Historic KC building will soon be home to ‘New Midwestern’ restaurant
One of Kansas City’s oldest downtown buildings — once at risk for demolition — will soon be home to a modern Midwestern restaurant.
Chef Rick Mullins and Candice Moore plan to open Loretta Jean’s Restaurant and Bar in the old Seiden’s Furs building, which was set to be demolished until a developer saved it in 2023.
Loretta Jean’s, named after Moore’s late grandmother, will open at 935 Broadway in the fall, according to a press release from the restaurant’s owners.
While its menu was not included in the release, the owners teased “seasonal ingredients at the peak of freshness” thanks to partnerships from local farmers. A full bar will also be available at Loretta Jean’s.
Mullins’ culinary work includes stints at Bluestem, Gram & Dun, Cafe Sebastienne at The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Town Co. in Hotel Kansas City. He’s also recreated beloved dishes from the past through his popup, Redbud.
This is his first restaurant of his own.
.jpeg "Hospitality Veteran Candice Moore and Chef Rick Mullins announce the launch their first restaurant Loretta Jean's_Photo by Zach Bauman (1).jpeg")
“We’re just really excited to incorporate the past into the present and see where this project takes us. We want to dream and create special things,” Mullins said in the release.
Moore has managed hospitality concepts like Brewery Emperial and music venue Hillsiders in Strawberry Hill.
“We decided we only wanted to do a restaurant if the space was right. When we walked in, we just fell silent: We knew it was right,” Moore said.
The building was built in 1874 as Brackett Brothers Drug Store and became a brothel years later. Then, in 1931, Reich and Seiden’s Furriers opened in the space.
It became Seiden’s Furs in 1935 and operated until 2006.
The duo is transforming the space with help from John O’Brien of Hammer Out Design and Justin Gainan of J. Gainan Studio, leaving behind a few hints of its past. A fur vault, a money safe, vintage posters, fashion mannequins and more will give it an old-world-feel.
The 3,000-square-foot first floor will include a 24-seat, horseshoe bar and wood-fired grill.
In its basement, a private dining space called Josephine’s will provide a speakeasy-style experience “centered on exploration and experimentation,” according to the release.
“We’re envisioning a space where people can come hang out, move around and feel really cared for, not a museum,” Mullins said. “But it’s also a way for us to share the story of this building and the characters of Kansas City’s past, and for people to share their stories with us.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 5:12 PM.