After bar at center of Jackson Mahomes criminal case shut down, this will replace it

The restaurant where Jackson Mahomes allegedly shoved a waiter and forcibly kissed the owner has been vacant since it closed last August.

But soon, it will take on a new life as the newest location of Conroy’s Public House .

Conroy’s will open in the old Aspens Restaurant and Lounge at 6995 W. 151st St. in Overland Park.

The Irish pub is looking to open in Mid-November, said general manager Ryan Lafferty. The bar and restaurant offers both traditional Irish food and American fare.

“Conroy’s motto is Irish heart and American soul, so that’s pretty much what we’re doing,” Lafferty said.

On the menu: baked potatoes, corned beef sandwiches, chicken pot pie and a variety of spirits.

This will be Conroy’s fourth location. Its others are all in Johnson County — 12924 State Line Road in Leawood, 4730 Rainbow Blvd. in Westwood, and 5285 W. 95th St. in Overland Park.

“We’re excited about expanding our offerings to different parts of the city,” he said. “We’re just looking forward to showing people what it’s like to visit a true, authentic Irish restaurant.”

Before Conroy’s took possession of the space, restaurateur Aspen Vaughn took over the old Llwelyn’s Pub in 2021 and opened Dior Restaurant. After being sued for trademark infringement by Christian Dior Couture, Vaughn rebranded the restaurant to Aspens in 2022.

In February 2023, Mahomes, brother of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, allegedly shoved a 19-year-old waiter , whose dad called police. Mahomes also allegedly grabbed and forcibly kissed Vaughn.

Mahomes was arrested in May 2023 and charged with three felony counts of aggravated sexual battery and one misdemeanor count of battery. Prosecutors later dismissed the felony charges and Mahomes was sentenced in March to six months probation for a misdemeanor battery charge in the case.

After Vaughn shared her story with the media, she said she experienced death threats and harassment, even vandalism to her restaurant. In an interview with The Star in July 2023, Vaughn said business at Aspens was down 75%.

After Aspens closed, Stephanie Lopez — an administrative employee with Aspens — told The Star Vaughn had put in plenty of work to transform the space into what it is today.

“It’s hard to own a company and go through everything that we’ve gone through,” Lopez said. “We were so close to making it, and then this whole thing happened.”