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Category Archives: Bars

Headshots Bar & Grill to open in the former Backstage space at Oxford Square

April 16, 20133:37 p.m.

WICHITA — Ryan Revard is excited to talk about the new bar and grill he’s planning for the former Backstage space in Oxford Square at 21st and Woodlawn, but at the same time he doesn’t want to go into too much detail yet.

“I am trying to avoid a knee-jerk reaction from people when they see it,” he says. That’s because he’s planning a themed business that focuses on video games, which will feature free console-based video games. He’s calling it Headshots Bar & Grill.

“That can mean a lot of things to a very broad range of people,” he says of the name.

Revard says he doesn’t want anyone to say, “Oh, this is a bar for people who live in their mom’s basement and don’t have jobs.”

He says, “By nature, a game is a social interaction between multiple people.”

The business will target people ages 21 to 35, which is why Revard says he wanted to be near Wichita State University, but he says anyone will be welcome.

Revard is a gamer himself, and he also has a mixology degree.

“I wanted to combine my two most favorite things and make a business out if it.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Backstage, Don Piros, Headshots Bar & Grill, Landmark Commercial Real Estate, Ryan Revard, Wichita State University Filed under Bars, New business, Oxford Square, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments

Loony Bin likely to open this fall on St. Francis in greater Old Town area

April 15, 201311:03 a.m.

UPDATED — The Loony Bin, which closed in late March, could reopen in the Old Town area by fall.

“We have a contract out on a building on St. Francis downtown,” says co-owner Larry Marks.

“That part’s real encouraging.”

In September, Have You Heard? reported that the club was looking to leave Oxford Square at the northwest corner of 21st and Woodlawn.

Marks, who lives in Oklahoma City, and co-owner Jeff Jones, who lives in Little Rock, still have a few things to iron out before the downtown deal is done.

“It’s just a matter of completing the financing process, which probably isn’t going to be no problem,” Marks says. “In today’s economy, you never know.”

The 13,000-square-foot building is between First and Second streets on St. Francis across from the urban park on the southeast corner of Second and St. Francis.

The Loony Bin had been in Oxford Square since 1999.

“That club was very special to us,” Marks says.

He and Jones also own Loony Bins in their hometowns and Tulsa, but Wichita was the best-performing one for a long time.

“That was the premier club for a good nine, 10 years,” Marks says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Jeff Jones, Larry Marks, Loony Bin, Old Town, Oxford Square Filed under Bars, Old Town, Real estate | Comments

Despite the appearance of a real estate sign, the Hill Bar and Grill is still opening

April 10, 20135:00 a.m.

WICHITA — About a month ago, Have You Heard? reported that the Hill Bar and Grill is still on track to open later this month or in early May, but some people still doubt it.

The reason is a Classic Real Estate sign in the window of the future business in the former Barrier’s space at Douglas and Oliver.

It’s true that the owners are seeking a new tenant, but it’s for an extra 2,200 square feet in the building – not for the Hill’s space.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Barrier's, Classic Real Estate, Hill Bar and Grill Filed under Bars, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments

You don’t say

March 29, 201311:07 a.m.

“The days of the giant club are over, and it’s time to freshen things up. Stay tuned!”

– A Facebook post from Doc Howard’s Lounge owner Bryan Shapiro on the Old Town bar closing this weekend

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Bryan Shapiro, Doc Howard's Lounge, Facebook, Old Town Filed under Bars, Closings, Facebook, Old Town, You don't say | Comments

Suede owner files Chapter 11 bankruptcy

March 28, 20135:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Disc Heat LLC, which does business as Suede, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

“It’s a long story,” owner Ed Banda said when first contacted about the filing.

In a follow-up e-mail, Banda said he wanted to make only one statement:

“I was forced to take action due to pending litigations in order to protect suede and remain fully operational.”

Look for more details in the coming weeks.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Disc Heat LLC, Ed Banda, Suede Filed under Bankruptcy, Bars, Old Town | Comments

The Hill Bar and Grill is still on track for late April or early May opening

March 13, 20134:04 p.m.

WICHITA — Some passersby are wondering about the Hill Bar and Grill at Douglas and Oliver.

“We’ve been at a standstill for, like, a week and a half,” says Brent Steven, who is opening the business with his brother, Brad.

Brent Steven says there was a permitting issue related to a mezzanine they won’t be using. He says it’s something the owners of the building have been working on, and it isn’t an issue for the business.

“We’re not too off track,” he says.

Steven expects plumbing and drywall work to start shortly. He says the Hill still should open by late April or early May.

