Stroud’s to open restaurant in south Overland Park

Stroud’s said it has completed a deal to take over an existing Mimi’s Cafe in south Overland Park.

Stroud’s plans to remodel the building at 8301 W. 135th St., including the bar and carryout area, for an early June opening.

Mimi’s Cafe officials declined to comment.

“Nobody takes more time and care in their cooking than Stroud’s,” said Ed Nelson, president of KC Hopps. “It’s a long process and hard work. It takes so much more money and time, even for such a small menu.”

The new Overland Park Stroud’s, just west of U.S. 69, will have 65 to 70 employees. It also will have live music on the weekends, an outdoor patio and a private dining room seating up to 60 people.

“We turn down multiple requests every day for private dining at our Fairway location,” Nelson said.

In October, the locally owned KC Hopps Ltd. restaurant group said it had become an equity partner in the Fairway Stroud’s and would also be a partner in new locations.

At the time, Stroud’s owner Mike Donegan declined to comment on the terms of the deal, but said KC Hopps would learn the operation with the goal of opening another Stroud’s restaurant.

Block & Co. Inc. Realtors is the exclusive real estate broker for the new partnership.

Stroud’s has been serving its pan fried chicken in Kansas City since 1933. Jim Hogan and Mike Donegan bought the location at 85th and Troost in 1977. Donegan became the sole owner in the early 1990s and later moved the restaurant to Fairway.

He also owns a Northland Stroud’s that is not part of the deal with KC Hopps.

Stroud’s has a loyal following and has been featured in numerous national TV food shows and magazines.

KC Hopps, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, has several area concepts including Barley’s Brewhaus, 75th Street Brewery, 810 Zone and O’Dowd’s Little Dublin.

This story was originally published March 25, 2014 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Stroud’s to open restaurant in south Overland Park."