Jason Pryor and Kevin Timmons are self-proclaimed history geeks. They’re also two of the preeminent restaurateurs in Kansas City.
The combination of their personal and professional passions has them renovating an old service station in downtown Olathe to help breathe new life into Olathe’s central core.
Pryor, the owner of Pizza 51 in South Plaza area near UMKC, is collaborating with Timmons, owner of Nick & Jake’s in Overland Park, to bring a fast casual atmosphere with not only its pizza menu but also great sandwiches, salads and cold beer to downtown Olathe.
“We’re both history geeks,” Timmons said. “So, we certainly want to work in conjunction with the Olathe Historic Preservation Board on this project.”
Currently, the building is 1,700 sq. ft., but Pryor said they will add to the historic building to almost double the space to accommodate demand.
Pizza 51 will bring its distinct hand tossed, stone baked and always fresh East Coast style pizza, also sold by the slice, to Olathe. The restaurant has begun construction at 200 S. Kansas Ave. with plans for a tentative opening in the spring of 2025.
“What a great, unique opportunity to be in on the revitalization of downtown Olathe,” said Pryor. “We can’t wait.”
The newest restaurant in downtown Olathe is the perfect combination for the history buffs and top-notch entrepreneurs.
The downtown Olathe location – to be called Pizza 51 South – has a similar look and feel to their original location in Kansas City, Mo. Like that location, the new restaurant will be housed in an old service station. The building – which the Olathe Historic Preservation Board helped save –was constructed nearly 70 years ago and originally served as a Phillips 66 station.
“It’s the experience and that atmosphere that we pride ourselves in and that is what makes it unique,” Pryor added. “Downtown Olathe has character, and this building has that old-school style and design. The building has character. You sit outside, relax, have a slice of pizza and watch the trains go by.”
The arrival of Pizza 51 South continues the revitalization of downtown Olathe, bringing a great new dining option to our community’s core.
“We offer a fast casual atmosphere. We’re known for pizza by the slice with a pizza menu that people who know us are accustomed to,” Pryor said. “We also have five great sandwiches and five great salads for those who don’t want pizza all day.”
“We’ll also have the best sangria in Olathe and the best 49-degree beer in town, too,” Timmons added.
Pryor and Timmons have secured Thomas Nolte as their architect and Phil Crafton with CPS Construction as the general contractor for the renovation of the mid-century service station.
“We chose Thomas because he does such a great job with that nostalgic look,” Timmons said. “They both do such great jobs on projects like this.”
While Pizza 51 is celebrating the announcement of their arrival in Olathe, they also just finished celebrating the 20th anniversary of their original location near the Plaza. They began serving their delicious pizza, salads, sandwiches and cold beer at their flagship location in September of 2004.