Brothers bringing Jerusalem Cafe, Chick-In Waffle, sober bar mashup to Power & Light
April 29, 2025 | Joyce Smith
The Kansas City Power & Light District is getting a new flagship venue that will combine two popular local restaurant brands and a new mocktail bar/coffee shop concept.
Brothers and second-generation restaurateurs, Dennis and Adam Alazzeh, are taking a 6,300-square-foot space at 131 E. 14th St. and — after a major renovation — plan to open the three concepts in late August or early September. (Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que had once operated in the spot, between what is now Blue Sushi and Rally House.)
The brothers said the new venue will showcase the legacy of their family’s longtime Jerusalem Café, the vigor of their newer Chick-In Waffle concept, and the innovation of Virgin Rebel, making for “an incredibly exciting chapter for our family and a testament to our shared vision.”
“P&L approached us. They wanted local brands,” Adam Alazzeh said. “It’s the main stage of Kansas City. This is a way to get our name out there and showcase what we can do.”
The Alazzehs’ father, Farid Alazzeh, founded Westport’s Jerusalem Cafe, an authentic Mediterranean and Greek restaurant, in about 1990. The brothers also have a location in Independence, and recently expanded with Jerusalem Cafe on the go inside World Fresh Market in Overland Park, as well as a new restaurant in Mission. They also are looking at possible locations in Belton, Raymore and south Kansas City.
RELATED: Jerusalem Cafe returns to JoCo; Overland Park restaurant unwrapping this spring
The menu includes gyros and shawarma sandwiches, hummus, manakeesh, Greek salads, curry chicken, vegetarian combo plates, and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
The chicken and waffle concept opened in early 2020 in the original Jerusalem Cafe spot in Westport. Now there are locations in south Kansas City, Independence, and Lawrence. Another location is scheduled to open by mid-May at 8667 W. 135th St. in Overland Park.
Chick-In Waffle fries and sauce
It offers fresh-off-the-iron waffles ranging from savory to sweet, as well as a global spin with such flavors as Asian chili, tikka masala, and queso. It also has a dozen different options of loaded fries, along with milkshakes.
The new Power & Light location will not only offer customer favorites from the two brands, it will offer Jerusalem Cafe and Chick-In Waffle mashups such as chicken shawarma loaded fries, and chicken on a fresh Greek salad.
Virgin Rebel
A non-alcohol bar (also called a sober or dry bar) that will specialize in mocktails in the evening, and serve as a coffee bar with fresh pastries in the daytime.
Customers will be able to order from central kiosks and servers will deliver food to their tables. It will have a to-go section and offer delivery. The venue will have about 100 employees and hiring will start in late July.
“Whenever I go to another city — Austin, Nashville — in the tourist destinations you see the local brands shining bright,” Dennis Alazzeh said. “Power & Light is Kansas City’s statement piece. That’s where all our major events, concerts happen. And with the World Cup around the corner, it is important to highlight our local brands.”
Locally owned Clockwork Architecture + Design plans a new look for the combined brands, one that will evolve the space from a relaxed daytime setting to high-energy environment for late-night bites and mocktails. But the design will include subtle nods to each brand’s heritage, and “playful accents.”
The Alazzehs also are opening a new headquarters in Independence for Culture Concepts, the parent-company of the brands.
In a statement, John Moncke, president of the district, said the new tenant underscores Power & Light’s commitment to offering diverse culinary experiences.
“The Power & Light District has become a place with everything you’d want in a city in one walkable neighborhood,” he said. “We are thrilled to welcome this innovative, local concept to the District.”
Other new tenants at Power & Light include The Yard Milkshake Bar, and Besos y Abrazos restaurant. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is opening in late May.
Startland News contributor Joyce Smith covered local restaurants and retail for nearly 40 years with The Kansas City Star. Click here to follow her on Bluesky, here for X (formerly Twitter), here for Facebook, here for Instagram, and by following #joyceinkc on Threads.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Bank partners with Porter House to give out more than hugs; Meet four latest KC grant recipients
Cameron Martin understands the importance of scaling deep into the community that inspired his journey and first fed the business he built with his wife, Tameisha, he said. The co-owners of Love is Key — a waffle-centric brunch restaurant and catering concept in the former Soulcentricitea space on Troost Avenue — were awarded a $15,000…
Cannabis biz expected to grow like a weed after MO voters light recreational marijuana
Tuesday’s vote in favor of recreational marijuana in Missouri shows Kansas City’s obvious appetite for legalization, said Michael Wilson, whose cannabis startup sees a vast new market opened by the election outcome. Statewide, Missouri poll-goers this week approved the high-profile constitutional amendment with 53.1 percent of the more than 2 million votes cast. In Kansas…
New $2.2M funding round powers WorkTorch career platform expansion into KCK, KCMO
Less than a year after sisters Deborah Gladney and Angela Muhwezi-Hall became the first Black women in Kansas to raise $1 million in seed funding for their startup, their rebranded Wichita company announced another $2.2 million investment for its rapidly scaling service industry career platform. The new influx of funding — led by Wichita-based Tenzing Capital…
Your coworker who doesn’t like to fist bump isn’t dysfunctional; Don’t assume they’re broken (Holistic Hustle)
Kharissa Parker is a news producer, writer, certified health coach, and columnist for Startland News. For more of her self-care tips on how to keep your cup full, visit kparker.co. Editor’s note: This commentary on bio-individuality — the idea that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to health and nutrition (even regard to a person’s health in the…