A long-awaited entertainment district is coming into view in Olathe. The Heart of America Group announced plans to develop a vibrant, mixed-use project on the southeast corner of K-10 and Ridgeview Road, just south of the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center.
The area has been undeveloped for more than 15 years and will become home to one of Olathe’s go-to spots for residents and visitors, alike.
Designed to blend hospitality, entertainment, dining and residential living, the developers hope the area will become one of the most dynamic destinations in the region.
The Heart of America Group isn’t new to creating such spaces. With 10 restaurant brands and 23 locations, 13 hotel brands and 20 locations, and a growing footprint that includes three Tommy’s Car Wash sites and eight Hyper Energy Bars, the company has established itself as a leader in hospitality development across the Midwest.
That footprint stretches from revitalized downtowns to urban warehouse conversions — including recent hotel projects that have brought new life to an area along the Chicago River. Their upcoming seven-story mixed-use project in Des Moines, Iowa, featuring multi-family residential units and street-level commercial space, further proof of their innovation and design excellence.
“The reason we talk about all these is to show that we’re not just a restaurant company, we’re not just a hotel company,” Chris Milligan, Vice President of Operations for the Heart of America Group said. “We’ve taken all of these things that we’ve done well. Now, we’re going to combine them into one project.”
The Olathe project will feature two hotels — a Hilton Tapestry hotel and a Fairfield Inn & Suites — anchored by an entertainment corridor filled with restaurants, retail and outdoor gathering spaces.
The Hilton Tapestry will include a rooftop bar which promises, “the best view in Olathe.”
The plan also includes a multi-family residential complex designed with a “Main Street” feel, complete with pathways and walkways connecting residents directly to the retail and entertainment areas. Behind the hotels, patio spaces will feed into “Main Street” entertainment district — a flexible venue envisioned for concerts, art shows and community events.
“The goal is to make this an entertainment area,” Milligan said. “We want it to be really engaging, because with the hotels in the vicinity, we could have thousands of guests here on any given weekend—and even more from just across the street at the Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex.”
The development will include two parking structures and will cater to Olathe’s growing tourism and sports markets. Milligan noted that the project responds directly to findings from the Economic Strategic Plan, which identified a need for more restaurants and entertainment options within the city.
“A couple of years ago, when the EDC brought in a consulting group to assess Olathe’s needs, nearly everyone in that room said the same thing: we need more entertainment,” Milligan recalled. “That’s exactly what we’re bringing here.”
As Olathe continues to grow, the Heart of America Group sees opportunity — not competition. “There’s a lot of new development coming to Olathe,” Milligan said. “If you do it right, competition doesn’t bother you. And as we’ve seen, there’s huge demand. We’re excited about this project. There’s a lot happening in Olathe right now — and we’re ready to go.”
