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You don’t say

Yesterday4:08 p.m.

“I’m very happy because the first thing those folks thought of was Hartman Arena.”

— Wink Hartman Sr. on how some people wanting Intrust Bank Arena tickets are calling his Park City arena

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Arenas, Intrust Bank Arena, You don't say | Comments (0)

Debi’s Kitchen2Table to sell small wares to restaurants and the public

Yesterday1:47 p.m.

WICHITA — Debi Pugh has been in the restaurant supply business for years, but always as an employee.

Now, she’s going to own her own company.

Today, Pugh purchased the small wares division — which includes things like table ware, flatware and glasses — of Discount Restaurant Equipment.

“I just handed him the check at lunch,” Pugh says.

Discount Restaurant Equipment had a showroom that closed this summer, but Pugh felt it was necessary to keep one.

Her Debi’s Kitchen2Table will be at 6108 W. Central between I-235 and the Big Ditch.

Pugh says her biggest customer is Spangles, and she plans to continue to build relationships with commercial customers around the state.

“I think western Kansas is underserved,” she says.

But she also wants to attract nonrestaurant customers.

“Restaurant supply stores are always open to the public, but nobody really knows that,” Pugh says.

She wants to sell to “the weekend chef, the barbecue guy, the man who makes the chili,” in between selling to restaurants.

“I can’t do one without the other.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Restaurants | Comments (0)

Foster Design to move to the Garvey Center

Yesterday10:44 a.m.

WICHITA — When Gene Foster of Foster Design learned he was losing his space at Brittany Center at 21st and Woodlawn because of InfoSync Service’s upcoming expansion, his first thought was that he would move farther east.

But he didn’t like the prices.

“We couldn’t really justify building a Taj Mahal for our corporate headquarters when we could have just as nice (of a) facility downtown,” Foster says.

So now he’s moving his contract engineering firm to the Garvey Center.

“They made us the best proposal.”

And he likes that he’s going to be part of downtown’s revitalization.

“Downtown has some . . . potential,” Foster says. “If it’s handled right by our city . . . fathers, the movers and shakers, I think it could be vibrant down here again.”

He’s moving into close to 3,000 square feet by the end of the year.

Adam Clements of Grubb & Ellis/Martens Commercial Group handled the deal.

Foster says he thinks he’ll be part of a trend.

“We’ll see more people moving back downtown.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Brittany Center, Garvey Center, Leases, Real estate | Comments (0)

Tracy Cassidy needs your help collecting turkeys — and beating Brett

Thursday5:24 p.m.

WICHITA — B98 FM’s Tracy Cassidy and Brett Harris have a “friendly” rivalry each year to see who can collect the most turkeys and donations for United Methodist Open Door, but Cassidy is worried this year.

She’ll be at a new location — the Dillons at 21st and Maize — and wants to be sure donors can find her.

To inspire potential givers to head her way, Cassidy offers this thought:
“Can of green beans: .75 cents. Bag of stuffing: .49 a pound. Beating Brett Harris in our annual turkey drive collection: Priceless!”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Radio | Comments (1)

You don’t say

Thursday4:10 p.m.

“I don’t know a damn thing about Shakespeare, but Roger Rees does.”

– Actress Kirstie Alley’s introduction of Roger Rees, who played her love interest on “Cheers,” before his Wednesday one-man show at WSU where he explored all things Shakespeare

“I was a bit faint in the wings.”

— Rees on how he felt about Alley’s introduction, in which she referred to him as “my sweet baby”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Wichita State University, You don't say | Comments (2)

Material Comforts Home Studio to close

Thursday3:06 p.m.

WICHITA — They say marriage is about compromise. It looks like that’s why Jan Hoffmann is closing her Material Comforts Home Studio in Comotara Center at 29th and Rock.

For several years, the former Wichitan and her husband — he’s retired and she’s mostly retired — have been living in South Dakota and North Carolina.

“We’re footloose and fancy free, and he wants to be even more footloose and fancy free,” Hoffmann says. “He’s been after me for a year and a half.”

Last week, she made the decision to close her shop, which originated as Decorator Fabric Warehouse in Delano.

Hoffmann says inventory is 40 percent off, but she’s taking her time closing the shop, which sells furniture, lighting, rugs and accessories.

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Comotara Center, East side, Retail | Comments (9)

Bank of America Center renovates almost 17,000 square feet

Thursday6:43 a.m.

WICHITA — Certain areas of the Bank of America Center at Douglas and Broadway — including one area that’s been vacant for more than 15 years — are getting a makeover in preparation for new tenants.

“I’m gutting . . . the lower level of the lobby floor and making all those offices,” says Chris Ruffin, director of real estate for his father Phil Ruffin’s Ruffin Properties.

Phil Ruffin owns the Bank of America Center.

Chris Ruffin says the 9,000 square feet on the lower level hasn’t been occupied for years.

“We’re redoing the whole space because it’s just not leasable the way it is,” he says. It “is going to be a great space when I’m done with it.”

He’s adding high-end lighting, new carpeting and building new walls.

“I need to brighten it up down there,” Ruffin says. “I need to make it presentable and move-in ready.”

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Downtown, Leases | Comments (3)

Petroleum Club to take over food operations at the Ruffin Building on East Douglas

Wednesday5:04 p.m.

WICHITA — The Petroleum Club is branching outside of the Bank of America Center at Douglas and Broadway.

Building owner Phil Ruffin approached club general manager Kathy Latham about a month ago to see if she might be interested in running food operations at his Ruffin Building at 9111 E. Douglas, which perhaps is better known as the former Pizza Hut headquarters.

For the last four years, Youssef Youssef has run Fattoush Deli there, but he’s now on only a month-to-month lease.

Latham decided it made sense for the Petroleum Club to venture east for an additional operation.

“It’s evolving, it seems like, just because of the success that we’ve had here,” she says of the downtown property.

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Olive Tree Bistro and Chelsea’s Bar and Grill will be gone by the end of the month

Wednesday3:31 p.m.

WICHITA — The Olive Tree Bistro and Chelsea’s Bar and Grill will be gone from 29th and Rock by the end of November.

Latour Management is being evicted from the space, where it’s been since Antoine Toubia, the late founder of the company, moved there in 1987.

Latour is being evicted for what the landlord says is nonpayment of rent.

Latour president Joumana Toubia, Antoine’s sister, says she stopped paying because of maintenance issues.

Toubia is throwing a party for customers from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“We’re inviting our patrons to come and celebrate our legacy,” she says.

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Evictions, Restaurants | Comments (9)

Tweet of the week

Wednesday2:39 p.m.

“Ha Ha. Here at Envision . . . we have the INTRUST Community Room, we worry about people going to the bank for our events.”

— A tweet on Twitter from Envision’s Michael Epp (@michalepp) in reply to a tweet about the Intrust Bank concert calls

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Concerts, Intrust Bank Arena, Tweet of the week, Twitter | Comments (0)