La La Land Cafe, the yellow-storefront coffee chain known for hiring young people transitioning out of foster care, is planning a new location at French Corner, the four-restaurant development rising near Town Center Plaza in Leawood. The cafe is expected to open in spring 2027 and would occupy roughly 2,400 square feet in the project's easternmost space, designed as a sit-down spot rather than a drive-through.
A Coffee Shop With a Mission Lands Near Town Center Plaza
French Corner is set to replace the former Houlihan's at 4900 W. 119th Street, according to FOX4KC.com. The development, led by Drake Development, calls for two single-story buildings holding four restaurant spaces in total. La La Land Cafe has not publicly announced the Leawood location or a firm opening date itself, the station's report notes, leaving spring 2027 as an expectation rather than a confirmed date.
Federal Realty, which owns the neighboring Town Center Plaza shopping center, played a behind-the-scenes role in getting the cafe to the table. Per the same account, Federal Realty helped introduce Drake Development to the coffee company and encouraged its addition to the project. Drake Development president Ian Mussman said the chain was selected for its quality, design, staying power and ability to add something meaningful to the market.
Council Signed Off on the Project Back in April
Leawood's City Council unanimously approved French Corner's development plans at its April 20 meeting earlier this year, and at that same meeting Drake Development said it already had agreements with businesses for three of the project's four restaurant spaces. The city's own archive lists Ordinance 3206, dated April 20, 2026, as the Final Plans for French Corner under case PC 026-2026, per Leawood, KS - Archive Center.
Elsewhere in the approval process, the Leawood City Council also voted 6-2 to approve a Community Improvement District covering the former Houlihan's site, as reported by Johnson County Post. The district adds a 1% sales tax to purchases at the four planned restaurants, with the added revenue capped at $4.3 million over the district's 22-year life. That outlet also reported that the project's first grand openings were tentatively expected in spring 2027, a timeline echoed by LocateKC, which described French Corner as an $18 million project split between a 10,217-square-foot building on the west side and a 6,484-square-foot building on the east.
What La La Land Cafe Brings to the Block
La La Land Cafe, based in Los Angeles, is recognized for its bright yellow storefronts, coffee and matcha drinks, and a mission centered on kindness and opportunities for young people leaving foster care. Founder and CEO François Reihani has said he loves Kansas City and the Leawood community, a sentiment that aligns with the brand's push into the Midwest.
French Corner's ownership structure includes 119 Investors LLC, which owns the property that Drake Development is building out. The site sits near other Town Center Plaza activity, including Flower Child, a fast-casual concept set to open its second Kansas City-area location in Leawood at the former Houlihan's site being redeveloped as French Corner, according to Kansas City Business Journal. Flower Child opened its first Kansas location over the summer and is targeting a late-2027 opening for the Leawood spot, per FOX4KC's reporting.
Still Unanswered
Several details remain unresolved as French Corner moves toward completion. The identity of the fourth restaurant tenant has not been disclosed, and no construction timeline or lease terms have been made public beyond the spring 2027 target shared by developers and city officials.
