Daily Archives: April 27, 2011

Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas chooses out-of-state company for web redevelopment

April 27, 20114:02 p.m.

WICHITA — The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas exists to help Kansans find work. That doesn’t mean it can always hire Kansas companies to do its own work, though.

The Workforce Alliance recently had a request for proposals to upgrade its website.

Though Wichita and Kansas firms submitted bids, a California-based company won the work.

Chad Pettera, chief fiscal officer for the Workforce Alliance, says the group is funded mostly by federal dollars and therefore can’t conduct RFPs based on locales.

“The federal rules just won’t allow that.”

Pettera says the firm with the winning bid, Vision Internet of Santa Monica, offered to do the work for free.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Riverside Cafe of Derby to open this summer

April 27, 20113:44 p.m.

WICHITA — Riverside will no longer be exclusive to Wichita.

Riverside Cafe, that is.

Paul and Heather Cohlmia own the restaurant on West 13th Street in Wichita’s Riverside neighborhood along with Riverside Too, which they opened last year in the former Livingston’s Cafe space at 924 S. Woodlawn.

Now, they’re preparing to open Riverside Cafe of Derby at 824 N. Baltimore.

“It’s old Derby,” Paul Cohlmia says.

He’s going to offer the same family-style dishes he has at his other restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“There’s probably not any family-cooked meals there the way we do it here,” Cohlmia says.

The restaurant, which will be in 3,000 square feet, will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is the same hours as his other restaurants.

Cohlmia expects to open in late August or early September.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

You don’t say

April 27, 20118:38 a.m.

“Move to Wichita and open a Dairy Queen.”

— No. 5 on David’s Letterman’s Tuesday Top Ten list of Katie Couric’s future plans

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Television, You don't say | Comments Off

Sit @ Thai Express opens today

April 27, 20116:25 a.m.

WICHITA — Sit @ Thai Bistro owner Nikki Phumsawarng is opening her second restaurant today.

Sit @ Thai Express is in the former Taco Shop space on Central near Oliver.

Phumsawarng opened her first restaurant in 2009 on 21st Street near Ridge Road.

The new one will be open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sundays when it will be closed.

The mostly take-out restaurant also will have seating for about 20 inside.

A patio will open next week, and Phumsawarng says a drive-through is her next project after that.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under New business, Restaurants | Comments Off

Truck Stuff to expand in downtown Wichita

April 27, 20115:33 a.m.

WICHITA — Truck Stuff is breaking ground today to expand at 427 N. Washington.

“We’re just kind of cramped here,” says Julia Bolin, who owns the business with her husband, Greg.

The couple started the business almost 24 years ago with a 700-square-foot showroom.

Truck Stuff sells products such as bug shields, Nerf bars and bed liners to customize trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles. The company also does some interior work on vans.

Currently, the Bolins have an 1,100-square-foot showroom in a 4,200-square-foot building.

When they’re through adding another 7,000 square feet, Julia Bolin says they’ll have a 3,300-square-foot showroom.

She says she expects sales to increase with customers being able to see more merchandise on display.

“People like to see the products before they actually purchase them,” she says.

How soon will the new space be ready?

“Ohhh, I hope tomorrow,” Bolin says.

Realistically? Six months.

If the company ever expands again, it will have to be at a new address, she says.

“We’re using every square inch possible this time.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Downtown, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off