Brookside couple envisions upscale neighborhood escape in former Michael Forbes spot

A couple who first met as servers at a restaurant on the Country Club Plaza are setting the table for a new venture in Brookside: an “elevated” neighborhood bistro and bottle shop that’s expected to open in early 2025.

After a light remodeling, Hannah Koenig and Avery Bailey plan to open CRU in late January or early February at 128 W. 63rd St., the former space of the Michael Forbes Bar and Grille, which closed June 30 after more than a dozen years.

“We are really wanting to take care of the community that has always taken care of us,” Bailey said. “Brookside is very family-friendly right now and [the bistro] will be welcoming for families with high chairs and a kids’ menu. But we also want to give them a place for when they have a babysitter.”

CRU’s dining room will seat about 80 people, the couple said. The bar, on the eastern end of the space, a few steps up from the dining room, also has its own entrance. A retail area is planned, along with a private dining space seating 12 to 16 people. Reservations will open about a month before the space’s debut.

The married duo named it CRU after a wine term to indicate a high-quality vineyard.

Their refined vision for the space should have a bright future, said Forbes Cross, of Michael Forbes Bar & Grille.

“I think they are going to do extremely well,” he said. “I like that they are going more upscale with white tablecloth in Brookside and an extensive wine list. I think they are filling a niche that Brookside doesn’t have.”

Hannah Koenig and Avery Bailey, CRU; photo by Joyce Smith

To-do’s on the menu

Koenig and Bailey had been negotiating for the space for several months, they said, and hoped to open in the summer. They’ll now be working on a winter menu as CRU’s introduction to the community.

It is set to include Duroc pork chops with mustard-glazed rainbow chard and rutabaga; filet mignon with Japanese sweet potato puree and cocoa; beef tartare with egg yolk, shallot and chives; and roasted tomato soup. 

Koenig and Bailey took out a U.S. Small Business Administration loan to finance the new restaurant, which is expected to hire about 40 employees.

They are currently interviewing for management positions and will start hiring the rest of the crew in January. They also want to make sure they are “taking care of the people who take care of the people,” so they will offer 401(k) and other benefits.

Koenig’s brother, JT Koenig-Riley, is the libation consultant, overseeing the specialty cocktail menu. He also will help with training. He has been in charge of the beverage program at Tom’s Town Distilling Co. since it was founded in 2015.  

Love story uncorked

Bailey and Koenig first crossed paths working as servers at the former República restaurant on the Country Club Plaza — but just for one shift.

Bailey had just started, taking a break from working as a general manager.

Koenig had worked there for several months but was leaving for a six-week stint in Bali to manage a women’s leadership training program. 

Bailey wanted to quit, he said, but was so impressed with Koenig that he waited for her return from Bali just to get her number. He even told a friend he was going to marry her.

And they did, in December 2017.

They two have been working at Brookside’s Bella Napoli, and own the Brookside home where Bailey spent his tween and teen years.

The couple also leads small tour groups — eight to 10 people — to wineries in Italy; it’s a venture they hope to continue, expanding into trips to France.

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Startland News contributor Joyce Smith covered local restaurants and retail for nearly 40 years with The Kansas City Star. Click here to follower on X (formerly Twitter), here for Facebook, here for Instagram, and by following #joyceinkc on Threads.