Car No. 551 is now open in River Market
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Car No. 551. Photo: Abbey Higginbotham/Axios
A 1947 Kansas City streetcar that once carried commuters is now slinging kielbasa and clubs in River Market — and the team behind Car No. 551 says it's here to stay.
Why it matters: The trolley at Fifth and Delaware has had short-lived tenants. A Made in KC location opened in 2020 and closed in 2023. A Donutology followed but shut down this summer.
- Owner William Jordan says his plan is different, telling Axios, "Everybody that's been here before was a very niche market … we just want to keep it simple. Give people what they want, and make it fun."
The big picture: Jordan signed a three-year lease and built out the spot in just 60 days after Donutology left. Unlike prior operators, he's added indoor seating for up to 16 people and plans to use the space year-round.
- "Customers came in and said, 'Wow, I've always wondered what the inside looks like,'" he said.
- Car No. 551 soft-opened on Sunday with no promotion. By Monday, neighborhood workers were wandering in on their lunch breaks.
- "We want to be that quick grab-and-go destination," Jordan said.
Between the lines: The menu is classic lunch fare with cheeseburgers, BLTs and deli sandwiches, alongside kielbasa from Peter May's House of Kielbasa, a 96-year-old KC supplier.
- The car is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am–8pm, and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Fun fact: According to a plaque on the outside, it's a 1947 PCC streetcar that carried riders in Kansas City before stints in Toronto and San Francisco. It was brought back in 1996 and placed in the River Market in honor of early streetcar director Tom Trabon.
What's next: Jordan expects a full bar and happy hour as soon as late October, but is waiting on the liquor license transfer to clear.