Daily Archives: Oct. 20, 2011

You don’t say

Oct. 20, 20114:34 p.m.

“They know grandpa will pick up the check.”

— Sen. Les Donovan, who paused during remarks at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview opening reception Wednesday to take a call from a grandchild about going to dinner

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

Customers are confused, but Nature’s Way Plants & Imports in Andover is still open

Oct. 20, 20114:00 p.m.

WICHITA — It’s been a tough couple of days for Rodeana Garon.

Garon owns Nature’s Way Plants and Imports in Andover.

Her business is open, but Garon says customers think it’s closed because the state seized the assets of Nature’s Way Plant Shop and closed that store at 8474 E. Kellogg on Tuesday.

“It’s been horrible,” Garon says.

She used to work at the Nature’s Way on Kellogg.

“It’s always been like an affiliation,” she says of the businesses. “I have always shared the same (supply) trucks. We buy the same merchandise.”

The businesses have always been separate, though.

Garon suspects part of the problem behind her competitor’s $55,465 worth of tax trouble was related to construction along Kellogg.

When she worked for the store, Garon says, “I can’t tell you the number of calls I would get saying, ‘How do I get to your store?’ ”

She says even as people were driving by calling her from their cell phones, they were confused.

“It was so hard.”

Garon’s store is at 345 N. Andover Road. She’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Andover, Retail | Comments Off

Frank’s Seneca Auto Service reopens

Oct. 20, 20113:38 p.m.

WICHITA — The state is allowing Frank’s Seneca Auto Service to reopen.

Have You Heard? reported that the state seized the assets of the business at 1977 S. Seneca on Wednesday for failure to pay $8,618 in state sales tax.

The company and the state have now reached a payment arrangement, and the business is back open.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Filed under Legal, Taxes | Comments Off

Ziggy’s Pizza to open in former Bay Leaf Cafe space at Clifton Square

Oct. 20, 201111:15 a.m.

WICHITA — Brothers Ryan and Jamie Verbeckmoes are opening Ziggy’s Pizza in the former Bay Leaf Cafe space at Clifton Square.

“It’s a really cool little charming building,” Ryan Verbeckmoes says.

He’s most recently been managing a restaurant in Oklahoma City.

Jamie Verbeckmoes has been working with his father, Joe, at Benchmark Real Estate Group.

“I bring the restaurant knowledge, and he brings the business knowledge,” Ryan Verbeckmoes says.

“We’ve always dreamed about having our own restaurant together.”

Their mother, Becky, is their inspiration for the square-shaped pizza that will be their specialty.

“It’s kind of modeled after a pizza my mom used to make us in a square pan when we were little,” Ryan Verbeckmoes says.

There’s no Ziggy in the family.

“We just think it’s a fun name,” Verbeckmoes says.

The brothers also will serve appetizers, several signature sandwiches and have a full bar.

They plan to be a family-oriented restaurant, Verbeckmoes says.

“It’s also a great place to catch a game.”

He says Ziggy’s will open in December if all goes well with construction and licensing.

“It’s going to be fun.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Clifton Square, Restaurants | Comments Off

Zelman Lofts available to tour Saturday

Oct. 20, 20115:09 a.m.

WICHITA — Developers Robert Eyster and Michael Ramsey are offering a sneak peek at their new Zelman Lofts on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The two have been renovating Sam Zelman’s former namesake men’s clothing store, which was in business at Douglas and St. Francis from the 1920s to 2006.

Two of the lofts will be available to tour. They’ll be outfitted with furniture, though they don’t yet have appliances.

Other lofts in the building will be available to see as well, though they’re unfinished.

There will be studios and one-bedroom lofts in the building.

The open house will include refreshments and a prize giveaway.

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