Category Archives: Leases

Foster Design to move to the Garvey Center

Friday10:44 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)

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.”

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

Hoffmann’s Green Industries sues Epic Apparel owners for breach of lease agreement

Monday6:29 a.m.

WICHITA — Hoffmann’s Green Industries has filed a lawsuit against Epic Apparel and store owners Corey and Julie Rau.

Barbara and John Hoffmann of Green Acres Market & Deli are the Raus’ landlords.

According to the lawsuit, the Raus signed a lease with the Hoffmanns in 2005 to locate next to Green Acres in Bradley Fair.

Then, in 2007, the Raus subleased to Lavish Boutique and moved to a larger space in Bradley Fair.

Lavish closed earlier this year.

The lawsuit says the Raus’ original lease doesn’t expire until June 2010 and that the Raus have breached that lease agreement by not paying $6,250 a month in rent for August through November.

In addition to back rent and penalties for late payment, the Hoffmanns are asking for more than $20,000 in damages for failure to operate a business on the premises, which they say the lease dictates.

In all, the suit asks for more than $48,000.

Neither the Hoffmanns nor the Raus could be reached for comment.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Bradley Fair, Lawsuits, Leases, Legal, Retail | Comments (1)

Corporate Caterers of Wichita looking to expand

Nov. 13, 20096:06 a.m.

WICHITA — Ben Arnold is looking to expand his Corporate Caterers of Wichita.

“Our main goal was just to build a building,” he says.

But with the current state of commercial lending, he says, “There’s absolutely no way.”

Arnold now has 8,700 square feet at Douglas and West.

He’s looking at taking 3,400 square feet Accent Bridal & Tux is vacating two doors down. But he wants more.

“We’re trying to put a deal together,” he says.

That wasn’t Arnold’s original first choice of locales, though. He wanted downtown or the east side.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Catering, Leases, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments (4)

Dwyer’s Hallmark to close in Andover, but sister stores in Wichita, Derby and Emporia will remain open

Nov. 11, 20095:37 p.m.

WICHITA — The Dwyer’s Hallmark store at 420 S. Andover Road is closing at the end of February, but the Dwyer’s Hallmark stores in Wichita (at Brittany Center at 21st and Woodlawn), Derby and Emporia will remain open.

The Andover store is closing because the Dillons that used to be near it moved farther away.

“That’s really killed our business there,” says Scott Dwyer, who manages the businesses for his parents, Sue and Harold.

The store has been there for 10 years. Dwyer says his family isn’t moving to be closer to the new Dillons because rent would be higher.

The family already has closed its Nifty Fifty store at 321 S. Andover Road. That store used to sell the Hallmark shop’s close-out items along with other close-out merchandise.

“It just didn’t work out, either,” Scott Dwyer says of the store, which opened in 2006. “We started out OK, and the sales just really fell off.”

Business at the other stores is all right.

“I’m not going to say it’s great right now,” Dwyer says. “It’s been a pretty tough year. We’re just hoping for a good Christmas.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Andover, Closings, Emporia, Leases, Retail | Comments (0)

Accent Bridal & Tux is moving to Delano

Nov. 11, 20093:03 p.m.

WICHITA — Accent Bridal & Tux is moving, but it will remain on Douglas.

In fact, each of the store’s three moves have always been to space on Douglas.

“Douglas is our address, I guess,” says Tricia Bell, who owns the business with her brother-in-law, Scott, and mother-in-law, Vivian.

Bell’s daughter-in-law, Audra, also works there.

When Accent Bridal opened more than 23 years ago, it was at 3540 W. Douglas. It’s been just down the street from there at 3940 W. Douglas, which is at Douglas and West, for the last 16 years.

Now, it’s moving to 817 W. Douglas in Delano where Rewound Sounds used to be. That store is now across the street at 810 W. Douglas.

“We just think the Delano district is an up-and-coming place, and we think it’s going to be a great place to have a bridal shop,” Tricia Bell says.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Bridal, Delano, Leases, Retail | Comments (0)

Piccadilly Market & Grill future is uncertain

Nov. 10, 20094:17 p.m.

