After 73 years in business, the beloved institution Kitty’s Café in midtown Kansas City—known for its famous tempura-battered pork tenderloin sandwich—closed in April for a renovation that was supposed to add more indoor seating to their restaurant. Initially planning to reopen within a few weeks, Kitty’s remained closed for nearly six months after its original contractor failed to file the necessary permits with the city to enclose the outdoor patio and expand the kitchen for faster food service. When a new contractor was brought in, owner Charley Soulivong and his family faced tight budgets and timelines and, in the end, were able to make only a few updates including new countertops, new wall tiles, and all-new kitchen equipment, while the outdoor patio remains open to the elements. Not that their loyal fans mind, the day the restaurant reopened there was a line down the block for their breakfast sandwiches, cheeseburgers, fried fish, and pork tenderloin sandwiches. The café continues to operate as a cash-only establishment.