James Beard-nominated chefs buy iconic Kansas City breakfast restaurant
Recently closed and beloved brunch restaurant Happy Gillis has new owners — and a new name.
The iconic spot at 549 Gillis St. will reopen as Dear Donna, a concept owned by James Beard-nominated chefs Helen Jo and Johnny Leach. The couple also operates The Town Company inside Hotel Kansas City.
The pair announced the acquisition via social media over the weekend, saying the Columbus Park space will open in early 2026.
“Dear Donna (@deardonnakc) intends to be your favorite corner restaurant,” reads the post. “We will work very hard to accomplish that. The cooking, drink and hospitality will be comforting, warm, and reassuring. We will be there for you!”
Restaurateur Todd Schulte first opened Happy Gillis first in 2008. (Schulte now owns Earl’s Premier, Bacaro Primo and Sea Capitán.)
In 2013, Josh and Abbey-Jo Eans took over the space. Ten years later, they moved overseas and sold it to Cory Stipp, a friend of theirs.
The restaurant closed in July after its air conditioner went out, and a longtime manager moved on.
Stipp told The Star in September that he had sold the concept but did not reveal the new owners’ names. He did say, however, that they were prominent in the local restaurant community.
“I know they’ve got some things they wanna work on and work inside the space to change it up a smidge,” Stipp said at the time. “I don’t know all the things. They’ve shared some of their ideas of the concept.”
The Leaches could not be immediately reached for comment Monday morning.
This story was originally published November 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM.