Daily Archives: April 26, 2012

You don’t say

April 26, 20124:05 p.m.

“I notice as I get closer to retirement, they keep saying he will make short comments or brief comments.”

– Wichita State University president Don Beggs after being introduced at Thursday’s Cooperative Education breakfast

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

Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar opening in former Gaslamp Grille & Lounge

April 26, 20122:04 p.m.

WICHITA — The deal is still somewhat in the works, but it looks like Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar is coming to the former Gaslamp Grille & Lounge near Central and Rock.

“We were divided on that spot or something downtown,” says Jay Hickman.

Hickman and Daniel Bryant are partners in the chain.

There are three Ernie Biggs locations in Missouri — Branson, Kansas City and Springfield — and one in Little Rock.

The Wichita Ernie Biggs will open May 9.

Gaslamp owner Whitney VinZant, who couldn’t be reached for comment, may or may not be a partner in Ernie Biggs.

“We don’t have all that finalized yet,” Hickman says. “We’re trying to work out a deal right now with him and that spot.”

Hickman says there’s no question Ernie Biggs will happen, though. A new sign went up today.

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

Healy Biodiesel to expand, allowing production to triple

April 26, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Healy Biodiesel, a 5-year-old Sedgwick company, is a few weeks away from moving into new space that will allow it to triple its production.

“We make biodiesel from oils – used cooking oil primarily,” president Ben Healy says. “We are producing probably … about a quarter-million gallons a year currently.”

The biodiesel can be used in cars and trucks.

With a new plant in a Sedgwick industrial park at 250 Industrial Drive, Healy says he expects to be able to produce a million gallons of biodiesel a year.

So what’s that mean for the company?

“A lot more headaches,” he says, perhaps only half joking.

“We’re going to need to add employees,” Healy says.

He’ll also need to add more used cooking oil clients, “which is the backbone of our business.”

Healy particularly will look to Wichita restaurants for help with that.

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