Curly’s American Diner to open in former Burger House space at Harry and Webb

May 6, 20134:59 p.m.

WICHITA — A new restaurant is opening in the former Burger House space at Harry and Webb.

David Rohr and two partners, Carlos Magana and Stephen Joseph, are opening Curly’s American Diner on May 13.

“It’s just kind of an opportunity, and I said, ‘Sure, why not?’” says Rohr, who used to manage the Applebee’s near 47th and Broadway.

Curly’s is named after Magana’s nickname.

“It just kind of fit,” Rohr says.

The menu will include lots of comfort food, such as chicken fried chicken and steak, meatloaf and pot roast along with burgers and sandwiches.

There will be seating for about 100, and there will be a new banquet room that seats about 40.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Rohr says he’s working on a liquor license.

“We are planning on that eventually.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under East side, New business, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments

Slawson Cos. works to lift restriction on small part of NewMarket Square

Feb. 29, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Slawson Cos. is working to lift a zoning restriction on a lot at its NewMarket Square development at 21st and Maize.

The restriction won’t allow a drive-through on the lot next to where Jimmy John’s is opening by Applebee’s on 21st Street just west of Maize Road.

“That really was the catalyst for getting this restriction lifted,” says April Reed, a commercial broker with Slawson.

“Jimmy’s will have a drive-through,” Reed says. “Their lot wasn’t restricted.”

She says the best use of the restricted lot would be another quick-service style restaurant with a possible drive-through.

It would expand the potential businesses that could open there.

We’ll let you know what happens.

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under NewMarket Square, Restaurants, West side, Zoning | Comments Off

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches coming to 21st and Maize Road area

Dec. 28, 20116:18 p.m.

WICHITA — At long last, the west side is getting its own Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches restaurant.

“We wish we had a location on the west open two years ago,” says franchisee Matt Brane.

He’s president of Bushwood Investments, a partnership of three Wichitans who own 29 Jimmy John’s restaurants in Kansas and Texas.

So far, the group has three Jimmy John’s here, including two North Rock Road sites and one just north of Central and Hillside.

Now, the group has a contract on space next to Applebee’s on 21st Street just west of Maize Road. The deal hasn’t closed yet, but it’s expected to soon, and the new restaurant should be open by late spring.

Finding west-side space has been a challenge, Brane says, but not due to a lack of space.

“There’s tons of in-line space available on the west side,” he says. “We’re selective about where we go.”

Brane says, “Our mission is to develop Class A real estate with freestanding drive-through locations. Those are more difficult to find.”

The Central and Hillside Jimmy John’s and the one at 340 N. Rock Road have drive-throughs. The one at 3300 N. Rock Road does not.

Brane says his group is looking for another west-side site for a second restaurant there along with one downtown. Nothing is close yet.

The west-side Jimmy John’s site isn’t the only real estate deal Bushwood Investments has been working on.

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Downtown, East side, Real estate, Restaurants, West side | Comments Off

Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant to open in Derby

May 24, 20101:45 p.m.

WICHITA — Less than three years after opening his first Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant, Luis Alfaro is preparing to start work on a third, this time in Derby.

“We just got the land,” Alfaro says of 1257 N. Rock, which is next to Applebee’s.

“It’s the first one that we’re going to build from scratch.”

Alfaro is planning a 180-seat restaurant with a 30-seat patio.

He had planned to open a Derby restaurant after opening in Wichita at 1335 N. Tyler in the former Brews Brothers and Mom’s space.

Instead, Alfaro says Manhattan was his next choice because of good opportunities there.

He hopes to have the Derby Los Cocos open by early November.

Alfaro is already scouting land on the east side for his fourth restaurant.

That could be in east Wichita or Andover.

His plan is to open a restaurant a year.

“We’ve just got to go one by one.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Derby, Restaurants | Comments

You don’t say

Jan. 14, 20106:40 p.m.

“I don’t care if it never snows again.”

—Restaurateur Jim Stevens, who owns numerous concepts including the local Applebee’s franchise, on how much snow hurts his business

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , Filed under You don't say | Comments