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Succotash is a long-running breakfast-and-brunch cafe in the Longfellow neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, owned by chef Beth Barden. Open since 2001, it is known for inventive, vegetarian- and vegan-friendly American comfort cooking, a quirky hometown vibe, and a wave of national attention after Barden befriended the cast of Netflix’s Queer Eye during its Kansas City season.

Description

Succotash is a breakfast-and-lunch cafe at 2601 Holmes Street in Kansas City, Missouri, serving “hearty American eats” in what its own marketing calls “a hip, quirky vibe.”1 The kitchen leans into home-style cooking with local and organic ingredients and a menu built to serve vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and omnivore guests alike.2 Signature plates include big buttermilk pancakes, French toast, the “Modern Elvis,” the “Southwest Sink,” and a smoked salmon Benedict.1

The restaurant operates as a counter-order, no-reservations spot: guests line up to order, then find a table inside or in the outdoor seating area.2 Current hours are Monday 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Thursday through Sunday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., and closed Tuesday and Wednesday.3

Beyond its local following, Succotash has drawn national coverage. Owner Beth Barden formed a close friendship with the Queer Eye cast during the Netflix series’ Kansas City filming and later worked as food stylist on the show’s coffee-table book, Queer Eye: Love Yourself, Love Your Life.4 The restaurant has also been featured on Food Network programming, and its French toast was publicly praised by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.5

Ownership and history

Succotash was founded in 2001 by chef Beth Barden, who opened it as a small “bruncheonette” stall in Kansas City’s City Market — by her account, started “for the price of a used car and a $25 electric plug-in home stove.”46 After roughly eight years in the City Market, Barden moved the business in November 2009 to its current, larger home at 26th and Holmes in the Longfellow neighborhood, a two-story brick building that had historically housed a Meiners grocery store and later the Dutch Hill Bar and Grill.6 Barden — who taught sex education before becoming a restaurateur — renovated the space with her partner Marco Pascolini, uncovering original architectural features, restoring pressed-tin ceilings, and adding new storefront windows.6 A signature 8-layer neon rainbow cake has been on offer since the restaurant’s earliest days.4

Sources

Disputes

  • None known. The brief’s “Columbus Park” tag was corrected to Longfellow per sourcing.

Footnotes

  1. Succotash official website — https://succotashkcmo.com/ — asserts: “Breakfast-&-lunch joint… hearty American eats & a hip, quirky vibe,” address 2601 Holmes St, KC MO 64108, and signature dishes (buttermilk pancakes, French toast, Modern Elvis, Southwest Sink, smoked salmon Benedict). ↩ ↩2

  2. Restaurantji — Succotash, Kansas City — https://www.restaurantji.com/mo/kansas-city/succotash-/ — asserts: established 2001, began as a small City Market stall; local/organic, vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free/omnivore menu; counter-order, no-reservations format. ↩ ↩2

  3. Succotash official website (hours) — https://succotashkcmo.com/ — asserts: Monday 8–2; Thursday–Sunday 8–3; closed Tuesday/Wednesday. ↩

  4. KCUR, “How The Queer Eye Guys Fell In Love With A Kansas City Chef” — https://www.kcur.org/post/how-queer-eye-guys-fell-love-kansas-city-chef — asserts: Beth Barden owns Succotash, befriended Queer Eye cast, was food stylist for the Queer Eye book; opened restaurant “for the price of a used car and a $25 electric plug-in home stove”; 8-layer rainbow cake since opening. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Yahoo Entertainment, “All About Succotash, the Kansas City Brunch Spot with French Toast That Travis Kelce Describes as ‘Magical’” — https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/succotash-kansas-city-brunch-spot-191202537.html — asserts: Travis Kelce praised the French toast; national/TV attention. ↩

  6. The Pitch, “Our critic is a sucker for Succotash, thanks to its new location and new staff” — https://www.thepitchkc.com/our-critic-is-a-sucker-for-succotash-thanks-to-its-new-location-and-new-staff/ — asserts: opened in City Market, operated ~8 years, moved to 26th & Holmes in November 2009; building formerly Meiners grocery and Dutch Hill Bar and Grill; Barden taught sex ed; renovated with partner Marco Pascolini. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

See also

  • Registry
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Breakfast
  • Longfellow