Downtown Parkville has a new restaurant and another on the way.
Prima Facie Bistro and Market plans a summer opening at 12 E. First St., in a former bank building.
The bistro will seat about 150 people with three private dining rooms (one in an old vault, one on a mezzanine level overlooking the dining room), a large bar and patio. It will have a chef-inspired, seasonal menu (steaks, seafood, salads, handmade pastas) and hand-crafted cocktails.
The market will serve boba teas, fresh-squeezed juices, coffee, pastries, salads, sandwiches, entrees, bottles of wine and charcuterie for take-out, or sit down. Customers also will be able to order and pay at the former bank drive-thru.
“They can grab some things from the market and go to the park and have a picnic. Drive through and get breakfast on the way to school or work. Or pop in after work to pick up dinner,” says Heather Versfeld, owner with her husband, Leon Versfeld.
Leon Versfeld is an immigration attorney with an office on the Country Club Plaza but he will relocate to a space above the restaurant. Heather Versfeld has worked in the hospitality industry, and was a commercial and private flight attendant. They are using Overland Park’s PB&J Restaurants Inc. as a consultant.
“Prima facie is a Latin legal term meaning basically ‘at first sight’ which I translate to first impression,” she says. “You only have one chance to make a first impression and you need to get it right every single time. Keep the quality high every time.”
Food. Drinks. Games.
Downtown Parkville’s historic Power Plant has long had restaurant tenants.
But it has been dark for more than a year.
Now Power Plant Social has opened in the building (circa 1918) at 2 Main St., combining a bar, restaurant and vintage games.
“A date night place, a family night. You can leave your phones at home and still enjoy your time,” says Owner Linda Bond.
Games include mini bowling, Ping-Pong, Ring Toss, Table Skittles, Carpetball, Knuckleball, Toad in the Hole, and foosball, as well as board games such as Battleship and Connect 4.
Kristen Redd of Parkville and her daughter, Grace Green, recently played ring toss (catch a ring on a hook) over a meal of wings and fries.
“It’s super fun,” says Redd, who was happy to see another restaurant open in the building.
The menu includes snacks such as fried pickles, fresh-baked Bavarian soft pretzel sticks with salt and Guinness beer cheese, Vidalia onion rings, and hand-cut and hand-breaded fried mozzarella with marinara.
For entrees it has fried spareribs, chicken tenders, build-your-pizza, Irish nachos (with corned beef, Jarlsberg cheese, red cabbage, and diced tomato and onion), “animal” fries (hand-cut potato wedges topped with cubed bacon, fried eggs, mozzarella, Hollandaise sauce and green onion), Zing Zang pork belly with honey sriracha sauce, and wings. Desserts include banana egg rolls and key lime pie.
The two most popular orders so far are the spareribs and pizza.
Grilled cheese, mini-pizzas and chicken tenders are on the children’s menu.
It has a full bar with 14 beers and cocktails on tap, part of the original power plant equipment serves as the bar back.
Customers also can order and pay through Toast at the gaming tables.
Hours are 3 to 9 pm, Thursdays and Fridays; 11 am to 9 pm, Saturdays; and 11 am to 6 pm Sundays.
Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 pm, Thursdays and Fridays with drink specials. It also has patio seating.
Power Plant Brewery and Restaurant, and then Riverpark Pub & Eatery previously operated in the building. It is now owned by one of Bond’s sons. He also is a partner with a brother in My Brothers Place, a sandwich shop across the street.
Also new to downtown Parkville:
- Cheeky Bird, 301 Main St. Owner Stephanie Herbig, who lives nearby, sells women’s apparel and accessories (including vintage pieces), Kansas City Chiefs-themed earrings, candles from Effing Candle Co. and more. Apparel brands include Blue Platypus, Liverpool, and Mae Otti. She relocated from Crown Center Shops. Hours: 10 am-ish to 6 pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 am to 7 pm, Thursdays, 9 am to 6 pm Fridays, 9am to 5pm, Saturdays, and noon to 4 pm Sundays (seasonal).
- Vintage Style KC, 201 Main St. Owner Jennifer Brown sells vintage clothing, accessories, jewelry, decor, vinyl and more. Hours: 10:30 am to 6 pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays.
