Upscale East Crossroads restaurant Novel is opening an espresso bar and pastry counter at the south end of its restaurant.
Penrose (1927 McGee St.) will be open First Friday, July 5, from 7 am to 3 pm.
Penrose’s general manager, Kyle Evans, started in the coffee industry 15 years ago, first with Kansas City’s The Roasterie – working various jobs from warehouse to head roaster. He also had a stint at the former Little Freshie on the West Side before moving to Hawaii to join Honolulu Coffee.
While at Honolulu Coffee he gained experience in growing and harvesting beans, roasting and bagging, and quality control at the farm level, he says. He also worked at Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland, California.
He returned to Kansas City with his wife, Ana, and twin boys a couple of years ago.
In February, he started Cielo Coffee Roasters in Overland Park and Novel was one of his first clients. Penrose, naturally, will serve Cielo too, Evans says.
“This is where I want to drink coffee. The place where I want to have that experience,” Evans says of Penrose. “You can lean on the bar. Sit in the garden. You are in the city but slightly removed, so you can still experience the noises and sound. To take a moment.”
The menu will include espresso, Americano, cappuccino, lattes, wine, chai, French macarons, peach streusel muffins, coffee cake, marble bread, French canelé, blueberry shortbread bars, and chocolate pistachio biscotti.
Penrose’s hours will be 7 am to 3 pm. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 8 am to 2 pm Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.
