Paisa MX, the Colombian-Mexican restaurant that turned into a hotspot for World Cup watch parties this summer, has been shut down at its North Kansas City address after a building inspector condemned the property because an exterior exit beneath the covered patio roof was deemed unsafe due to unauthorized plywood and plastic construction. The restaurant at 1621 Swift St. vacated the space just days after the city officially closed the building on August 4, and owner Antonio Romanis says he hopes to reopen in about a month, possibly near GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
According to the Kansas City Star, the closure stemmed from unpermitted construction—plywood and plastic sheeting—installed over the covered patio roof area, which compromised an exterior exit beneath it. Per Kim Nakahodo, a North Kansas City building inspector shut the property down on August 4 after determining the entrance and exit area was unsafe for continued use, the Star reported.
North Kansas City has adopted the 2018 International Building Code and manages Chapter 15 of its municipal code, according to the City of North Kansas City. The city's code materials describe minimum construction requirements under those codes.
Who's Responsible for the Unpermitted Work?
Ownership of the building itself is a separate matter from the fallout over the patio construction. Clay County Assessor's Office records list American Fusion Holdings, LLC as the building's owner, per the Star's reporting. Merry and Basillio De Dios, tied to that ownership group, said in a statement that the unauthorized repairs were not made by them or with their knowledge, and the pair say they are now working with the city to resolve the situation and want to re-roof and eventually sell the building.
Incorporated cities within Clay County, including North Kansas City, run their own code enforcement and building safety departments independent of the county assessor's property valuation records, as described in this Clay County real-estate guide. That distinction matters here: the assessor's records establish who owns the building, but it is North Kansas City's own inspectors who hold authority over the condemnation order, regardless of who is found to have done the unpermitted work.
According to the City of North Kansas City's Adopted Plans page, its Master Plan is designed to represent the community's voice and guide the city's future growth in a coordinated, efficient manner. The city is also pursuing broader corridor improvements: According to North Kansas City's Burlington Corridor Project page, the Burlington Corridor Design project aims to make Burlington a more attractive, welcoming, and green street. According to the City of North Kansas City, its Burlington Corridor Design project seeks to make Burlington a more attractive, welcoming and green street that integrates all modes of transportation. The city's Adopted Plans page says the Burlington Corridor Complete Street Plan (2016) is implementing a connected network of comfortable cycling routes and facilities across the city.
A Cultural Hub Built During the World Cup Run
Paisa MX's rise on Swift Street tracked closely with the June–July FIFA World Cup, when the restaurant became a go-to gathering spot for fans cheering on the Colombian national team. Local station KCUR highlighted the restaurant's packed watch parties during that stretch, and Romanis has described the game-day crowds as almost “out of control” that June, per the Star. The restaurant welcomed World Cup spectators just weeks before its closure, and an Instagram post mentioned a Colombian Independence Day event at Paisa MX on July 18.
Romanis has said Paisa MX will keep operating in some form because it fills a gap as one of the few dedicated Colombian restaurants in the Kansas City area. He told the Star he hopes to resume serving dishes like pollo asado and flautas soon, and that the restaurant may return in about a month.
Eyeing a Move Near Arrowhead
Romanis's relocation plans point toward the area surrounding GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The stadium's surroundings include large parking lots and a tailgating culture, with access tied to nearby highways, according to a report from MeetStadium. That shift would place Paisa MX in an area with large parking lots and tailgating, with access tied to nearby highways.
The Swift Street building itself has changed hands before. Earlier this year, Paisa MX moved into a space that had been occupied for seven years by Chef Tito's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina. The space had previously operated as a restaurant before Paisa MX signed its lease.
The stretch of Swift Street where the restaurant operated carries its own bit of local lore: North Kansas City ceremonially renamed the strip “Swift Street (Taylor's Version)” in July 2023 during a high-profile concert stop in the metro, as Hoodline reported at the time. For now, the building sits condemned while its owners and the city work through next steps, and Romanis is left plotting Paisa MX's next chapter somewhere else in the metro.
