Local

The 6 closures changing Kansas City’s restaurant landscape

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Kansas City's dining scene is shifting as well-known spots close and new businesses take their place. Pie Five Pizza shuttered its last area restaurant, with Five Guys set to move into the Overland Park location. Smitty’s Garage also closed its Ward Parkway Center site, while nearby car-themed Sickies Garage is drawing in burger fans.

Papa Keno’s final Overland Park pizzeria has shut, but Glory Days Pizza is preparing to open there soon. Meanwhile, the Lenexa Public Market lost Chilakillers, and sushi restaurant Hokibar has left the Country Club Plaza, which has seen several recent tenant changes.

Pie Five’s Athenian pizza.

NO. 1: PIZZA CHAIN JUST CLOSED ITS LAST KANSAS CITY AREA LOCATION. HERE’S WHAT’S REPLACING IT

At one time, the chain had a few other locations in Johnson County. | Published June 20, 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

Smitty’s Garage Burgers & Beer closed in Kansas City

NO. 3: ‘WISH WE COULD’VE MADE IT WORK.’ AFTER 7 YEARS, KC BURGERS AND BREWS RESTAURANT CLOSES

“It just wasn’t possible, and just one of those things. Not a fun decision to make,” a manager said. | Published October 7, 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

Mat Adkins, owner of The Pairing Wine &Grocer in Kansas City’s Crossroads district. By Mike Hendricks

NO. 5: KANSAS CITY WINE BAR AND GROCER IS CLOSING AFTER 6 YEARS. ‘WE’VE HAD A GOOD RUN’

“I could give you a hundred reasons why I felt like I never got a fair shot (covid, the city, crime, economy) but I also made some mistakes along the way,” the owner wrote in his announcement. | Published January 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

Hokibar opened its Country Club location last year. Now it has another in Johnson County. By Jenna Thompson

NO. 6: ANOTHER RESTAURANT CLOSES ON KANSAS CITY’S COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA. IT HAD BEEN THERE 3 YEARS

Signs outside the restaurant announced it was permanently closed. | Published March 18, 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.