Chuck Eats KC - July 2025 Openings, Closings, and News

Chuck Munson

26 Jul 2025 — 4 min read

Cake display case at 85C

There is so much going on across Kansas City's restaurant and culinary scene that this is just a portion of the news. Feels like there are far more places opening than closing.

Zhoug Mediterranean is opening a second restaurant in Lenexa City Center. They already have a location in the 39th Street corridor in KCMO. If you know how much I eat Trader Joe's zhoug sauce, you can be sure I'll be checking out both locations.
Several new restaurants are opening in the City Market. The Paella Mix will feature Spanish food and drinks. Sushi Nami is expanding from North Kansas City and will occupy the former Bo’s Kitchen space at 108 E. Fifth Street.
Burg & Barrel is opening a new location in the Ranchmart North center in Leawood. It will be next to Billie's Grocery and behind Meat Mitch.
Swig is a new soda shop at 5959 Barkley Street in Mission, Kansas. It is part of a chain based in Utah. The chain specializes in "dirty sodas" and sweets popularized in the Mormon culture of Utah.
The Merc Co+op in downtown Kansas City, Kansas is closing at the end of the year. The grocery store has been open for 5 years.
85°C Bakery Cafe, an international bakery chain, opened its first location in Kansas City at 12061 Metcalf Ave in Overland Park. This bakery serves affordable artisan pastries, coffee, and teas. Located next to the new Aldi and Pan-Asia Mart. See photos below.
Gildas Bar de Tapas is a new tapas bar at 5815 Nieman Road in Shawnee, Kansas. Their small plates include fare like bacon-wrapped dates, Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes and sauce), and Spanish charcuterie. Entrees include fried eggplant, char-grilled lamb chops, and grilled Spanish octopus.
Alice Scooper’s Ice Cream Co. opened their second location, this one in The Village at Briarcliff. Their flavors have fun names like Sweet Home Alabama (Vanilla), Start Me Up (coffee ice cream & creamy caramel swirl), and Satisfaction (malted chocolate ice cream, fudge swirl & Snickers pieces).
Flame Grill & Mediterranean Bakery is a new Middle Eastern restaurant at 8154 NW Prairie View Road in Kansas City, Missouri.
Betty Rae's is opening a new location in Shawnee on West 66th Street.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is a chain opening several new locations around Kansas City. I spotted one under construction outside Oak Park Mall.

85°C Bakery Cafe Opens in Overland Park

High end pastries for affordable prices? Coffee and tea drinks to go with your pastries? This month, the Kansas City area got its first location of this famous international chain, 85°C. I've been by the new store three times, once for myself, once to pick up a snack for mom, and one visit with my 93-year-old father (who liked the pastries).

This is the first location in Kansas City of the international chain, which has over 1000 locations. The chain was started in 2008 by Cheng-Hsueh Wu, who was inspired after visiting a five star hotel that had gourmet coffee and baked goods. He set out to make a bakery chain that offered pastries at affordable prices.