‘Indian version of The Cheesecake Factory’ opening in old Johnson County BBQ spot

Jenna Thompson
·1 min read

Three years after a Johnson County barbecue restaurant closed, an Indian restaurant and dessert shop will take its place.

Bikanervala — an international chain with locations in India, New Zealand, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates and New Jersey — will open in the old Smokey’s on the Blvd. BBQ spot at 8669 W. 135th St. in Overland Park in June.

The sit-down and drive-thru restaurant will have a full lunch and dinner menu, and it will sell snacks and desserts to-go, like dosas (savory crepes), gulab jamun (puff pastries), samosas and more.

“It’s more like an Indian version of The Cheesecake Factory,” said owner Kapil Jain. “So you’ll have all kinds of fresh sweets, which you can buy … then a full-fledged restaurant.”

Its menu lists dozens of desserts, quick-bites and entrees.

Kapil is going into business with his brother, Sripal Jain, who lives in India but stays in the Kansas City area several months out of the year.

Smokey’s, which opened in 2012, relocated to the space a few years later before closing in 2021.

As a result of the the pandemic and other factors, the owner of Smokeys on the Blvd BBQ closed their Overland Park restaurant.
As a result of the the pandemic and other factors, the owner of Smokeys on the Blvd BBQ closed their Overland Park restaurant.

The owner, Winston Riley, told The Star at the time that business never bounced back to pre pandemic levels.

“I was losing money hand over fist,” he said. “I just needed to cut my losses. I’m leveraged to the hilt.”