Paisa MX, the Colombian-Mexican restaurant that turned into a hotspot for World Cup watch parties this summer, has been shut down at its North Kansas City address after a building inspector condemned the property because an exterior exit beneath the covered patio roof was deemed unsafe due to unauthorized plywood and plastic construction. The restaurant at 1621 Swift St. vacated the space just days after the city officially closed the building on August 4, and owner Antonio Romanis says he hopes to reopen in about a month, possibly near GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
According to the Kansas City Star, the closure stemmed from unpermitted construction—plywood and plastic sheeting—installed over the covered patio roof area, which compromised an exterior exit beneath it. Per Kim Nakahodo, a North Kansas City building inspector shut the property down on August 4 after determining the entrance and exit area was unsafe for continued use, the Star reported.
North Kansas City has adopted the 2018 International Building Code and manages Chapter 15 of its municipal code, according to the City of North Kansas City. The city’s code materials describe minimum construction requirements under those codes.
Who’s Responsible for the Unpermitted Work?
Ownership of the building itself is a separate matter from the fallout over the patio construction. Clay County Assessor’s Office records list American Fusion Holdings, LLC as the building’s owner, per the Star’s reporting. Merry and Basillio De Dios, tied to that ownership group, said in a statement that the unauthorized repairs were not made by them or with their knowledge, and the pair say they are now working with the city to resolve the situation and want to re-roof and eventually sell the building…