Former Johnson County Applebee’s will become an Italian restaurant
Limi Veliu doesn’t see much by way of authentic Italian food in Olathe — one of a few reasons he chose that particular suburb to open his next restaurant.
Veliu’s grandfather first opened Bella’s Italian Restaurant in The Bronx decades ago. Veliu isn’t sure exactly what years it opened and closed, but his early memories involve riding a tricycle around the building while his father and grandfather were up to their elbows in sauce.
His family had several restaurants in the Fort Worth area in the ‘90s, and Bella’s has been in Lee’s Summit for the past six years. But after Applebee’s closed at 16110 W. 135th St. and opened an opportunity for Veliu, his longtime wish will soon come to fruition.
“I always turn my head to Olathe,” he said. “Always. It was my dream to open my next location there.”
Bella’s — after Veliu’s grandmother’s nickname given by her husband — hopes to start serving customers sometime in November. Veliu’s vision is to open in time for the holidays.
But don’t come expecting an Olive Garden-like experience. Veliu promised authentic meals unlike anything area chains offer.
“We still use grandma’s recipes. All the spices and things. We use the original ones,” he said. “Real Italian, because we don’t know how to make differently.”
His food is all made fresh — one order at a time. No premade sauces or frozen food.
Lee’s Summit residents who enjoy Bella’s (511 SE Melody Lane) can thank their mayor, Bill Baird. Veliu said he tasted the food in Texas and grabbed a business card, hoping to convince Veliu and his family to bring it to the KC metro.
“He was calling us, and calling us and calling us,” he said. “So he brought us to Lee’s Summit.”
Their Texas restaurants are called New York Pizza, but Veliu said they have many of the same menu items.
Veliu is in business with his brother, Genci Veliu, and his uncle, Nick Veliu.
On Bella’s menu: chicken Parmigiana, chicken marsala, shrimp scampi, baked ziti, meat lover’s pizza and more. Don’t forget tiramisu, cannoli cream and limoncello mascarpone cake for dessert.
For the new location, Veliu promises Italian cocktails and music. Some Johnson County customers have enjoyed the atmosphere of the Lee’s Summit spot so much they’ve been crossing state lines for a taste.
“They don’t have something like this,” he said. “We thought it would be good to bring something for our customers in Olathe.”
The Johnson County Applebee’s location closed suddenly last year along with seven others in the metro.
Applebee’s told The Star at the time that the decision to close was made by the franchise — Apple Central LLC or Apple Central KC LLC — not by the brand.
Soon, Pan-Asian restaurant All In One Eatery will open its second area restaurant in another former Johnson County Applebee’s, 11000 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park. The spot serves buffet-style food powered by robots and recently opened a Northland spot at 8654 N. Boardwalk Ave.