Chef Vaughn Good is closing Hank Charcuterie in Lawrence to open a new restaurant in Kansas City

After four years in business in Lawrence, Vaughn Good is planning to close the doors to his celebrated restaurant, Hank Charcuterie (1900 Massachusetts). Hank’s last day in business is set for Sunday, May 20.

But Lawrence’s loss is Kansas City’s gain: Good and his wife and partner, Kristine Hull, are moving operations to Kansas City. This fall, the couple plan to open their new venture, Fox and Pearl, at 2139 Summit Street, in Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood. Very exciting! The Pitch caught up with Good by phone to discuss the move. 

The Pitch: What is the concept behind Fox and Pearl? How does it differ from what you’re doing at Hank Charcuterie?

Vaughn Good: Our menu might be a little different — maybe doing a section of the menu that offers some more sharable plates and larger portions for two people to share, but in general it’s going to be pretty similar food.

Is there a story behind the name?

Oh, yeah: it is my two daughters’ middle names. I’ve got a three-year-old and an eight-month-old.

What made you want to open a restaurant in Kansas City? 

We’re been kind of looking to make the move for a while. I just think there’s a lot happening in Kansas City. There is a food scene that seems to be exploding, and there is a lot of support and collaboration in the industry there. I wanted to be a part of it. There is a lot more of a foodie culture in Kansas City, and people who want to eat out more often. [Here at Hank], we look at our reservation lists on Fridays and Saturdays, and it seems like most of our reservation numbers are from KC.

It’s pretty bittersweet, but I don’t know if I’m ready to juggle two restaurants in two different towns. If I’m going to do one, I’m going to put all of my energy into it.

What are your plans for the space?

We’re taking the whole ground floor. There’s the corner space on Cesar Chavez, and we’ll knock a hole in the wall. From my understanding, someone was renting the first floor as a studio. We’re taking the majority of the basement, too. The basement is going to be a private event room with its own bar and a prep kitchen.

Upstairs inside, including the bar, I think there will be 65-70 seats. We’re almost tripling our seating capacity from Hank, and then there are going to be three outdoor patios. We’re going to make a courtyard on the south side comparable to our patio at Hank now, and then there will be a patio on the Summit street, kind of café seating with some two-tops.

When can we expect Fox and Pearl to open?

Our projected opening date is in fall, hopefully. I hope September.