15Feb
Guy Fieri’s new restaurant “Guy Fieri’s Dive & Taco Joint” is set to open up on February 21st in the Power and Light District. Kansas City is buzzing in anticipation of the new high-profile establishment.
But what will this new restaurant mean for Kansas City businesses?
Just the name “Guy Fieri” is enough to inspire confidence in the restaurant. The exuberant restaurateur and business personality operates a string of food establishments located throughout the United States and plays host to multiple Food Network shows.
Fans will likely turn out in droves to celebrate the opening and support Fieri, or in the hopes of getting on a show.
The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City are excited for the potential revenue the restaurant will bring the area. They are hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 22nd to celebrate the joint’s first full day of business.
Executive director of Power and Light Nick Benjamin is also hopeful for the success of the new opening, saying in a press release “the combination of one of the nation’s premier chefs and personalities, who has a long history with Kansas City; a brand new concept for Kansas City, the synergy of Guy with the energy of KC Live!, has us all extremely excited for 2019.”
While Fieri may be loved, especially in the city he’s publicly praised and where he was inducted into the American Royal BBQ Hall of Fame, the household name is no stranger to scandal.
Not all of Fieri’s establishments have been very successful, or even liked. In 2012 New York Time’s food critic Pete Wells slammed “Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar” in a review so scathing Fieri had to defend himself on the Today show, and the restaurant has since closed.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also weren’t fans of Fieri’s restaurant, and found it to be infested with flies and have live roaches, and criticized employees for handling food with their bare hands.
There also may be some cause for worry for future employees of the new taco spot. Fieri has been accused of acting inappropriately towards women, making racist, sexist, and homophobic comments, and being generally demanding and unreasonable towards employees and coworkers.
His workers aren’t the only people who have complaints to make about Fieri. He was caught on video attacking his hairdresser in a violent altercation in 2013, in which he reportedly ended up throwing the hairdresser out of the cab.
Fieri also has had public feuds with the late Anthony Bourdain, his former business partner Steve Gruber, and his neighbors in Sonoma, who protested and had his plans for opening a wine-tasting room rejected.
If all goes well, “Guy Fieri’s Dive and Taco Joint” has the potential to make a big splash in Power and Light, and the concept will likely fit in well with the other establishments in the area. While Cleaver and Cork will be missed, the more down-to-earth, laid-back party atmosphere of the new taco place better fits the mood and tone of the district.
As Guy Fieri said in a press release “Let me put it this way: If you like to party, and you like tacos, this is gonna be your kinda dive!”
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