Johnson County snack and bar concept opens: boozy smoothies, Mexican ice cream, more
Tortas. Paletas. Cocktails.
The menu at Oscar Romero’s new concept is certainly different than at his other restaurant, AR’s Breakfast & Brunch.
But Romero hopes to generate the same amount of success with Snack Bar, which opened this week at 7789 Quivira Road in Lenexa.
“No syrups, no preservatives, it’s just fresh fruit,” Romero said. “Even the chamoy is homemade.”
The new spot serves a hodgepodge of desserts, Mexican and American snacks, and small bites: elote, raspados (Mexican shaved ice), ice cream cones and sundaes, aguas frescas and others. Many of the items on Romero’s menu are inspired by his family members’ Mexican street vendor business in Houston.
Oscar’s business partner, Noberto Romero, also has family who are street vendors. (The two aren’t related, though they have the same last name.)
For the bar portion — Romero is hoping to have his liquor license any day now — he’ll serve boozy smoothies, micheladas (he compares it to a “Mexican bloody Mary”), margaritas and more.
“If you wanna drink a margarita, you got kids … it’s a one-stop shop where both kids and adults get a little bit of both,” he said. “Hopefully it turns out pretty good.”
With some inside seating, customers can take their food to go or enjoy it there. Snack Bar will also offer catering options.
AR’s first opened at 8021 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park last June, serving brunch and breakfast items with a Mexican twist.
Romero had been in the restaurant industry for nearly two decades before he decided to “go out on his own.”
It quickly became a success in the neighborhood, with lines spilling out the door on weekends.
“A month and a half into this location, we knew that we needed to have a bigger location,” he told The Star in a previous interview.
Last August, he expanded the concept to second, bigger location in Olathe at 105 S. Clairborne Road. It closed at the end of the year because of the I-35 and Santa Fe Corridor project, which has displaced several other businesses.
But Romero said they’re relocating the closed restaurant to downtown Olathe — he couldn’t share an address just yet. He’s eyeing an opening date of late this year for that location.
Romero is also hoping to open another AR’s spot in Johnson County, in Shawnee or Mission.
Snack Bar is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.