Kansas City cafe moved to South Plaza last year. Now it is closing but plans JoCo spot
Less than a year after relocating to the South Plaza area, Cafe Europa will close at the end of business Wednesday.
Owner Ben Cascio also had planned to have a location in Leawood’s Town Center Crossing.
“We came into this space because we were supposed to open out south two years ago. It was supposed to be first,” he said. “While we love the space, now what we are looking to create is a more intimate, smaller concept.”
He has dropped plans for Town Center Crossing and is in negotiations to open in Leawood’s Mission Farms. If all goes as planned, the new cafe would open in early to mid August.
Cafe Europa first opened in the Crestwood Shops in 2001 as Europa! Cafe. Cascio purchased it in 2016. He relocated to 4928 Main St. in July.
It offers baked goods including pies, brownies, its popular lemon cake and cupcakes, tarts, cookies and Italian cookies.
It would expand its retail offerings in the new Leawood spot. Merchandise includes tea and tea jugs, coffee and coffee mugs, olive oil and sea salt crackers, organic sourdough flatbread bites, cookbooks, and Italian pasta, sauces and vinegar. It has a prepared food section selling salads, soups, sandwiches and more.
“Our base is heavily concentrated in Johnson County and there was a need to fill the Dean & DeLuca vacuum,” Cascio said.
Leawood's Town Center Plaza to lose an early tenant in a prime corner spot
Cascio said his south Plaza landlord, VanTrust Real Estate, gave him a great opportunity.
“I just have nothing but great things to say about that group and to learn what we have learned from our customer base and refining our concept,” he said.
In a statement, Rich Muller, executive vice president, Science + Technology for VanTrust, said: “We have enjoyed working with Ben as he continues to refine his Café Europa concept. Unfortunately for us, his concept requires a smaller footprint to create the intimate setting he is looking for and we are sorry to see him go. We currently have no plans to redevelop the site.”
