Meddys to expand to Kansas City — and beyond in a big way

The new downtown Meddys, which opens in November, is hardly the only one owner Alex Harb is working on.

He’s close to a deal for one in the Crossroads district of Kansas City, Mo., which is between downtown and Westport.

“It’s just got a lot of energy,” Harb says. “It’s what they’re trying to do with downtown Wichita.”

He says there’s nightlife, offices and an expanding workforce, which equals a good customer base.

Harb plans to open 10 Meddys restaurants in the greater Kansas City area in Missouri and Kansas.

That’s on his way to what he hopes will be 500 Meddys sites nationally in the next decade, though Harb says if it takes more like 20 years, that’s OK.

“You always have big dreams,” he says. “My dream was to establish a brand that people know and like.”

Meddys features dishes from Harb’s native Lebanon, where he moved from 18 years ago.

His restaurant chain started only in 2014, but Harb earlier started the Ribbit Computers chain, and he says he’s had a lot of support from Wichita.

“That’s what’s great about this community,” Harb says. “It’s amazing. . . . I’m really honest to God very grateful for this market.”

At one point, he was up to five Ribbit stores, but Harb consolidated into three locations because the business is less focused on computers now and more focused on IT service.

“The business has grown quite a bit in the last few years.”

Harb has a small Ribbit office in Kansas City and plans to expand more with that business, too.

He expects to finalize the Meddys Crossroads deal by the end of the year and start work after that for a June or July opening.

After opening his first Meddys near Harry and Rock Road, Harb opened one in the Village at Greenwich at 21st and Greenwich in 2016 and now is preparing to open one at 120 S. Washington across from his downtown Ribbit store.

The restaurants have been an education for him.

“You go through ups and downs, especially in the restaurant business,” Harb says. “You face problems. You figure out your issues.”

He says he used to travel a lot but now can’t with the restaurants.

“You really can’t go anywhere anymore. You’re married to it.”

So why get more? Forget 500 restaurants. How will he handle even another dozen?

“You learn from your experience,” Harb says. “The longer you do it, the more you learn from it.”

He says as he progresses, “At some point it’ll start snowballing.”

Harb says he’ll be able to open several locations in a market at a time.

“It gets easier,” he says.

Building a team makes a difference, too, he says.

“It’s not me, it’s the team that’s running the show.”

The vision, though, is his.

“You have a vision. You just work hard. It’s the American dream.”

This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 4:40 PM.