Daily Archives: Jan. 24, 2012

Balls-n-Strikes coming to Derby

Jan. 24, 20122:44 p.m.

WICHITA — Another new Balls-n-Strikes indoor baseball and softball practice facility is coming to the greater Wichita area, this time in Derby.

Mike Gehrer already has franchises in Bel Aire and Goddard. He and Kelly Klima, who will own 70 percent of the business, are opening another Balls-n-Strikes at 1728 Nelson Drive in Derby next to Atwoods.

Klima says he’s thrilled to be working with Gehrer.

“He has coached my son for a couple of years now,” Klima says. “He’s just a brilliant guy.”

The two expect to break ground on the 10,000-square-foot facility in March. Klima expects it will take about five months to build.

The Derby City Council recently approved the site plan.

“Having an indoor practice facility benefits for a lot of reasons,” Klima says.

Even though a lot of teams start their seasons in March, he says, it’s difficult for them to practice in the cold months before then.

“This creates a lot of practice time for the kids … who are trying to get ready for their season.”

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

Juni’s Cafe to open at Comotara Center

Jan. 24, 20125:52 a.m.

WICHITA — Once stay-at-home mom Jeniffer Kang realized she can’t follow her daughter, Esther Cho, to college this fall as she would like, she decided she needed to find something new to do.

“I don’t know how I’m going to survive without her,” Kang says. “I need some kind of life.”

So she’s opening Juni’s Cafe, a Korean restaurant in 1,100 square feet next to Tan Lines at Comotara Center near 29th and Rock Road.

Kang is naming the restaurant after her only other child, Wonjoon Cho, who is 12.

The restaurant will seat only 20, but that works with Kang’s concept.

“I want people to think about (it) as a home,” she says.

Kang, who is a South Korea native, will serve traditional Korean cuisine.

“It’s not the fusion, like adapting to Americans,” she says.

Kang says a lot of the food is on the healthy side and is made with very little oil. She hopes that appeals to diners as well.

Kerry Dunn of Re/Max Superior Realtors and Debbie McNeal of RP Realty Partners handled the lease for the restaurant.

Juni’s will serve lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and Kang says she’s open to hosting private parties on Sundays as well.

Look for Juni’s to open in early April.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Comotara Center, East side, New business, Restaurants | Comments Off