Kelly Magee named Restaurateur of the Year
In KC food news, Kelly Magee, owner of Q39 barbecue restaurants, was named the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association 2024 Restaurateur of the Year.
The association surprised Magee with the award at Q39’s original Midtown location (1000 W. 39th St., KCMO). Past winners of the award include Richard and Theresa Ng of Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant; Jack Fiorella of Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue; Rick Renfro and Louie Riederer of Johnny’s Tavern; Domhnall Molloy and Andy Lock of Summit Grill; and Gregg Johnson of Minsky’s Pizza Cafe & Bar, Osteria Il Centro and Eggtc restaurants.
Criteria for the award include being a member in good standing of the association, community-minded and active in civic affairs, passionate about building a positive image for the food service industry and in business for more than 10 years.
Magee’s late husband and co-founder, Rob Magee, earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and worked as a hotel executive chef and food and beverage director for 30 years. He also won numerous national barbecue championships and honors.
He combined those experiences in Q39, which he opened with Kelly in 2014. They added an Overland Park restaurant (11051 Antioch Road, Overland Park) in 2018.
The restaurants focus on wood-fired championship barbecue. They are the area’s first barbecue scratch open kitchen restaurants with no microwaves. The cocktail program emphasizes local liquors, along with beers and wine. It also offers full-service catering.
Kelly continues to lead Q39, following Rob’s passing from cancer in 2021. She says she’s a “reluctant restaurateur.”
Power and Light District getting a refresh and a new restaurant
Developers of the Power and Light District announced plans to renovate the entertainment district, recently unveiling plans that include a new restaurant.
The $10 million project will mostly include upgrades to the Kansas City Live! Block entertainment venue, which has about 6 million visitors a year. The venue hosts popular series such as the Miller Lite Hot Country Nights concert series and the NCAA’s men’s and women’s Big 12 basketball tournaments.
The new Latin-inspired restaurant, Besos y Abrazos (which translates “hugs and kisses”) will open in spring 2025. The venue will offer shareable plates such as Brazilian cheese bread with charred tomatillo crema, loaded tostones with braised beef and pico de gallo, Cuban steak tacos, house-made empanadas and more. Sangria will be made with premium Spanish wines, and there will be tropical rum- and tequila-based cocktails with colorful garnishes. Hours have not been finalized.
A previously announced new tenant, The Yard Milkshake Bar, is scheduled to open in early 2025.
Popular Strip’s Chicken is expanding
In other food news, Restaurateur Todd Johnson is expanding his popular Strip’s Chicken & Brewing spot with a new place in Lenexa (12804 Santa Fe Trail Drive, Lenexa).
His Strip’s Chicken opened in November, joining sister operations in Merriam and Olathe.
“I’ve had eight years to perfect the food we are offering and a year to perfect our mixed drinks and the beer we have come up with,” Johnson says.
Chicken strips and fries are Strip’s top sellers. Instead of chicken tenders, Johnson uses hand-cut chicken breast strips with a hand-crusted pretzel breading.
House-made pork tenderloins—hand-cut in house from fresh, never frozen USDA No. 1 pork loin—come with his secret sauce described as a zesty mayo. He also has the Squeal Parmesan, a pork tenderloin with marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan. The Big Piggy has two pork tenderloins instead of a bun. “It’s kind of crazy—three or four meals in that,” Johnson says.
Pork burgers are made from 100 percent whole flame-grilled pork loin. Johnson’s signature pulled pork, smoked for 13 hours over local pecan wood, comes with strawberry barbecue sauce and onion strings. The menu also includes jumbo wings, bowls, honey-kissed crispy nuggets, chicken sandwiches and wraps, and chicken Parmesan.
Johnson first opened Strip’s in a former Wendy’s at 1110 E. Santa Fe St. in Olathe in 2016. In late 2023, Johnson opened a Strip’s in Merriam, near IKEA. It features a Kansas City Chiefs “fan cave” for watch parties. That’s the latest in KC’s food news.
