KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A family-run Mexican restaurant on Southwest Boulevard came within weeks of closing its doors this summer after months of road construction cut off parking and drove away regulars. A social media post changed everything.
Lilly’s Cantina has operated on Southwest Boulevard for nearly five years. Teresa Grado runs the restaurant with her children. The business is named after Grado’s mother.
Construction takes a toll
Road construction outside the restaurant blocked street access and the rear parking lot for months, Grado said. Nearly 40% of her regular customers stopped coming in. She had hoped an influx of FIFA World Cup visitors would offset the losses — it did not.
Grado set a deadline: Aug. 1. If business did not turn around, she would close.
“The construction killed that part. It really did. It just ate us all up,” Grado said.
A prayer, then a post
On July 14, Lilly’s sold out — without any formal promotion. Grado said the response gave her the courage to go further…