WICHITA — The future of Olive Tree Bistro and Chelsea’s Bar and Grill isn’t the only thing up in the air for Latour Management.

There are reports that Walter Morris Cos., Latour’s landlord for Piccadilly Market & Grill at Central and Rock, is now showing the space to other possible tenants.

Latour president Joumana Toubia says that’s true. But she adds, “I want you to know that Piccadilly is a viable option for us.”

She’s not sure what will happen with the space in the new year.

“They asked us if we’re ready to commit,” Toubia says of signing a new lease. “I said I need a little bit of time. I’m not ready.”

Her Olive Tree and Chelsea’s are being evicted from Comotara Center at 29th and Rock.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Evictions, Leases, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments (10)

Steakhouse owners may reopen in new space

Nov. 4, 20096:39 a.m.

WICHITA — Former Eaton Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton may reopen their restaurant in a new space.

The Comptons were evicted from Eaton Place for failure to pay rent. They’re now looking down the street at 217 E. Douglas.

Athena Jewelry owner Sophokles Anthimides owns the building and has been talking to the Comptons about leasing the space. He’s meeting with them at 10 a.m. today “to see what they want to do.”

“That’s where they want to be to start,” Anthimides says.

He also owns Century Plaza at Douglas and Main where there’s restaurant space in the basement. The well-known Lancers is one of several restaurants that was once there.

“They’re talking about later on, if they do well here, they can move over there,” Anthimides says of the Comptons.

He says he’ll update us after this morning’s meeting.

There’s no word from the Comptons on their plans because they’ve requested that Have You Heard? not contact them anymore.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , Filed under Leases, Restaurants | Comments (27)

Olive Tree and Chelsea’s are being evicted

Nov. 3, 200912:03 p.m.

WICHITA — It looks like there’s more to the Olive Tree Bistro story than the Toubia sisters are telling.

According to a lawyer who represents the landlords for the Olive Tree Bistro and Chelsea’s Bar and Grill, the restaurants are being evicted.

“We filed an eviction petition . . . a week ago,” says Jeff Kennedy of Martin Pringle. “They’re not paying their rent.”

Kennedy says Latour Management, which owns the restaurants and banquet facility at 29th and Rock, is more than $60,000 behind in rent.

“In January, that’s when we started having problems with them paying their rent on a timely basis,” he says.

Latour president Joumana Toubia says there are problems with the condition of the building.

Kennedy says some of the property condition issues Latour has raised are nonissues, such as moisture problems that occurred during roof repairs. He says those have been corrected.

As for some of the other issues, Kennedy says, “The management company was perfectly willing to resolve them, but they would not pay their rent.”

He says: “Anytime you get into a situation like this, somebody is going to look for excuses why they’re not paying their rent.”

The restaurants are open for now.

“That’s something that we’re talking about,” Kennedy says.

It’s not clear when they will close or where they may reopen.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Evictions, Leases, Restaurants | Comments (22)

Olive Tree Bistro to move, but where?

Nov. 3, 200910:57 a.m.

WICHITA — After years of flirting with leaving their Olive Tree Bistro space at 29th and Rock, Joumana and Randa Toubia have finally decided to do it.

In a recent letter to customers, the sisters said with “deep regret and great sadness” they decided to move.

“We have great interest in relocating to the heart of the city but are not ready to announce our new location just yet,” the letter said. “However, we can say, we are absolutely committed to honoring the reservations on our books by helping to move events to mutually agreed upon venues and to provide the catering.”

In a statement to Have You Heard?, Joumana Toubia today said:

“After several months of attempts to effect a rehabilitation and betterment of the premises at 29th and Rock Road, continuing operations at The Olive Tree Bistro, Chelsea’s Bar & Grill and the associated Banquet Facility have unfortunately become threatened due to irreconcilable issues with the property owners. Until a satisfactory resolution is achieved, we are committed to finding alternate venues to fulfill the current contracts we have scheduled for our banquet services and facilities. Other Latour Management, Inc. food service operations, including those at the Piccadilly Markets, Bagatelle Bakery and The Olive Tree’s catering service, will not be interrupted.”

The Toubias’ landlord couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Check back for more information throughout the day.

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