Fire closed popular Johnson County restaurant over a year ago. It’s finally reopening soon
After closing more than a year ago because of a fire, Sheridan’s Unforked plans to reopen in Overland Park in April.
“We are so excited to welcome everyone back in Overland Park — but in the meantime customers can visit our Westwood and Crown Center locations to satisfy their cravings,” Courtney Sheridan, marketing manager for Unforked, said in a statement.
The restaurant will open four to six weeks after receiving its certificate of occupancy, estimated to come in late March. She advised customers to keep up-to-date on opening day on Facebook and Instagram.
In December 2022, an electrical fire significantly damaged the original Sheridan’s Unforked location at 7337 W. 119th St. The restaurant has been closed since, depriving Overland Park of its “barking pig” taco (crispy carnitas tossed in bacon glaze with scallions and queso fresco), crispy quesadillas and frozen custard.
Unforked’s other locations are at 4719 Rainbow Blvd. in Westwood and 2405 Grand Blvd. in Crown Center.
Owners had hoped to reopen last year. In July they posted a photo of decals in the restaurant’s window reading, “opening late 2023.”
But Matt Sheridan, chief operating officer for Unforked, said the team faced “a lot of obstacles” that pushed back the date.
Jim Sheridan, founder of Unforked, told The Star last year that an electrical fire near a refrigerated food preparation table filled the restaurant with heavy smoke.
“Everything had to be taken out,” he said.
He first opened Sheridan’s Frozen Custard 26 years ago, which now has locations in Crown Center and the Northland at 6248 N.W. Barry Road.
He went on to open Unforked’s Overland Park spot in 2011 after traveling the country, touring other fast-casual operations and seeking to create something different.
“I think there is a serious need for good food that comes from high-quality ingredients,” he told The Star at the time.
This story was originally published February 28, 2024 at 4:19 PM.