Opening Soon: Adam's Rib Barbecue
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OK, we all know that when a restaurateur says his or her new establishment is going to open "soon," that really means "in this decade."
But the hard-working Hope Loehr has been working around-the-clock inside the building -- a former Pizza Hut -- at 9148 Santa Fe Drive in Overland Park to make sure her new business, Adam's Rib Original KC Barbecue, really opens later this month.If the name sounds familiar, it's because Loehr (former manager at Hayward's Barbecue and the New Theatre Restaurant) had another barbecue, with the same name, back in the 1994. That was in Overland Park too. But Loehr thinks this new location, the former home of a saloon called J. Barleycorn, is the right one. It's on a major east-west artery in Johnson County and, even better, it's right next to a Quik-Trip! Loehr's theory? Customers stop for gas and a lottery ticket, stay for a brisket burger!
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After the J. Barleycorn era, another saloon opened in the building but it was short-lived. Loehr, her husband and her family members gutted that interior right down to the studs (they ripped out a lucite bar that doubled as a fish tank), re-painted the battleship-grey woodwork ("It looked like a dungeon in here," she says) and built a costly wood-burning barbecue pit in the back of the structure.
She says she was lucky: Her barbecue pit expert, John "hot rod chef " Pinter (he used to work out at the NASCAR track and builds hot rods) is also a finishing carpenter. Pinter helped build the counters, walls, and various other projects in the new restaurant and guided the construction of the new barbecue pit. Pinter says they'll be using hickory and apple woods to smoke beef brisket, ham, turkey, pork and chicken.
In addition to traditional Kansas City-style 'que, Adam's Rib will offer a Carolina-style pulled pork sandwich, barbecue nachos, Pacific Island ribs (marinated in pineapple juice and brown sugar) and -- on weekends only -- jumbo beef prime rib.Tentative opening night? February 20, says Loehr. But to be on the safe side, call first: 913-341-7427.
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