JoCo restaurant update: More closings, relocations as ‘COVID continues to take its toll’
Johnson County has lost three more restaurants — with the COVID-19 crisis at least partly to blame. Two other eateries have closed and are relocating.
▪ Urban Table, Corinth Square, 8232 Mission Road, Prairie Village, has shut its doors.
Kansas City-based restaurant company Bread & Butter Concepts filed for bankruptcy in November and hoped to remain a “viable organization.” But in August it said a sale of two of its restaurants — Gram & Dun on the Country Club Plaza and Urban Table — was the best option for it to eliminate secured debt and preserve hundreds of jobs.
It also has Stock Hill Kansas City Steakhouse just south of the Plaza.
Founder Alan Gaylin had a note posted on Urban Table’s front door: “After careful consideration, it is with a heavy heart to announce after 9.5 years, Urban Table will be closing permanently. ... COVID continues to take its toll on small local restaurants, so please support family owned places like ours. Stock Hill is not going anywhere so please come see us there.”
Gaylin confirmed the Urban Table closing and said the sale is being finalized.
Urban Table opened in mid-2011 and was designed to serve a variety of neighborhood needs — sit-down breakfast and to-go coffee and pastries, lunch and dinner, and wine bar offering small plates.
▪ Ironhaus Bierhalle & Garten opened a year ago at 5317 W. 151st St. in Leawood, former home of Paddy O’Quigley’s Pub & Grille. One side of the menu listed authentic German cuisine, the other side had American comfort food with a German twist.
But recently a large hand-painted sign went up at the entrance to Ironhorse Centre: “Turnkey restaurant is available.”
“We didn’t have the same business we had before COVID. We have a lot of older clientele, and they aren’t going out as before,” said Ironhaus owner Andrew Bye. “Lunch business really dropped off in May with people working at home. Tough times.”
Beye had hoped to find a buyer but didn’t get any offers in the current economic climate. He’s said he’s young enough that he can absorb the loss. He worries about other longtime restaurateurs who can’t.
Ironhorse Centre is in negotiations with another tenant for the nearly 3,000-square-foot space and large back patio.
▪ At Overland Park’s Corbin Park, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom is for lease.
The leasing company did not return phone calls. Old Chicago officials couldn’t be reached for comment.
It opened at 6815 W. 135th St., Suite A, in mid-2017.
Relocations
Meanwhile, two Johnson County eateries that have closed plan to reopen in new locations.
▪ Decadent - A Coffee and Dessert Bar has closed in Prairiefire, 5601 W. 135th St., Suite 2220, Overland Park. The local founder of Smallcakes A Cupcakery, Jeff Martin, opened Decadent five years ago in the former Cocoa Dolce Artisan Chocolates space.
Martin said negotiations for a new lease fell through and he is currently looking at two other Johnson County locations.
Prairiefire officials said they are in talks with other possible tenants for the space.
▪ Two years after opening in Ranchmart, Duck Donuts temporarily closed in early March. The company said the landlord was renovating the Leawood center and they also needed a bigger space.
Franchisees Ryan and Katie McNeil plan to open at 12130 State Line Road, Leawood, in early fall.
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 5:00 AM.