Two brothers are leveraging their experience with Oregon-based restaurant chain Hawaiian Time to launch a similar concept in the Kansas City metro.
The first Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is slated to open in February at 1112 E. North Ave. in Belton, which will feature Hawaiian-inspired décor and signature items, such as a teriyaki chicken dish called Huli Huli Chicken. Brothers Cameron and Tyler McNie already are searching for additional locations and plan to open as many as a dozen restaurants in the Kansas City metro.
For the Belton location, the McNie brothers teamed up with longtime friends Paul Worcester and Joel Worcester, also brothers, who own Kansas City apartment community investment owner/operator Worcester Investments LLCto buy a 2,800-square-foot space that formerly housed a Long John Silver's.
"This is a very similar yet different concept than Hawaiian Time. We have rebranded the look and feel to be our own as well as added some new takes on the menu while keeping the core of the traditional plate lunch intact," Cameron McNie said in a release. "We've been doing this for 14 years and think we have a good idea of what works."
McNie said the Belton area was attractive for several reasons, including a growing population, the success of area businesses and access to a stand-alone building.
"We feel our food and price point will be appealing to a wide demographic, allowing us to be successful wherever we are located. We believe the Midwest is ready for Hawaiian plate lunch."
Courtesy of By Leslie Collins – Reporter, Kansas City Business Journal
