When restaurateur Bonnie Freeland moved her dainty little tearoom, Madame Hatter's Tea Room -- which served surprisingly delicious lunches and fabulous desserts -- from Eudora, Kansas, to bigger quarters in Bonner Springs in 2009, it seemed like a positive development. But apparently not: Freeland is closing her business on June 15.
She's keeping her fans notified on the restaurant's Facebook page of any available last-minute reservations. Freeland will start selling furnishings from the restaurant starting on June 21.
Freeland hasn't been so accessible to the press (The Bonner Springs Chieftain would like to do a story about the restaurant closing), but wrote a farewell note to her regular customers and fans, posted on the restaurant's Facebook page: "I know God has a plan for us all and I am excited to see where he leads us on our next journey. Don't be surprised if you see us again someday."
A Bonner Springs resident, Twyla Williams, has her own theory on why Freeland is closing her tearoom: "A new restaurant, Freseros Mexican Restaurant, opened right next door to the tearoom," she says. "It serves excellent Mexican food, very inexpensive. And they serve beer! I think the competition killed them."
One might think that the two Bonner Springs restaurants would have very different customers, but who knows? Maybe it really all came down to the difference between tea ... and Tecate.
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I am a long time customer of Madame Hatters Tea Room and am very sorry to see the restaurant close. I also ate at the Mexican Restaurant in Bonner and did not find their food to be anything special and I did not go back. The food from Madame Hatters always made fresh will be missed. Too bad for Bonner Springs.
Charles It appears you are of very LOW Class yourself, Making Comments like your article is why we think people in the press are BOTTOM FEEDERS!! I have been to both places and let me tell you After eating at the so called mexican restaurant I was very sick for two days not to mention when i was there saw several bugs which looked like roaches coming from the back where the food was prepared, My visit to the Tea Room was just the opposite. The food was wonderful and I had some left over to even take home. I am sad to see the Tea room go I thought with the great environment awesome service and wonderful food(friday night and saturday dinners must have been prepared by a 5 star Chef) it would last. The City of Bonner is to blame here for not supporting this wonderful local business!!! Shame on you CITY OF BONNER!
Charles-thank you so much for your article and I do apologize for not being able to take your call. As you can appreicate I have been extremey busy with reservations and last minute closing details. Our closing has nothing to do with the mexican restaurant in Bonner Springs. We do have very different customers but I'm sure my customers do eat at mexican restaurants. Our decison to close was based and several componets, one being economy and the rising cost of fresh food. We have extremely loyal cutomers and we appreicate all their support over the past 7 years. Our cookbook will coming out shortly and we have other plans for the future. Thanks again! Madame Hatter's customers ROCK!
I've ate at both places and the tea room is much much better than the mexican place. The mexican place was greasy and made my stomach ill. When I ate at the tea room I felt very full, but in a good way! So sorry to hear of the closing, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with competition because there isn't any. Unfortunately all the local restaurants in Bonner die. I've lived in Lansing for years and frequent the Bonner shops, and have seen many places come in and then close up.
This article saddens me! I do not believe any of the above allegations to be true as I have been to the tea room monthly since it's opening. I do believe that the classy sophisticated enviornment was to much for the people of Bonner Springs. It's not the classiest town out there, believe me! However, to compare this wonderful upper class establishment to a mexican restaurant (which in my opinion isn't that tasty - based on my encounter with the restaurant) is just unfair! The people at Madame Hatter's have worked very hard over the years and they should be respected for the years of enjoyment they have brought to friendships and families for 7 years! I will miss the tea room and the friendly fun loving staff.
Was the Tea Room too sophisticated for Bonner Springs? Maybe Twyla was right. If we can learn anything about the ongoing popularity of places like Ponak's, Manny's, and Rancho Grande Cantina, it is that KC folks love them there bowls of melted cheese and substandard Tex-Mex dishes. Maybe the Tea Room should have started selling queso dip with their quiche and sandwiches.
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