Restaurants we’ve lost: More than 100 in Kansas City area closed during the pandemic

The pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the restaurant industry.

Nationally, about 90,000 restaurants closed — permanently or for the long term — from April 1, 2020, to April 14, 2021, according to the National Restaurant Association.

But the Kansas City metro, sheltered a bit from the vagaries found on the coasts, had about 100 closings, according to records The Star maintains. That’s about equal to the same period before the pandemic. Some restaurateurs put the blame on lost sales during shelter-in-place orders, mask mandates and the recent surge of the delta variant.

Some lost their leases, and a few owners just decided it was a good time to retire.

Here’s a sampling since March 2020:

▪ Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant, Zona Rosa, 8541 N.W. Prairie View Road.

▪ The Ainsworth, Park Place, 11563 Ash St., Leawood.

▪ Applebee’s, 7901 W. 151st St., Overland Park.

▪ Arby’s, 4100 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village.

▪ Avenues Bistro, 338 W. 63rd St. It now has a carryout/delivery operation in Kansas City, Kansas.

▪ Bar Louie, Zona Rosa, 8600 N.W. Prairie View Road.

▪ Batch Country Kitchen & ’Que, 6253 N. Oak Trafficway.

▪ Bayou on the Vine, 1601 E. 18th St.

▪ Beethoven’s #9 Restaurant, 2 W. Piankishaw St., Paola.

▪ Beignet, City Market, 307 Main St.

▪ Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar, 9100 W. 135th St., Overland Park, and Summit Fair, 860 N.W. Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit.

▪ The Bite, City Market, 23 E. Third St.

▪ Black Sheep Restaurant + Market, 1815 W. 39th St.

▪ Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Red Bridge Shopping Center, 11134 Holmes Road.

▪ Bluestem, 900 Westport Road.

▪ Bob Wasabi Kitchen, 1726 W. 39th St. It lost its lease and is looking for a new midtown home.

▪ Boulevard Bakery & Pastries, 2815 Independence Ave.

▪ Brady’s Public House, 5424 Troost Ave.

▪ BRGR Kitchen + Bar, 5031 W. 135th St., Leawood.

▪ Burger King, Waldo, 340 W. 72nd St.

▪ C. Frogs BBQ Steak Whiskey, 3935 W. 69th Terrace, Prairie Village

▪ Chuy’s, 6700 W. 135th St., Overland Park.

▪ The Classic Cookie & Cafe, 409 W. Gregory Blvd. Temporarily closed while it looks for new owners.

▪ The Clubhouse Experience, 1101 Walnut St.

▪ Corner Restaurant, 4059 Broadway.

▪ Several restaurants in Crown Center: d’Bronx Authentic Deli and Pizzeria, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Three Little Pigs BBQ and Z-Teca Fresh Mexican Grill.

▪ Dari Dine, 101 W. Kump Ave., Bonner Springs.

▪ Denny’s, 1600 Broadway.

▪ Don Chilito’s Mexican Restaurant, 7017 Johnson Drive, Mission. Plans to close Dec. 11.

▪ 54th Street Grill & Bar, 12130 S. U.S. 71 highway, Grandview.

▪ Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Power & Light District, 101 E. 13th St.

▪ Frontier Steak House, 9338 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas.

▪ Freshwater (Fine) Dining, 3711 Summit St.

▪ Gaslight Grill, 5020 W. 137th St., Leawood.

▪ Glace Artisan Ice Cream, 4960 Main St.

▪ Gojo Japanese Steak House, 4163 Broadway.

▪ Hamburguesas Los Compas, 240 Linwood Blvd.

▪ HopCat and TikiCat, 401 Westport Road.

▪ Howard’s Grocery, Cafe & Catering, 1708 Oak St. Relocated and is now an urban farm and catering operation.

▪ Ignite Wood Fire Grill, 8721 Ryckert St., Lenexa.

▪ Ironhaus Bierhalle & Garten, 5317 W. 151st St., Leawood. (Not to be confused with Iron Horse Bar and Grill, which opened in the spot in November.)

▪ Italian Delight by Avelluto, 6522 Martway St., Mission.

▪ Jose Pepper’s Border Grill & Cantina, The Village at Briarcliff, 4125 N. Mulberry Drive.

▪ Karbon, Parlor food hall, 1707 Locust St.

▪ KC Pinoy, West Bottoms, 1623 Genessee St.

▪ KFC, 7006 W. 75th St., added: Overland Park

▪ Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, 621 Markey Parkway, Belton; 12180 Blue Valley Parkway, Overland Park; and 800 N.E. Coronado Drive, Blue Springs.

▪ La Bodega Tapas & Lounge, Town Center Crossing, 4311 W. 119th St., Leawood.

