It’s time for Char Bar to make its mark in downtown Olathe.
After taking Westport by storm a decade ago and opening in Parkville, Mo. last year to rave reviews, downtown Olathe is the next, and it will be their biggest and best.
Culinary Virtue Restaurant Collective is launching their newest – and largest – Char
Bar BBQ concept in downtown Olathe. The new restaurant will be their first location in Kansas.
The new Char Bar Smoked Meats & Pickleball will occupy the northwest corner of Kansas Avenue and Santa Fe Street on the site where the downtown Olathe Fire station once stood at 200 W. Santa Fe.
“From our original inception, Char Bar has been all about burning, searing and smoking
meats,” Char Bar partner Mark Kelpe said, “so it’s an absolute thrill to have the opportunity to resurrect this iconic downtown Olathe fire station into our newest Kansas City barbecue palace.”
James Westphal and Mark Kelpe are the two partners bringing this concept to life in downtown Olathe. The destination restaurant will feature seven pickleball courts, lawn games, a two-story fire pit, outdoor lounges and plenty of room to let the kids run wild.
Char Bar is a southern-inspired smokehouse featuring award-winning KC barbecue and one of the metro’s largest outdoor beer gardens. Their menu also offers a range of gluten-free offerings, several delicious vegan options, signature cocktails and a killer list of happy hour specials.
The addition of Char Bar continues the redevelopment of Olathe’s downtown core and offers more than just a place to stop and grab a bite to eat. It’s a place to hang out and enjoy yourself. The newest Char Bar location in downtown Olathe will be a true family friendly destination.
“We’re extremely passionate about Olathe’s family-oriented community and its burgeoning
downtown,” Westphal said. “We look forward to being a part of its future.”
The expected time frame for the newest Char Bar opening is late 2025 or early 2026.
(Photos are from the Char Bar in Parkville, Mo.)
