Retail and restaurant updates

A roundup of reader restaurant and retail questions.

▪ What is going into the old Kokopelli restaurant building? There seems to be some activity there recently.

Kokopelli Mexican Cantina closed a year ago after a decade at 5200 W. 95th St. in Prairie Village. Cacao, a locally owned Mexican restaurant, plans to open in the building early next year. Ivan Marquez, founder of Frida’s Contemporary Mexican Cuisine, is a partner in the new restaurant.

▪ Have you heard any new developments about the plans for the former Hy-Vee store at 123rd Street and State Line Road?

Local investors own most of the property in Leawood Plaza, except for the former Hy-Vee and a bank building.

Colliers International, leasing agent for the property, has started revamping parts of the center, including parking lots, roofs, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. It has 9,442 square feet available in the strip center south of West Santa Fe Trail and 10,037 square feet available north of the former Hy-Vee building. Once it signs a tenant for one of the anchor spaces, it will work on new facades. It is looking for restaurants, fitness and service tenants.

Hy-Vee closed its 62,682-square-foot supermarket in June 2014 but still operates its pharmacy in the center.

Tara Deering-Hansen, spokeswoman for Hy-Vee in Iowa, said the grocery store building was under contract in February with a development company. A nationally recognized health club was being considered for the spot, along with one or more retail tenants, but the property is no longer under contract.

“We continue to market it and actively look for a commercial tenant to purchase the building,” she said.

According to market research by Colliers International, total population within a five-mile radius is 159,404 with a median income of $72,176. Total population within a one-mile radius is 8,672 with a median income of $90,838.

▪ When is L.L. Bean opening in Leawood?

L.L. Bean plans to open at 9 a.m. Thursday in Town Center Crossing, 4401 W. 119th St., Leawood. The first 200 customers will receive a free gift card ranging from $10 to $500. On Friday, customers can enter a drawing to win a free trip to Maine for four people. It will be the first Kansas store for the internationally known outdoor retailer based in Freeport, Maine.

▪ Any update on Gus’s chicken?

Tennessee-based Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken plans an early January opening at 2816 W. 47th Ave., Kansas City, Kan., in the former Fairway North Shopping Center, which is being revamped as NorthWood Shopping Center.

▪ When is Grimaldi’s opening?

Arizona-based Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria plans a mid-December opening in a 4,000-square-foot space in Prairiefire, 5601 W. 135th St., Overland Park. The restaurant will have a patio and private event space.

Grimaldi’s has a limited menu of hand-tossed, coal-fired brick oven pizzas and calzones, along with fresh salads and desserts such as cheesecakes, cannoli and tiramisu. Seasonal features include prosciutto arugula pizza and Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake.

Coming soon

▪ A proposed Qdoba Mexican Eats is going through the Overland Park planning commission for a spot in The Met at 435, at 110th and Metcalf Avenue.

McDonald’s is located in the center and iFly Indoor Skydiving plans a late December or early January 2016 opening for its new 6,000-square-foot building. Two other multi-tenant buildings also are being proposed for the site, for retailers of 1,500-to-4,000 square feet.

▪ Discount Tire wants to put up a 9,532-square-foot store in Rosana Square at 119th Street and Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Retail and restaurant updates."