Panera set to open metro’s first Generation IV restaurant

New Belton location includes larger footprint, drive-thru, technology upgrades and modern farmhouse décor

Panera Bread will open the Kansas City region’s first Generation IV restaurant in Belton on June 8, 2018. The 6,000-square foot restaurant located at 1211 E. North Ave. in Belton Marketplace is about 10 percent larger than previous Panera Bread locations and includes an outdoor patio and dining area, as well as drive-thru.  

The new farmhouse-themed restaurant will offer a “five-fecta” of services, providing an enhanced customer experience with amenities such as delivery service and catering, ordering kiosks, drive-thru and rapid pickup of items.  

The Belton Panera location is operated by Pan American Group, which is hiring more than 50 local workers for positions such as retail associates, managers, shift supervisors, delivery drivers, and bakers.

Pan American Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of California-based Flynn Restaurant Group and owns and operates almost 130 Panera Bread Bakery-Cafes throughout the U.S., including Kansas and Missouri.

A ribbon cutting for the Belton Marketplace Panera will take place later in June. 

Four new retail stores open in Belton Gateway

Four retailers have celebrated March grand openings in Belton Gateway’s $63 million second phase, including Marshall's, Party City, Petco, and Five Below.

Ross Dress for Less is scheduled to open later this spring in the $136 million, 47-acre mixed-use development located just west of I-49 at Y Highway. Kneaders Bakery opened in the summer of 2017.

“Belton Gateway is quickly becoming Cass County’s premier retail destination, thanks to its location and easy highway access,” said Belton Economic Development Director Carolyn Yatsook. “We are seeing a tremendous amount of activity in this corridor.”

In addition, the relocation of Turner Road has been completed and provides improved traffic flow to the North Scott redevelopment area. Additional pad sites are available for retail and restaurant development.

Developed by Christie Development, Belton Gateway’s two phases are master planned for a total of more than 182,000 square feet of developable space. The project’s $70 million Phase One is anchored by a 58,000-square foot Academy Sports and Outdoors store and a 55,000-square foot Hobby Lobby. Phase One has potential for construction of a 20,000-square foot hotel.

Hawaiian dining concept launches in KC market with Belton location

Two brothers who helped operate Hawaiian Time, a quick casual
restaurant chain with nine Oregon locations, are rolling into the Kansas City market with a similar concept in Belton, the first of as many as a dozen planned for the metro area.

Cameron McNie and Tyler McNie will open Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, 1112 E. North Ave, in February. The brothers partnered with longtime friends and brothers Paul Worcester and Joel Worcester of Worcester Investments to purchase the 2,800-square foot former home of Long John Silver's.

"Our family purchased a single restaurant in 2003 from a Hawaiian family," Cameron McNie said. "We'd never been in the restaurant industry, but the business just exploded from that one location and we grew it throughout Oregon. After working for our family restaurant for many years, my brother and I wanted to branch off and do our own thing."  

The McNie brothers already are scouting a second metro-area location, touring 7-8 potential sites in November.

"We think this is an expandable concept. We have proven that in Oregon, so we're trying to move fast on additional locations," McNie said.

Hawaiian Bros will feature Hawaiian-inspired island décor and an all-fresh menu that includes a signature teriyaki chicken dish, Huli Huli Chicken. At about $8.50, the restaurant's traditional plate lunch includes a main portion of meat, two scoops of white rice, and a scoop of macaroni salad.

"This is a very similar yet different concept than Hawaiian Time. We have re-branded the look and feel to be our own as well as added some new takes on the menu while keeping the core of the traditional plate lunch intact," McNie said. "We've been doing this for 14 years and think we have a good idea of what works."

McNie said the ownership group chose to launch in Belton because of population growth in Belton and Raymore, as well as the ability to purchase the standalone building near Target and Home Depot at the intersection of 58 Highway and Towne Center Drive.  

"There are plenty of other successful establishments nearby, and the square footage is ideal for our operation," McNie said. "We feel our food and price point will be appealing to a wide demographic, allowing us to be successful wherever we are located. We believe the Midwest is ready for Hawaiian plate
lunch."

Hawaiian Bros. rendering courtesy: Clockwork Architecture

Vertical construction moves forward on Belton Gateway Phase Two

Infrastructure, pad site preparation and road reconstruction for the $63 million Phase Two of Belton Gateway are underway, with the first restaurant scheduled to open later this year and five new retailers on target to open in early 2018.

The future home of Kneaders Bakery is under construction at Christie Development Associates LLC's 47-acre, $136 million retail center just west of I-49 along Y Highway, and crews are preparing pad sites for Ross Dress for Less, Marshalls, Party City, Petco, and Five Below.

“Belton Gateway is quickly becoming Cass County’s premier retail destination, thanks to its location just west of I-49 and Y Highway,” said Belton Community and Economic Development Director Jay Leipzig. “We are seeing a tremendous amount of activity in this corridor, which offers retailers great visibility and convenient highway access due to a new interchange.”

Relocation of Turner Road is on target for completion in the third quarter of 2017 and will improve traffic flow from Y Highway/163rd Street to Belton's North Scott Redevelopment Corridor. 

Developed by Christie Development, Belton Gateway’s two phases include more than 182,000 square feet of developable space adjacent to the recently constructed I-49/Y Highway interchange that carries an estimated 85,000 vehicles daily.

The project’s $70 million Phase One developed in conjunction with Block & Company, Inc. included a 58,000 square foot Academy Sports and Outdoors store, 55,000 square foot Hobby Lobby, and two multiple-tenant retail buildings that are home to Belton Family Dental Care, Fazoli’s, and Cricket Wireless. The project's master plan includes construction of a 20,000 square foot hotel.