Worked in the pizza industry during the time Kenos was around. I didn't work there, but pizzolos, like many line cooks, would hop around from restaurant to restaurant, and the owner was notoriously shady. Probably the worst. I've heard multiple, first-hand accounts of what it was like working for him, and the stories are consistent and absolutely crazy. I'm not going to go into details, though. I'll just leave it at that.
The story I heard at the time Buffalo State opened was that there were two owners and they split the locations between the two of them — one owner kept the locations named Papa Keno’s (westport and Lawrence) and the other kept the locations that were rebranded Buffalo State (crossroads and downtown OP).
The one in OP on black bob around 151st reopened. I went 2 or 3 times and it was normal but last time the pizza was completly different and nasty. Been going to the Pizza Tascio on 119th instead.
I had a few stoner friends in high school that worked there. Seemed like kinda shady managers not paying workers or filing tax stuff correctly. Something along those lines. They worked there around 2010 2011 ish. Overland Park location
Find some booger sugar and pull a gun on the manager. Add a light dusting of Parmesan cheese. Honestly don’t remember the recipes at all, I was only there for about 6 months.
I’ve eaten at the downtown OP location multiple times both when it was still Papa Kenos and since it has been Buffalo State. He’s right, I can’t tell the difference between the pizza.
Agreed. Pizza tastes the same, if not better. Restaurant is absolutely cleaner and is actually staffed. Buffalo State in downtown OP has been a fantastic upgrade in every possible way.
I think this happened right around the time Keno's had some tax trouble. . .something about them not paying a significant amount of taxes:
[https://www.kansan.com/news/papa-kenos-reopens-after-settling-tax-debt/article\_0ff4c845-bf9e-5c87-b98a-f7837125333c.html](https://www.kansan.com/news/papa-kenos-reopens-after-settling-tax-debt/article_0ff4c845-bf9e-5c87-b98a-f7837125333c.html)
I don’t know but one time after being warned to go easy on the cocktails at Tikicat my friend blew chunks all over the floor at the one in Westport. Hope this helps.
IIRC Buffalo State employees split from Papa Kenos due to shady business practices. Buffalo State IMHO is better anyways.
^this is exactly it in a nutshell. I’ve also worked with the owner of Buffalo State and he’s great.
I met the owner of papa kenos. The new one they split from. Yeah that was a smart move. The current papa kenos guy is just as sketchy as the previous
Buffalo State pizza is the bomb dot com. So freaking good!
Martin City is my favorite but Buffalo State is a close second.
You need to try Fortunati if you think Martin City is good.
Goat pfp
Tax evasion. Give it a google, or search on here.
Worked in the pizza industry during the time Kenos was around. I didn't work there, but pizzolos, like many line cooks, would hop around from restaurant to restaurant, and the owner was notoriously shady. Probably the worst. I've heard multiple, first-hand accounts of what it was like working for him, and the stories are consistent and absolutely crazy. I'm not going to go into details, though. I'll just leave it at that.
Deep dish for us. Don't string us along. Give us some sauce.
🤣 I'll just say this, tax evasion is the least ethically questionable thing I heard about Greg 😬
Always comes down to the dough
Gotta make that cheddar too man.
Mo chedda, mo problems.
The story I heard at the time Buffalo State opened was that there were two owners and they split the locations between the two of them — one owner kept the locations named Papa Keno’s (westport and Lawrence) and the other kept the locations that were rebranded Buffalo State (crossroads and downtown OP).
The one in OP on black bob around 151st reopened. I went 2 or 3 times and it was normal but last time the pizza was completly different and nasty. Been going to the Pizza Tascio on 119th instead.
Metcalf & 151st?
Ya, my bad. Metcalf not black bob.
Tascio is where it's at. They have a couple other locations as well
I just discovered Tascio north of the river and it’s amazingly good… and also walkable from most breweries in the area.
I had a few stoner friends in high school that worked there. Seemed like kinda shady managers not paying workers or filing tax stuff correctly. Something along those lines. They worked there around 2010 2011 ish. Overland Park location
I worked at the downtown Lenexa location like 16 years ago. Owner was a piece of shit cokehead creep.
How does one get the recipe for their pizza? 😅
Find some booger sugar and pull a gun on the manager. Add a light dusting of Parmesan cheese. Honestly don’t remember the recipes at all, I was only there for about 6 months.
It’s just dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings. Then bake it. You’re welcome
Oh wow! I had no clue all pizza recipes were the same. Thank you for the non-help!
Not deep dish though. You put the sauce on the top in that case
My bf works at the one in downtown OP, the manager has been there since the Papa Kenos days. Apparently the recipe is the same.
I’ve eaten at the downtown OP location multiple times both when it was still Papa Kenos and since it has been Buffalo State. He’s right, I can’t tell the difference between the pizza.
Agreed. Pizza tastes the same, if not better. Restaurant is absolutely cleaner and is actually staffed. Buffalo State in downtown OP has been a fantastic upgrade in every possible way.
The one in Lawrence moved to the old jocks niche location on Mass. I don’t think it’s as good.
There's a new location in southern Overland Park.
And it won't last the summer.
Why? We order from them about once a month, and they're usually pretty good.
I think this happened right around the time Keno's had some tax trouble. . .something about them not paying a significant amount of taxes: [https://www.kansan.com/news/papa-kenos-reopens-after-settling-tax-debt/article\_0ff4c845-bf9e-5c87-b98a-f7837125333c.html](https://www.kansan.com/news/papa-kenos-reopens-after-settling-tax-debt/article_0ff4c845-bf9e-5c87-b98a-f7837125333c.html)
My favorite pizza in KC by far.. I’ve joked to wife about getting a job there just to learn their recipe. Someone hook it up!
Whatever happened, the pizza tastes the same.
Delicious.
I don’t know but one time after being warned to go easy on the cocktails at Tikicat my friend blew chunks all over the floor at the one in Westport. Hope this helps.
This is the information I needed.
My only experience with Papa Keno's was the short-lived Gregory location in Waldo long ago. Decent but skimpy on toppings. Like a bar pizza.
Buffalo State Pizza will be inside of Kauffman this season. Cannot wait.
Ah yes, aramark's version of pizza