Three Martin City businesses close the same weekend

By Kathy Feist

On September 28 and 29, three businesses in the Martin City area will close their doors.

Coast to Coast

On September 16, the Martin City Brewing Co. announced it was shutting down Coast to Coast Pub, 500 E 135 St. Its last day of operation is Saturday, September 28. There are no new plans for the location.

Formerly named the Martin City Pub, the restaurant changed its brand in 2021 after hiring former Bristol Seafood chef Dan Uche. Menu items were changed, improvements were made and a mural featuring a sea turtle was painted on the side of the building. However, Uche moved on in 2023, replaced by two separate chefs in the past year.

“The chapter just needed to end,” says Matt Moore, owner of Martin City Brewing Co. With seven other restaurants to run in the metropolitan area, Moore was ready to disperse the pub’s resources elsewhere. Moore says he is interested in selling the building for office purposes, “something that doesn’t take up parking” but does not see a restaurant in its future.

In addition to the Martin City Brewing Co., Moore owns Martin City Pizza restaurants in Martin City, Lee’s Summit, Mission Farms, Lake Lotawana area, Lenexa, KCI Airport, and KC Current stadium. His coffee shop, Love Coffee, has two locations in Lee’s Summit.

Rockin’ Wok Thai

Owners Rob and Sommack Paxton have announced the closing of Rockin’ Wok Thai Room which opened last year in the second level event space of RC’s Chicken, 300 E 135 St. The day of its closure will be Sunday, September 29.

The couple, who also own Thai House at 99th and Holmes Rd as well as other Thai restaurants in Arkansas, purchased RC’s from David VanNoy a year ago. RC’s had been in the VanNoy family since it was built in 1972 by R.C. VanNoy.

The Paxton’s encourage customers to visit Thai House, 9938 Holmes Rd., where they will honor any coupons or discounts to Rockin’ Wok Thai.

Big Lots

Big Lots, 13637 Washington St., will shut its doors on Sunday, September 29, after a three-month long closing sale. The Martin City location was one of 40 stores across the country that were announced in July to close. More closures are expected after Big Lots filed for bankruptcy earlier this month.