Jocoscape: Coney Island-style hot dogs come to Lenexa

Ronnie McGowan grew up on Coney Island-style hot dogs in Tulsa, Okla.

After moving to the metro in 1991, he said he had to travel to Oklahoma to get his fix. Now he won’t have to travel at all.

McGowan opened Coney Island at 7753 Quivira Road in Lenexa in July.

“I’m drawing customers who had them in Tulsa, Cincinnati, Houston and Detroit. And I want to introduce them to the local population and get them hooked on them the way we are,” said McGowan. “If I can get them to put down the barbecue for just a minute.”

He describes his Coney Island hot dogs as smokey-flavored beef and pork hot dogs tucked into a steamed bun and dressed with chili, mild cheddar cheese, diced onion and mustard.

Coney Island also offers Frito chili pie, bowls of chili, fresh salads, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken fettuccine Alfredo and lasagna.

Fuddruckers, Blind Box BBQ & Zaxby’s

▪ Fuddruckers has returned to the metro with a new Kansas City, Kan., location.

The fast-casual chain opened at 1705 Village West Parkway on Aug. 11. The 6,000-square-foot, freestanding building had formerly housed Cheeseburger in Paradise Bar & Grill.

It can seat up to 176 people inside and 60 on the patio.

Peter Tropoli, chief operating officer of Luby’s Inc., parent company of Fuddruckers, said the new Kansas City, Kan. location is a prime spot in “close proximity to top leisure and entertainment attractions.”

Fuddruckers was founded in 1980. Luby’s now has 74 Fuddruckers, as well as 95 Luby’s Cafeterias and eight Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants.

▪ Joe Tulipana plans to open Blind Box BBQ in Shawnee later this month.

Blind Box BBQ, in the Millcreek Shopping Center at 13214 W. 62nd Terrace, is described as “old school Kansas City BBQ with a modern twist.”

Menu items will include house-made barbecue potato chips, fried mac-and-cheese bites, wings, barbecue chicken nachos, burnt ends, The Carolina (with low-and-slow pulled pork topped with onion straws and Carolina-style slaw), and the Notorious P.I.G. (smoked sausage topped with pulled pork, onion straws and mac-and-cheese).

It also will serve classic barbecue sandwiches with a choice of smoked brisket, smoked ham or smoked turkey, baby back racks, spare ribs, wood-grilled salmon, specialty burgers, and house salads.

▪ Zaxby’s is in negotiations to open a freestanding restaurant with drive-thru at 2035 N. 109th St., Kansas City, Kan., near the Kansas Speedway.

The company has signed agreements with franchisees who will build 13 area locations in the next five years, including one in Lawrence, as well as several in Johnson County. A Johnson County restaurant already is planned for 9510 W. 135th St. in Overland Park and if all goes as planned it would open in spring 2016.

On Friday, the company also signed franchise agreements for another eight locations in Clay Country and Jackson County.

Zaxby’s was founded in Athens, Georgia, in 1990 and now has more than 680 locations in 16 states. Zaxby’s is known for its chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw and Texas toast. It also has sandwiches, wings and salads, as well as appetizers like fried white cheddar bites, onion rings, tater chips, and spicy fried mushrooms, and a new line of premium milkshakes, including Birthday Cake and Banana Pudding flavors.

Customers will place their orders at the counter and will be called to pick up their prepared-at-order meals when they are ready.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Jocoscape: Coney Island-style hot dogs come to Lenexa."