Changes for The Jaded Pearl

Jan. 13, 201211:30 a.m.

A tea-loving reader alerted me earlier this week to the fact that The Jaded Pearl, the new tea shop that opened in late October at 1716 E. Douglas, is closed. So I called owner Michael Carmody to find out what was going on.

Customers were confused by the two-businesses-in-one concept, he said. The Jaded Pearl, which specialized in tea, toast with “schmears,” and cereal, operated right next door to The Donut Whole, 1720 E. Douglas, and is adjoined to it by a door. Even though the two businesses were technically one, The Jaded Pearl had its own counter and cash register. So a customer who wanted tea with his donut, for example, had to order twice.

Carmody decided to rearrange the counter at The Donut Whole, and when he’s done, people will place all orders on that side of the business. The Jaded Pearl room will remain open for extra seating and for private functions, but the counter will be gone. Carmody said he’s axing the cereal from the original Jaded Pearl menu but he’s keeping the tea and toast. In the meantime, The Jaded Pearl will remain closed.

The Donut Whole, meanwhile, will celebrate its third birthday next Friday, Jan. 20, with an all-ages party featuring music from Dustin Arbuckle and Wayne Long. The party starts at 8 p.m. For more information, call 316-262-3700.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Breakfast, Donuts | Comments

Now open: The Jaded Pearl

Oct. 20, 20113:48 p.m.

I like to call this pair of donut/tea artists "Michelangela."

It’s been a very busy couple of weeks for restaurant openings.

The Jaded Pearl, the new tea bar adjoined to the Donut Whole, opened today. Hours are 6 a.m. to midnight daily, and the menu features a long list of teas (black, green, oolong, herbal, etc.) as well as toast made with fresh, thick-sliced bread, “schmears,” and breakfast cereals. You can see the full menu here.

Owners Michael Carmody and Angela Mallory have decorated the tea bar’s cozy seating area with comfy tables and chairs, area rugs and a whole bunch of pretty lights.

The Jaded Pearl’s address is 1716 E. Douglas.

An interior shot on The Jaded Pearl's opening day.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Breakfast, Just opened | Comments

A fall bumper crop of new restaurants

Sept. 13, 201111:32 a.m.

El Agave Mexican Restaurant is just a couple of weeks away from opening at 3320 N. Rock Road.

With all that Kansas State Fair food sampling I’ve been doing, my “Comings & Goings” list got a little out of date. So over the past few days, I’ve dialed and driven and dialed and driven to gather a list of updates on restaurants scheduled to open during the next few months.

Some are delayed, but some are so close to opening, I can almost smell the new food goodness. Here’s a quick look at what I learned:

CherryBerry Self Serve Frozen Yogurt, Central and Maize: The signs are up, but the new CherryBerry yogurt shop is still several weeks from opening because of trouble with the electrical system in the building. Look for a late September/early October opening. And if you’re having trouble waiting, there are about – oh – 325 other frozen yogurt shops in town that will ease your pain.

El Agave Mexican Restaurant, 3320 N. Rock Road: The exterior is ready, and now workers are getting the interior ready for an opening, which is just two or three weeks away.The space that El Agave will occupy most recently held Top China Buffet.

The Jaded Pearl, 1716 E. Douglas: I saw Michael Carmody at Zoobilee, and he told me he and partner Angela Mallory are just a few weeks away from opening their new tea shop. He’ll have an exact date when he gets back from Winfield.

Wasabi, 3242 N. Rock Road: Owners say the second Wasabi should be open in the old Bossa Grill space by the middle of October.

Joe’s Old Town Bar and Grill, 222 N. Washington: Owner Charlie Badeen says this sister pub to Dudley’s and O’Brien’s should be ready to go at the end of October.

A.V.I., Broadview Hotel, (late October/early November). Ben Arnold still hopes to get his new restaurant inside the newly remodeled Broadview open by the end of October, but a problem with an elevator on order from Canada may push it back to early November, he said.

Fusa, 303 S. Greenwich: Plumbing issues have pushed the opening of this Asian restaurant, which owners are relocating from Towne East Mall, back several months. It could be late November before it’s ready.

I also have calls in about U Grill, the restaurant that’s supposed to take over the former Linkhaus space at 37th and Rock, and about the new Brazilian churrascaria/chop house Tad Fugate has planned for the Ted’s Montana Grill space at 21st and Tyler. I’ll update this post when I know more.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under About-to-open | Comments

The Jaded Pearl will be a Donut Whole extension

Aug. 22, 20112:56 p.m.

Donut Whole owners Michael Carmody and Angela Mallory are very close to opening the tea bar they’ve been planning for the space next door to their successful, colorful doughnut shop at 1720 E. Douglas.

The Jaded Pearl should open in a couple of weeks right next door at 1716 E. Douglas. It’ll be accessible to the Donut Whole through a doorway adjoining the two businesses and will feature three dozen varieties of loose-leaf tea plus cereals, toast made with big hearty breads, and smears for the toast.

The duo already has the furniture for the spot, and they’re taking their time getting it just right before they open it.

Once it’s up and going, The Jaded Pearl will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily.

So what’s the meaning behind the name? It’s simple, Carmody said. From a long list of ideas the owners came up with, it was the one they liked best.

I’ll let you know when Carmody and Mallory have a firm opening date.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under About-to-open | Comments