Eastern Jack restaurant scene

[dangerboy]

Assesment of the Eastern Jackson County dining scene....

http://www.examiner.net/stories/022804/ ... 4010.shtml

I would bet the recent restaurant explosion in Independence was the fastest ever in the metro area. It will be interesting to see who survives as the market matures. A lot of local gossip says many of the new places are already hurting now that the "new" has worn off. For example, Hopps closed after only a couple of years as the only microbrewery in all of Eastern Jack.

I hope Independence focuses more on building the Square as a locally-owned dining destination to compliment the glut of chains to the southeast. Ken McClain already has 2-3 good restaurants there, and the area could really take off with some support and marketing from the city. Lee's Summit provides a good example of how to maintain a vibrant downtown in the middle of sprawl.

[mean]

I predict that two-thirds of those places are history within eighteen months.

[kcmajik]

they need more than a big mall and a few new housing projects to keep those places going....maybe the new bass pro and another shopping destination could help?

[dangerboy]

There are still only a handful of our local KC chains represented in Eastern Jack - Hereford House, Smokehouse, and 54th St. There are no Bo Lings, Fred P. Otts, Houlihan's, PB&J, Minksy's, Peanut, etc.

[KCforumer]

Those are all "local KC chains"?

[dangerboy]

Those are all "local KC chains"?

Mostly "chains" that are only in KC, i.e. 5-10 locations tops. Houlihans would be an example of national chain that is based in KC.

[Slappy the Wang]

Applebee's.

[Slappy the Wang]

Mr. Goodcents.