▪ Llywelyn’s Pub, 6995 W. 151st. St., Overland Park.

▪ Long John Silver’s, 6860 N.W. 83rd Terrace.

▪ Lucky Brewgrille, 5401 Johnson Drive, Mission.

▪ Luther’s BBQ, 12921 State Line Road.

▪ Mad Man’s KC BBQ, Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane, Lenexa.

▪ Marrio’s Donut Shop, 8930 W. 95th St., Overland Park.

▪ Maui Express, 8750 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park.

▪ The Mixx, Power & Light District, 1347 Main St.

▪ Moonlight Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, 8634 N. Boardwalk Ave.

▪ Mudbug 2.0, Parlor food hall, 1707 Locust St.

▪ Nara, 1617 Main St.

▪ Nick and Jake’s, 5031 Main St.

▪ Noodles & Co., Legends Outlets Kansas City, 1703 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.

▪ Oh! Cafe, 2976 Gillham Road.

▪ Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Corbin Park, 6815 W. 135th St., Suite A, Overland Park.

▪ Ollie’s Local, 3044 Gillham Road.

▪ One Block South, Rosana Square, 7300 W. 119th St., Overland Park.

▪ Oregano & Thyme Mediterranean Market and Deli, 6116 Johnson Drive, Mission.

▪ Panera Bread, Oak Park Mall, 11319 W. 95th St., Overland Park.

▪ Papa Keno’s Pizzeria, 415 Westport Road.

▪ Parkway Social Kitchen, Country Club Plaza, 616 Ward Parkway.

▪ Paul’s Drive-in, 1008 Osage Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The number has been disconnected.

▪ Pie Five Pizza Co., 6809 Johnson Drive, Mission, and 13366 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.

▪ Pita Blu, 7335 W. 119th St., Overland Park.

▪ Pizza Street Buffet, 7399 Quivira Road, Shawnee.

▪ Pizza Studio, Legends Outlets Kansas City, 1813 Village West Parkway, Q103, Kansas City, Kansas.

▪ Plaza III, the Steakhouse, 12631 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.

▪ Porto do Sul, 11900 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.

▪ Ravenous, Parlor food hall, 1707 Locust St.

▪ Red Dragon House, 312 W. Eighth St.

▪ Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, 7111 W. 95th St., Overland Park.

▪ Red Snapper, 8430 Ward Parkway. Its Facebook page says it is closed temporarily, but a sign on the door said it is permanently closed.

▪ Rheinland Restaurant, 208 N. Main St., Independence.

▪ The Rieger restaurant, Crossroads, 1924 Main St.

▪ Roasterie Cafe, Lenexa Public Market, Corrigan Station in the Crossroads, and 4223 Main St.

▪ Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Town Pavilion, 1111 Main St., Suite 165.

▪ Scooter’s Coffee, 11106 Antioch Road, Overland Park.

▪ Shio Ramen Shop, 3605 Broadway Blvd.

▪ Smashburger, 6551 W. 119th St., Overland Park.

▪ Smokey’s on the Blvd BBQ, 8669 W. 135th St., Overland Park.

▪ Smokin’ Joe’s Bar-B-Q & Catering, 519 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe.

▪ Sobahn, 7800 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Overland Park.

▪ Songbird Cafe, 1529 Grand Blvd.

▪ Southern Charm Gelato Shoppe, Country Club Plaza, 511 Nichols Road.

▪ Stagecoach Tavern, 9617 W. 87th St., Overland Park.

▪ Starbucks, Oak Park Mall, 11149 W. 95th St., Overland Park.

▪ Stroud’s Express, SummitWoods Crossing, 1736 N.W. Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit. It is looking for a full-service restaurant space in Lee’s Summit.

▪ Tapcade, 1701 McGee St.

▪ Tatsu’s French Restaurant, 4603 W. 90th St., Prairie Village.

▪ Thee Gin Mill, 4800 W. 135th St., Leawood.

▪ T.Loft, Country Club Plaza, 200 W. 47th St., Park Place, 5225 W. 116th Place, Leawood, and 8025 State Line Road.

▪ Thou Mayest, 419 E. 18th St.

▪ Town Topic, 6018 Johnson Drive, Mission.

▪ Urban Table, Corinth Square, 8232 Mission Road, Prairie Village.

▪ Webster House, 1644 Wyandotte St.

▪ Whopper Bar, Power & Light District, 1350 Walnut St.

▪ Winstead’s, 4971 W. 135th St., Leawood.

▪ Zoes Kitchen, Country Club Plaza, 100 Ward Parkway, and 6405 W. 135th St, Overland Park.

Do you know of an area restaurant that closed during the pandemic that is not on this list? Please email Joyce Smith at jsmith@kcstar.com, under the subject: pandemic restaurant closings.

This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:00 AM.