They pivoted for the pandemic. It was so successful they opened another KC restaurant

The Russell, a popular restaurant and catering operation in midtown, was on track for 2020 to be its best year since opening in early 2017.

Then the pandemic hit.

Owners Heather White and Amante Domingo expected sales to drop as they pivoted from a full-service restaurant to a to-go only operation. But they were surprised at just how much — a 75% decline that first month.

“It was painful. It was going to take people time to catch on to what we were doing so they could make their dinner plans around it,” White said.

But soon to-go traffic was surging, with cars lined up on Friday nights as customers stocked up for the weekend. As caterers, they had the to-go packaging in stock and knew how to create a menu that would “sit” well.

“The flavors tend to bloom over time, and we would make whole quiches, bread and granola. We would always be offering new things,” White said.

The Russell’s daily marketing email list went from 2,500 at the start of the pandemic to the current 51,000-plus — and growing as new customers discover the spot.

So they didn’t hesitate when they had a chance to open a second operation nearby.

Their landlord liked how they had converted the former “floral shop turned used car showroom” at 3141 Main St. into The Russell. When his space at 3933 Main became available at the start of the pandemic, he asked them if they wanted to take it on.

Domingo oversaw the nearly 18-month remodel for their new Tailleur restaurant (pronounced Taylor), while White managed The Russell and picked up interior design projects to fund the Tailleur build-out.

“It had a real 1980s feel to it, no personality, very flat,” White said. “We exposed the tin ceilings, painted the walls navy blue to define the character of the building instead of the white starkness in the walls, took up the five layers of tile and found the original floors. Everyone thinks it looks like it has been here forever. They feel like they are in Europe.”

The full-service restaurant opened in late August with a European comfort food menu to complement The Russell’s American comfort food. Items include mussels, salmon nicoise, caprese, steak au jus, duck confit, Berkshire pork, Scotch egg Caesar salads, and Domingo’s favorite chicken paillard.

A 16-foot antique retail counter, which once held a variety of nails, dominates the Tailleur dining room and showcases such pastries as quiche, seasonal tarts, muffins, scones, flourless chocolate tortes and croissants.

The second floor — with Victorian-style sofas and vintage china — overlooks the dining room and is open on weekends for overflow traffic. Tailleur also plans to book it for high tea and private events.

Unlike many restaurants struggling to find staff, Tailleur currently has enough employees. But with a new menu to roll out, consistency is the challenge, White said.

And while customers can park and enter through the back patio, the front looks out to Main Street, which is mostly a construction site for the streetcar expansion. Still, the partners say they are “more than excited” to have both their restaurants on the line.

“We didn’t have a lot of reservations about opening Tailleur in the pandemic,” White said. ”It’s somewhere we want you to come and feel like you are having a quick escape.”