Bryan Stalder
Contributor

This Saturday, March 7, a new chapter begins in Columbus Park as Dear Donna opens its doors at 549 Gillis St. Longtime Kansas City diners may remember the space as the former home of Happy Gillis, but now it takes on a fresh identity — one designed to bring the neighborhood together over great food and a welcoming atmosphere.

Helmed by husband-and-wife chefs Johnny Leach and Helen Jo Leach, Dear Donna brings national culinary recognition to Northeast. The Leaches, known for their work at The Town Company inside Hotel Kansas City, have been recognized as semifinalists by the prestigious James Beard Foundation, a testament to their creativity and skill in the kitchen.

Dear Donna is designed to be a neighborhood restaurant at heart. The name is a tribute to Johnny Leach’s mother, and the chefs hope the restaurant will serve as a gathering place for friends, families, and neighbors alike. The menu will feature lunch-focused offerings alongside breakfast favorites, served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., as the team settles into the space and connects with the community.

The chefs have said they want to create a place people want to come back to—something that feels warm, personal, and a little bit special — a place where everyone feels welcome.

For Northeast, Dear Donna is more than a new restaurant; it’s an opportunity to celebrate local talent, support a family-owned business, and try dishes crafted by nationally recognized chefs — right in our own neighborhood. Northeast News plans to follow up with the Leaches next week to hear about how opening weekend went and to take a closer look at the menu, so stay tuned for a deeper dive into what makes Dear Donna a spot worth visiting.