Two of Topeka's favorite restaurants are returning with the opening of this new Kwik Shop

Shanna Sloyer
·3 min read
The new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road will feature two restaurants returning to Topeka - Sbarro and Taco John's. Training was ongoing Tuesday for Taco John's opening on Wednesday while Sbarro's opening date has yet to be determined.
The new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road will feature two restaurants returning to Topeka - Sbarro and Taco John's. Training was ongoing Tuesday for Taco John's opening on Wednesday while Sbarro's opening date has yet to be determined.

Residents will once again be able to enjoy two Topeka favorites when Taco John’s and Sbarro return to the Capital City later this year.

Located inside the new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road, just north of Interstate 470, Taco John’s is slated to open Feb. 2, while Sbarro’s official opening date hasn’t been announced.

Sbarro is a worldwide New York-style pizzeria that branded itself with a pizza-by-the-slice concept. The company got its start in shopping malls, airports and travel plazas before opening the first free-standing Sbarro restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, in 2015.

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Sbarro restaurant left West Ridge Mall and Topeka in 2014

Orders are served fresh Tuesday at the Taco John's inside the new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road during an employee simulation training. The restaurant is slated to open Wednesday with options of dine-in, carryout and drive-through.
Orders are served fresh Tuesday at the Taco John's inside the new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road during an employee simulation training. The restaurant is slated to open Wednesday with options of dine-in, carryout and drive-through.

Serving up pizza, Stromboli and other Italian-American classics, Sbarro capitalizes on advertising dough made fresh daily, whole milk mozzarella and its signature San Marzano-style tomato sauce.

The last Topeka Sbarro restaurant was at West Ridge Mall food court until Sbarro closed for business in February 2014 after 25 years at that location.

Previously, Topeka’s only Taco John’s at 1015 S.W. Wanamaker Road closed in July 2017. The Taco John company, based out of Cheyenne, Wyo., offers tacos, chicken tenders, quesadillas, burritos, potato grillers and more.

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Taco John's in Topeka officially opens Wednesday

A side of potato olés are added to an order of sausage burritos during a simulation training at the new Taco John's restaurant.
A side of potato olés are added to an order of sausage burritos during a simulation training at the new Taco John's restaurant.

Taco John’s trademark menu item is Potato Olés, round bites of crunchy potato sprinkled with Taco John’s signature blend of spices. Customers can choose from nacho cheese, sour cream, guacamole or salsa for dipping. Operating from a convenience-food model, Taco John’s also has breakfast and dessert items.

Beginning Tuesday, Taco John’s guests can take advantage of these offers at the Topeka location on Burlingame:

• Golden tickets for the first 100 guests that are good for one free Potato Olé each week for a year.

• $1.99 Breakfast Scrambler Burrito or Bowl for a limited time.

• 79 cent Beef Crispy Taco for a limited time only.

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New Kwik Shop also offers car wash and fueling stations

The new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road has officially opened for business with two restaurants inside. Taco John's will open Wednesday; Sbarro hasn't announced an opening date yet.
The new Kwik Shop at 3706 S.W. Burlingame Road has officially opened for business with two restaurants inside. Taco John's will open Wednesday; Sbarro hasn't announced an opening date yet.

“We are excited to expand in Kansas, offering our guests a new destination for dining and more,” said George Fournier, president of EG America. “By partnering with great concepts like Taco John’s and Sbarro, we know this location will become a popular stop for Topeka residents.

The new Kwik Shop location opened on Jan. 25 in the Burlingame South shopping center. At 7,632 square feet, it also includes an AutoSpa car wash, 10 fueling stations, and a wide variety of hot grab-and-go food options.

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EG Group, one of the fastest-growing convenience store retailers in the United States, owns the Kwik Shop.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Topeka restaurants Sbarro, Taco John's are at new Kwik Shop