Longtime Kansas City area Mediterranean restaurant will open new Johnson County location
A Mediterranean restaurant that’s been serving the Kansas City area for 35 years is opening a new restaurant in Johnson County.
Jerusalem Cafe’s new location will be in Mission, 6029 Metcalf Ave.
The full-size spot hopes to open in the former Tortilla Ranch location by spring or summer. Tortilla Ranch closed its Mission restaurant a couple of months ago.
Jerusalem Cafe also recently opened an on-the-go spot inside the World Fresh Market, a Walmart-turned international grocery store, at 10303 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park.
After the Mission location opens, Awni Alazzeh said his family-owned business hopes to open even more spots on both sides of the state line.
“I think we have the mindset of opening hopefully tons and tons more after that,” Alazzeh said.
Jerusalem Cafe serves gyros, falafel, shawarma, hummus platters and other popular dishes.
While the restaurant is currently in Westport at 515 Westport Road and in Independence at 18921 E. Valley View Parkway, this isn’t its first trek to Johnson County.
Alazzeh’s uncle first opened the restaurant as Westport Sizzler in 1989 at 431 Westport Road. A few years later, the restaurant was rebranded to Jerusalem Cafe.
Several years ago, Jerusalem Cafe had multiple spots in Overland Park that closed in 2008 during the recession.
Alazzeh said he’s looking forward to returning to Johnson County.
“The exciting part is also just being able to reach more customers or longtime customers,” he said. “Even customers that may have not even been familiar with us beforehand.”