“Once we get going, it’s going to go real fast.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Brad Steven, Brent Steven, Hill Bar and Grill Filed under Bars, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

Doc Howard’s Lounge is losing its lease, but the rest of the situation is unclear

March 6, 20132:40 p.m.

UPDATED – Doc Howard’s Lounge is losing its Old Town lease at 252 N. Mosley.

That much is clear, but not much else is.

When initially contacted about the situation on March 5, owner Bryan Shapiro said he no longer owns the business and referred calls to the new owner, which he said is his brother, Keith, who couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Early afternoon on March 6, building owner Dave Burk said the Doc Howard’s lease is expiring at the end of the month and that he chose not to allow the business to renew it.

The bar has been a lightning rod for critics due to violence and other issues in and around it.

It sounds like there’s a chance the business is reopening elsewhere in Old Town, but Bryan Shapiro said he didn’t have any information about it.

Burk said he’s still considering what to do with the 26,000 square feet Doc Howard’s is leaving.

“Well, I can’t tell you for sure what I’m going to do with it. I’ve got some ideas,” he said. “I just know what I’m not going to do with it.”

That means, Burk says, the space “isn’t going to be a large bar with a lot of capacity.”

He says it’s possible the area could be divided.

“It’s something I’m looking at.”

Keith Shapiro called later to say he’s not the owner of the business. He wouldn’t say what his role is.

“I can’t tell you anything other than we have other plans for this building with Dave Burk,” Keith Shapiro said. “We’re reconcepting and doing something different with this whole building itself.”

He further said, “There is nothing happening with the business. We are doing other things.”

In a follow-up call with Bryan Shapiro, he said he forgot that he is the owner of the business.

“I’m just mentally retarded,” he said. “We got a lot going on.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Bryan Shapiro, Carl Brewer, Doc Howard's Lounge, Keith Shapiro, Old Town, Two Brothers Group Filed under Bars, Old Town | Comments Off

Doc Howard’s Lounge reopens

Dec. 18, 20125:12 p.m.

WICHITA — Doc Howard’s Lounge is back open.

The Old Town bar’s temporarily lapsed liquor license was restored after owner Bryan Shapiro had a new fire door installed as the city dictated.

Shapiro says his business, which has been a target for critics due to fights and disturbances in and around it, was affected by having to close.

“Of course it was affected,” Shapiro says. He says, though, “I don’t think it was any evil intention.”

The city had several demands before it would restore the license.

“They gave us a list, we complied, we’re open, thank God.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Bryan Shapiro, Doc Howard's Lounge, Old Town Filed under Bars, Old Town | Comments Off

Steven brothers plan public meeting on their new Hill Bar and Grill

Dec. 17, 20122:23 p.m.

WICHITA — As owners of Mike’s Wine Dive and Club Indigo, Brad and Brent Steven are already two of the most recognizable restaurateurs in Wichita.

For those who don’t know them, though, or for those who are worried about the new Hill Bar and Grill they have planned for the former Barrier’s space, the Stevens are holding a meeting there on Dec. 21.

“We really just wanted to meet with everyone and find out what their concerns are,” Brad Steven says.

He says the idea is to introduce themselves and their concept.

Some residents in the area worried about the Hill’s planned 2 a.m. closing time. Others have traffic and parking concerns.

The brothers already have proper zoning for the Hill, but they’re seeking some extra parking nearby where the owners of the building are going to raze a duplex. That area needs rezoned.

The meeting is at 4 p.m. in the building where the Hill will locate at the northeast corner of Douglas and Oliver.

Brad Steven says the idea is to meet, share plans, ease concerns and hopefully “keep everybody happy.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Barrier's, Brad Steven, Brent Steven, Club Indigo, Hill Bar and Grill, Mike's Wine Dive Filed under Bars, New business, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

Doc Howard’s Lounge temporarily closes due to lapsed liquor license

Dec. 14, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — It looked like some critics of Doc Howard’s Lounge might get their wish to have the bar close.

The Old Town bar shut down this week because its liquor license expired Dec. 10.

“Yeah, I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that will be excited,” says owner Bryan Shapiro.

The situation is only temporary, though.

The city won’t renew the license until Shapiro gets a fire door for an opening at the bar, which has frequently been in the news due to fights and other disturbances in and around the business.

Shapiro says it’s taking a while to get the door.

“We weren’t prepared for it because we’ve never been asked for it before,” he says. “Ten years, 10 inspections, nobody mentions the door. Now they mention the door?”

Doc Howard’s has been in business almost three years, but Shapiro has had a bar of some sort in the space for a decade.

“It is what it is, and we do everything we can to comply,” he says. “I don’t think we have an operational issue here.”