Cornhole league gets special permit to continue playing at this Johnson County bar

A cornhole league will continue outside of Jake’s Place Bar and Grill in Shawnee after being approved by the City Council.

During their regular meeting Monday, the Shawnee City Council unanimously approved a special use permit for the league to operate across seven spaces in the parking lot in front of the business.

Since late May, the league has been operating successfully on a trial basis using multiple temporary special event permits, and no complaints have been made to the city.

The league plays on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. between May 25 and November 23 outside Jake’s Place Bar and Grill at 12001 Johnson Drive.

The owner, Janine Linnell, said it all started about 2.5 years ago when they organized a cornhole tournament to raise money for charity. Now, there are 16 teams and a waiting list to join, she said.

Linnell said the COVID-19 pandemic kickstarted a lot of the interest because people wanted to be outside to feel safer around others.

“It helped me pay the rent through very bad times,” Linnell said.

She received permission from the shopping center owner to operate the league this year, but will need to continue getting written permission each year.

The Shawnee Planning Commission previously recommended approval for the permit at their June 20 meeting.

“Some of our smaller businesses have really been impacted the last few years and this is another opportunity to continue to keep people coming out and enjoying each other and local businesses,” Commissioner Kathy Peterson said at the June 20 meeting.

Linnell said she is having discussions about adding another day of play on Sundays to accommodate the waiting list, but said nothing is official yet.

This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 3:43 PM.