Explore 10 Johnson County restaurant closures and changes

Johnson County’s food scene has seen major shifts in the last year, with several long-running spots closing or changing hands.

Burnt End BBQ shut down its Overland Park location after a decade but opened in De Soto, while Papa Keno’s closed its last KC-area pizzeria, soon to be replaced by Glory Days Pizza. Mexican favorites like Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine and food truck Chilakillers closed their doors, with Ixtapa hinting at a new fast-casual concept in the future.

Bars and local favorites such as Double Nickel and Toni’s Italian Restaurant have also shuttered, some due to city projects like the I-35 highway development in Olathe.

Despite the closures, some locations already have new concepts ready to fill the gaps.

Ruby Jean’s Juicery offers healthy menu items including smoothies, and performance shakes.

NO. 1: KC JUICE BUSINESS CLOSES JOHNSON COUNTY LOCATION AFTER 2 YEARS: ‘IT NEVER CAUGHT ON’

The juices, smoothies, wraps and more are still sold at locations in Kansas City. But no longer at this spot. | Published May 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Chilakillers sells chilaquiles, tacos, tamales and other Mexican dishes.

NO. 2: ‘HEARTFELT THANKS.’ JOHNSON COUNTY MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND FOOD TRUCK CLOSE SUDDENLY

“Your patronage, smiles and shared moments have meant the world to us,” the restaurant said on social media. | Published July 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

NO. 3: BARBECUE RESTAURANT CLOSES JOHNSON COUNTY LOCATION AFTER 10 YEARS. ALL IS NOT LOST

This restaurant is known for its brisket and burnt ends sandwich, smoked ribs and barbecue bowls. | Published July 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Papa Keno’s offers pizza, sandwiches and salads.

NO. 4: LAWRENCE-BASED PIZZERIA CLOSES ITS FINAL KC AREA SPOT. BUT SOMETHING ELSE IS ON THE WAY

The pizzeria once had several locations in the metro. | Published January 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Breakfast and brunch restaurant First Watch is opening another Kansas City area location this year.

NO. 5: JOHNSON COUNTY BREAKFAST RESTAURANT WILL CLOSE. ‘WE’RE GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY’

It had been open for more than five years. | Published February 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The Double Nickel will close for now. Perhaps forever.

NO. 6: DECADES-OLD JOHNSON COUNTY BAR TO CLOSE FOR CITY PROJECT: ‘CAN’T FIGHT THE GOVERNMENT’

“I just got to go through the motions and do what I need to. Take care of what I need to take care of,” the owner said. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Beef-A-Roo’s Wild West roast beef sandwich is served on a sesame seed bun with bacon, American cheese, barbecue sauce and chipotle sauce, then topped with onion rings. It also has a burger version.

NO. 7: FAST FOOD RESTAURANT CLOSES IN JOHNSON COUNTY JUST TWO YEARS AFTER ENTERING KC MARKET

“While we have enjoyed our time in your beautiful city, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close this location,” a sign on the business said. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine permanently closed its Overland Park spot. By Jenna Thompson

NO. 8: JOHNSON COUNTY MEXICAN RESTAURANT CLOSES PERMANENTLY. IS SOMETHING ELSE ON THE WAY?

It was open for less than five years. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The city of Olathe could acquire and demolish several properties, including Erv’s Vaccums, Avis, and Toni’s Italian Restaurant, to make way for a major road improvement project at Interstate 35 and Santa Fe Street. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 9: ITALIAN RESTAURANT SAYS GOODBYE TO OLATHE AS LOCAL BUSINESSES SHUTTER FOR HIGHWAY PROJECT

Toni’s Italian joins The Double Nickel, AR’s Breakfast and Brunch and several other businesses closing their doors as Olathe purchases the land to make way for the Santa Fe improvement project. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor O’Connor

A mixed plate of barbecue at J’s BBQ in Olathe on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2025. The location recently switched ownership after the departure of longtime favorite, Johnny’s, closed up shop. The owner, Josh Deal, claims to have “the best burnt ends in Kansas City.” By Dominick Williams

NO. 10: JOHNSON COUNTY BBQ RESTAURANT CLOSES, ANOTHER REPLACES IT. ‘THE BEST BURNT ENDS IN KC’

The KC institution is gone after almost 50 years. But don’t fear BBQ fans, something else is here. | Published March 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.