According to The Kansas City Star, Brooksider Sportsbar & Grill planned to take over the former Leawood Hereford House space.
From Steakhouse to Sports Bar
The Leawood build-out follows months of anticipation after The Kansas City Star reported the father-son owners were predicting a fall opening, with timing partly dependent on the city permitting process. Co-owner Jack Naylor said the building was being gutted, telling the paper, “We’re gutting the building.” The menu leans on the same formula that built Brooksider's reputation at its original Brookside location — burgers, beers and bar food, with Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, veggie wraps, BBQ pulled pork nachos, salads and mac and cheese rounding out the offerings, per the same report.
The Leawood building's last tenant drew unwanted attention. Jace Hanson was arrested in August 2024 for contaminating food at Hereford House, according to the Star's reporting, and was later sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. The Leawood store closed in August 2024, shortly after Hanson's arrest, and the Zona Rosa location closed months later, ending the Leawood restaurant's run at 5001 Town Center Drive. Hereford House still operates locations in Independence at 19721 E Jackson Drive and in Shawnee at 17244 Midland Drive, as noted by The Kansas City Star.
Brooksider's Menu and Drinks
The menu features burgers, beers and bar food. Cocktails include a pineapple jalapeño margarita and cherry limeade. Specials run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
The owners considered a patio as part of the building's conversion. Brooksider Sportsbar & Grill reported that the location has more than 50 HD TVs in total and lists both the Brookside and Leawood bars as available to reserve for private events, according to Brooksider Sportsbar & Grill.
Roots at the Original Brookside Bar
Brooksider's original bar at 6330 Brookside Plaza has operated since 1985 and has long offered cocktails, beers and watch parties, according to the Star. Current owners Chuck and Jack Naylor have run that location for about 14 years. The Leawood location serves the same drinks and bites as its Brookside sibling, according to a report from LANE4.
An upstairs event space is planned.
