As a broadcast journalism major, digital creator, and social media influencer who loves food, particularly the Asian cuisine she grew up eating, Jollene Kuo Hastings works to highlight hidden-gem restaurants in Kansas City. Now, she owns one of her own. She and her husband, who refers to himself as her silent partner and is an entrepreneur himself, purchased Vivilore, a beautiful restaurant, courtyard, and antique and art retail store in January. Located in the Englewood Arts District in Independence, Missouri, only 15 minutes from downtown KC, Vivilore was owned and operated for 12 years by the brother and sister team of Whit Ross and Cindy Foster. Now Hastings and her new chef, Chadd Williams, are taking the modern American menu and updating it for spring and summer with exciting new daily specials for lunch and dinner, while keeping customer favorites, including New England crab cakes, Vivilore chicken salad, and vegetable tamales. Impressionist art is the theme at Vivilore, although Hastings will be adding more local art to sell on consignment to the three floors of retail space. The outdoor courtyard consistently shows up on “best patio” lists every year for its gorgeously landscaped gardens, where you can eat outside in nice weather. Vivilore is open Wednesday through Saturday, serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 8:00 p.m.
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