New Vivilore, same as old Vivilore. Mostly.

That’s the message from Jollene Hastings, who in January bought the elegant restaurant-art gallery-gift shop Independence from Whit Ross and Cindy Foster, the sibling duo who opened Vivilore in 2012.

“Same name, same hours, same retail space,” Hastings said. “And many of the same menu items.”

Hastings, originally from California and New Jersey, lives in Lee’s Summit with her two children and her husband, Mark, who runs medical services businesses. She has never owned a restaurant, but said she has worked at a few places around town: as a hostess at Cafe Trio and as a waitress at 1924 Main.

Hastings said she discovered Vivilore at a birthday dinner in the courtyard in 2019.

“I kind of fell in love with it,” she said. “Then I read the article in The Star last year that it was for sale and that’s where it all started.”

Swan Dive, the venue on the property, has been renamed The Mandarin, and Hastings said she plans to use the building more for weddings, anniversaries, pop-ups and programs related to the Englewood Arts District.

The restaurant will retain longtime favorites like the chicken salad sandwich and crab cakes, but new chef Chadd Williams is adding some weekly specials and new dishes, Hastings said.

In addition to being Vivilore’s owner and head chef, Ross was also the house’s gardener – the man responsible for the lush courtyard that many of the city’s ladies enjoy for lunch. Don’t worry: The courtyard will be open as usual for Mother’s Day.

“We’ve hired new gardeners,” Hastings said. “It’ll still be beautiful.”

Vivilore is open Wednesday to Sunday and serves lunch from 11am to 3pm and dinner from 5pm to 8pm.