JJ's Restaurant

KC Fire Dept. Reverses Protocol For Gas Leaks After JJ’s Explosion

Peggy Lowe — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:17:25 +0000

The Kansas City Fire Department on Thursday made a major change in the way it responds to gas leaks, after it was highly questioned for its response to the JJ’s restaurant explosion.

In what he said will be his final statement on the event, Fire Chief Paul Berardi announced that the department will stay on the scene of any gas leak until the situation posing a risk is resolved. The department will also begin sending a battalion chief and a fire unit with monitoring equipment to all gas leak calls.

Fire Department Releases Report On JJ's Explosion

Peggy Lowe and Dan Verbeck — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:05:43 +0000

JJ’s restaurant was leveled by an unintentional explosion that probably was ignited by pilot lights in the kitchen, thanks to the nick in the natural gas line outside the building, according to a report released by the Kansas City Fire Department on Wednesday.

Questions Linger About Gas Company's Evacuation At JJ's

Peggy Lowe — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:28:00 +0000

As several investigations continue into the explosion of JJ’s Restaurant, the role Missouri Gas Energy played in its response to the emergency is being questioned by experts and a witness who say the utility didn’t follow industry standards or its own advice.

Although its own safety instructions for gas leaks to its customers call for evacuating the premises immediately, MGE didn’t do that at the Feb. 19 incident. In fact, the MGE workers on the scene didn’t suggest that people leave the popular wine bar until 51 minutes after the initial 911 call.

Plaza Blast Underscores Region’s Emergency Medical Capacity

Elana Gordon — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:01 +0000

As of mid-week, four people remained hospitalized from the gas explosion and fire that destroyed JJ’s restaurant on the Plaza. One employee, Megan Cramer, died in the blast, and a memorial service is scheduled for Monday.

A lot of questions still surround how the situation was handled, including the timing of the evacuation and whether the explosion itself could have been avoided. While investigations are ongoing, KCUR’s Elana Gordon reports on how the region’s medical community responded, and how another crisis, the Hyatt Skywalk Collapse in 1981, has helped shape the region’s capacity to respond to large-scale events.

Wine, Shrimp, Camaraderie: Food Critic Remembers JJ’s Restaurant

Sylvia Maria Gross — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:03:31 +0000

Local and federal officials are trying to piece together exactly what happened last Tuesday evening, when a natural gas leak led to an explosion just west of the Country Club Plaza. The explosion and resulting fire at JJ’s restaurant killed one woman, and injured 15.

Determining Cause Of Explosion Expected To Take Time

Steve Bell — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:11:36 +0000

Police say investigation of the fire that gutted a Plaza restaurant that killed one person and injured 15 others will take a bit longer than some expected.

JJ's Staff, Regulars Turn To Each Other In Wake Of Fire

Elana Gordon — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:16:18 +0000

Judging by the lineup at the bar a few blocks from JJ’s last night, you might think you were at the longtime establishment. A lot of employees and regulars met up at Coal Vines on the Plaza, including James Potter.

JJ's Other Co-Owner, Jimmy Frantze, Speaks Out After Deadly Fire

Elana Gordon — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:28:54 +0000

Up To Date's Steve Kraske interviewed JJ's co-owner David Frantze Wednesday morning in the aftermath of Tuesday's explosion that left some of the restaurant's employees critically injured and one missing.

KCUR's Elana Gordon had the opportunity Wednesday afternoon to speak with David's brother and JJ's other owner, Jimmy Frantze.

Here are some excerpts of their interview, which took place near the site of the fire.

Plaza Explosion Timeline Raises Questions

Frank Morris — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 02:09:11 +0000

The investigation into the blast and fire that rocked the Country Club Plaza and destroyed JJ’s Restaurant has entered a new phase.

Local Hospitals Provide Injury Updates On Plaza Explosion

Elana Gordon and Laura Spencer — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:09:28 +0000

Ambulances on Tuesday night traveled with nine people injured in the explosion and fire on the Country Club Plaza to area hospitals, including St. Luke's and University of Kansas Hospital. Six injured patients walked themselves in. Officials today provided an update on the six victims still hospitalized.

'Miraculous': Employees Cleared Restaurant Of Patrons Before Blast

Peggy Lowe — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:09:19 +0000

The best eye-witnesses to the explosion at JJ’s yesterday were also the people who were in the most danger – the restaurant’s workers. Bartenders, busboys, a hostess and others were the last ones out of that burning building.

Blame Elusive In Plaza Blast

Frank Morris — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:46:10 +0000

Workers using heavy equipment to install fiber-optic cable hit a gas main hours before the blast. According to the Kansas City Business Journal, gas company workers showed up about 20 minutes later.

They were still on site later when firefighters responded to the leak, about 45 minutes before the explosion.

After The Fire: An Interview With JJ's Co-Owner David Frantze

Elana Gordon and Emilie Mutert and Up To Date — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:00:45 +0000

Up To Date's Steve Kraske talked Wednesday morning with David Frantze, co-owner of JJ's restaurant. A gas explosion Tuesday evening caused a fire that destroyed the restaurant, killing at least one person and injuring at least 14 others.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

David Frantze: Steve, it’s been a pretty rough time for the entire JJ’s family.

Body Found In Rubble At JJ's

Maria Carter, Laura Spencer and Elana Gordon — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:44:41 +0000

At a press conference this morning, officials say they found a body in the rubble of the site of former JJ's restaurant on the Country Club Plaza. No positive identification has been made yet.

Search Continues For Missing JJ's Employee

Maria Carter — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:04:52 +0000

One person still remains unaccounted for after last night's fire and explosion at JJ's restaurant on the Country Club Plaza.