6 days ago
Iconic KCK burger drive-in reopens under new ownership
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A historic burger joint is back open in Kansas City, Kansas' Armoudale neighborhood after closing during the pandemic.
Paul's Jr. Drive-in is under new ownership but still serves the same menu. It's grand opening was last week but people decided to wait out the long line Wednesday on National Burger Day.
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'I came down here the other day, and the line was way back there, and now it's National Burger Day , so I'm going to go try it out,' said customer Vaughn Taylor.
It's got a slightly different name, but the establishment still holds the same memories.
'My mom used to bring us down here. She's no longer here, but it's one of her favorite spots,' Taylor said.
'I came down with my parents when we were kids at that time we had to share a basket,' customer Frances Ferguson said. '[Now] I got the adult money, they're going to share a basket this time.'
Stories customers get to relive again, thanks to Daniel Macias, the new owner.
'I grew up with the original owners, they were friends of the family, so I used to go to the back door and help them out,' he said.
He knows the original owners, Harry and Mary Smith, would be proud. Harry died several years ago, Mary died last week.
'I wanted her to be here to make the grand opening and unfortunately she wasn't able to but she was able to see the videos from the week before when we did our soft opening and that was just as crazy,' Macias said.
After waiting years to see if it'll reopen, waiting in these lines for a bite, customers say it's worth it to support a staple in the community.
'I had my nephew come down and he stood in line for four hours, he stood in line for four hours,' Ferguson said.
While there are some small changes, Macias said the menu is the same. Satisfying customers' cravings with a side of nostalgia.
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'Thank you for all the love and support you guys are truly a blessing,' Macias said.
Paul's Jr. Drive-in is located at 1008 S. Osage Avenue in KCK's Armoudale neighborhood. It's open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sundays.
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