will seat 15 to 20 people and it also will offer curbside delivery.

Imo’s Pizza was founded in 1964 in the Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, offering square-cut pizza and Provel cheese instead of Mozzarella.

According to The Kansas City Star archives, it had four area locations in 2000. It currently has 101 locations in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Lucas Commodore said there are enough St. Louis expatriates and new converts to Imo’s to support two area restaurants and maybe more in the future.

“It’s a very different kind of pizza,” he said. “We eat it seven days a week and got our friends and family hooked on it.”