Daily Archives: Jan. 25, 2012

Keller Williams Hometown Partners broker takes over sale of commercial lots in Maize’s Wyn-Wood development

Jan. 25, 20126:23 p.m.

WICHITA — With the economy looking up, there’s going to be a renewed effort to sell the last 12 commercial lots at the Wyn-Wood development at 37th North and Maize Road in Maize.

“We’ve had interest, and we need somebody to harness it, go after it and get something built,” says LewJene Schneider, who started the development with her sister and brother-in-law, Leslye and Gerald Woodard.

That somebody is Thomas Lassley of Keller Williams Hometown Partners.

Lassley recently sold two lots at Wyn-Wood to the Assemblies of God Kansas District Council on behalf of Curt McNay of Caber Associates Architects and Caber Construction.

Lassley says McNay approached Schneider and the Woodards about using Lassley to “see if we can get these lots sold for you.”

“Curt’s a big help,” Lassley says. “He gets a lot of calls from people wanting to build out there.”

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Filed under Maize, Real estate, Wyn-Wood | Comments Off

Zelman Lofts fully leased on residential side; commercial leasing is next

Jan. 25, 20125:49 p.m.

WICHITA — The nine residential spaces at Zelman Lofts are now completely leased.

“It’s some proof in the pudding that we’re hard workers,” says Michael Ramsey, who is redeveloping the building with Robert Eyster.

Now, they’re moving on to leasing 4,800 square feet of retail or restaurant space that fronts Douglas and another 1,000 square feet of office space that fronts St. Francis.

“The group is going to be particular about who goes in there because it’s very special space,” says Leisa Lowry of J.P. Weigand & Sons, who handles Ramsey and Eyster’s real estate deals.

The building, which was Sam Zelman’s namesake clothing store for decades, is across from Intrust Bank Arena and between an existing city park and another one being built just up St. Francis.

“It’s a tremendous corner,” Ramsey says.

Lowry says the response so far has been great, too.

She says interest has mostly been from restaurateurs, and it looks like that’s what will go in the space.

“We’ve had a lot of excellent activity on it.”

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

You don’t say

Jan. 25, 20123:11 p.m.

“To save a couple of bucks, I switched.”

– Phil Ruffin, who dropped his Wichita cellphone and got a Vegas one instead because of roaming fees

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

Phil Ruffin solves one headache, fights another and does lots of business in between

Jan. 25, 20123:09 p.m.

WICHITA — As always, Phil Ruffin has a lot on his plate, and some things are going better than others.

This week, a federal judge threw out an age discrimination lawsuit against Ruffin’s Treasure Island hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

“We wanted to put a first-class spa in,” Ruffin says of his wife’s namesake Oleksandra Spa & Salon. “Oleksandra was very familiar with that business and wanted a bunch of new things put in.”

That included hiring people with the necessary skill sets, he says.

“The ones who didn’t have the skills sued us,” Ruffin says.

He describes it as a typical headache.

“You get those things all the time. You try not to, but you can’t help it sometimes.”

He’s also added a second Starbucks on his property along with the Margarita Bar, both of which are near Treasure Island’s pirate show on the strip.

“Nine thousand people a night look at that,” Ruffin says. He wants to accommodate each of them with a drink.

Ruffin also is working with Cirque Du Soleil to revamp “Mystere,” one of the most popular Vegas shows, which also is at Treasure Island.

The new show debuts Feb. 12.

“It should be an even better show,” Ruffin says.

Back in Wichita, Ruffin is once again working on getting slots at his closed Wichita Greyhound Park.

“We keep trying,” he says.

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , Filed under Casinos, Gaming, Las Vegas | Comments Off

Gerrard’s in Goddard to become Marcie’s Cafe

Jan. 25, 201211:08 a.m.

WICHITA — Gerrard’s, a longtime staple in Goddard, is getting a new name and a new look to go along with its new owner.

Tammy Cruse bought the restaurant in June but didn’t want to make quick changes.

“I just wanted to get a feel for it in the community,” she says.

Cruse says the restaurant dates to 1960 when it started under another name as a hamburger stand.

“Then they built another building,” she says. “They just kept adding to it, adding to it, and now we have these huge dining rooms.”

The restaurant, which is at 20201 U.S. 54, seats 200.

Cruse is closing the restaurant Sunday and will reopen Wednesday as Marcie’s Cafe, which she’s named for her late grandmother.

“My grandmother raised me, and she always wanted a restaurant,” Cruse says. “She always let grandpa follow his dreams. She was always just kind of the supporter for him.”

Cruse isn’t sure what her grandmother would think of her new endeavor.

“I’m hoping she would be ecstatic.”

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

FDA to move to new Wichita office

Jan. 25, 201210:42 a.m.

UPDATED — The Food and Drug Administration is moving to a new Wichita office.

The FDA’s lease is up at 1861 N. Rock Road, so it’s moving to 1,700 square feet at 8440 E. 29th St.

Scott Harper of Landmark Commercial Real Estate handled the deal.

The Wichita FDA office, which is one of six offices associated with the FDA’s district office in Kansas City, is part of the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs. That division is responsible for inspecting manufacturers and regulating their products to ensure the safety of such things as food, drugs and medical devices.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under East side, Federal government, Real estate | Comments Off