Story., a fine dining establishment in the Shops of Prairie Village that regularly earned industry accolades, including two James Beard Awards semifinalist nods for its chef and owner, has closed for good, according to its website.
The closure came abruptly, with a banner at the top of the restaurant’s website the only announcement.
“Thank you for 15 wonderful years! Story has permanently closed,” the banner reads.
Owners Carl and Susan Thorne-Thomsen could not immediately be reached for comment. The restaurant’s social media accounts also appear to have been deactivated.
On Wednesday night, the 3,000-square-foot storefront at 3931 W. 69th Terrace, in The Shops complex, was dark with a copy-printed sign taped to the front door.
“Story will be closed this evening. We apologize for any inconvenience,” the sign read.
Story. won plaudits for its food and wine list.
Carl Thorne-Thomsen was twice named a semifinalist for a prestigious James Beard Award in the “Best Chef: Midwest” category, in 2013 and 2022.
The restaurant also regularly appeared on Wine Spectator’s annual rankings of best wine lists. Story. regularly stocked hundreds of bottles of wine from around the U.S. and the world.
Before starting Story. with his wife in 2011, Thorne-Thomsen had been a chef at Michael Smith and Extra Virgin, two restaurants in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District. Susan Thorne-Thomsen had also previously operated a gourmet food store in Wichita.
Carl Thorne-Thomsen told the Kansas City Business Journal 15 years ago that the opening of Story. had been a years-long dream, calling cooking a “passion, a joy.”
