Artist Central to open for artists to create, show and sell their work

Nov. 17, 20115:06 a.m.

WICHITA — Clifton Square owner Jo Zakas and a group of other artists are opening a new space to create, show and sell art.

Artist Central will be at 5014 E. Central, which is on the north side of Central between Oliver and Edgemoor.

“Primarily it’s an artist’s studio where people can come and work,” Zakas says.

Other artists include Carol Cumberland, Barbara Niewald, Vicki McIlroy and internationally known artist and teacher Jim Gross.

Initially, they’ll have 900 square feet, which has been vacant since U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran had a campaign office there.

Zakas says there’s room to grow to 2,400 square feet.

“We’re looking for some additional artists, too,” she says.

The artists have a particular focus on abstract work, though they’re open to any kind of artists joining them, including photographers.

Art isn’t new to Zakas, who is best known for her Clifton Square retail center near College Hill.

“You know, I’ve been doing art since the ’80s,” she says. “It all started because I needed paintings for my wall, and everything I looked at was $6,000.”

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

Nice Things Consignment Boutique to reopen in Clifton Square

Nov. 4, 20111:38 p.m.

WICHITA — Another new consignment shop — the most popular Wichita retail trend of 2011 —is opening in Clifton Square at 3700 E. Douglas.

Kim Carney is reopening her Nice Things Consignment Boutique, which was located near Central and Greenwich until about a year ago.

Carney plans to carry furniture, home decor and women’s designer clothing.

“We just try to keep it upscale,” she says. That means she’s “very particular about what we take.”

Carney likes Clifton Square in part for “just the quaintness of the square.”

She’s hoping to open Dec. 1.

“I’m very excited to reopen in this location.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under New business, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

Ziggy’s Pizza to open in former Bay Leaf Cafe space at Clifton Square

Oct. 20, 201111:15 a.m.

WICHITA — Brothers Ryan and Jamie Verbeckmoes are opening Ziggy’s Pizza in the former Bay Leaf Cafe space at Clifton Square.

“It’s a really cool little charming building,” Ryan Verbeckmoes says.

He’s most recently been managing a restaurant in Oklahoma City.

Jamie Verbeckmoes has been working with his father, Joe, at Benchmark Real Estate Group.

“I bring the restaurant knowledge, and he brings the business knowledge,” Ryan Verbeckmoes says.

“We’ve always dreamed about having our own restaurant together.”

Their mother, Becky, is their inspiration for the square-shaped pizza that will be their specialty.

“It’s kind of modeled after a pizza my mom used to make us in a square pan when we were little,” Ryan Verbeckmoes says.

There’s no Ziggy in the family.

“We just think it’s a fun name,” Verbeckmoes says.

The brothers also will serve appetizers, several signature sandwiches and have a full bar.

They plan to be a family-oriented restaurant, Verbeckmoes says.

“It’s also a great place to catch a game.”

He says Ziggy’s will open in December if all goes well with construction and licensing.

“It’s going to be fun.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Clifton Square, Restaurants | Comments Off

John Browns in Clifton Square has closed, at least for now

Sept. 19, 201111:18 a.m.

John Fitzthum has closed — at least for now — his John Browns in Clifton Square.

“We’re going to take a break,” Fitzthum says. “We’re going to restrategize.”

Fitzthum opened in November in the former Clifton Wine and Jazz space.

“I think there needs to be some reconsideration of the hours. There needs to be some reconsideration of the menu,” he says. “You know, the late-night food in Wichita doesn’t work, in my opinion, which surprises me. I guess people prefer Village Inn.”

Fitzthum is going to try to make a decision by next week about either keeping John Browns or doing something new.

Regardless of what happens there, Fitzthum is going to go work for his brother-in-law, Louis Thompson, at the Candle Club. Fitzthum will be general manager.

“We’re going to be one big family over at the Candle Club.”


By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Bars, Clifton Square, Restaurants | Comments Off

All Things Floral to move to Clifton Square

Sept. 13, 20115:35 a.m.

WICHITA — All Things Floral has not been as successful as owners Randa and Ed Haynie thought it would be since opening at 3623 E. Harry on Mother’s Day, so they’re taking the bold step of moving and more than tripling their space.

Their new 1,668-square-foot shop will open by Oct. 1 at Clifton Square at 3700 E. Douglas.

“It’s a well-known area,” Randa Haynie says. “If you’ve been in Wichita for any amount of time, you know about Clifton Square.”

The Haynies’ current shop is just down from the well-established Tillie’s Flower Shop.

“We thought it would help . . . being by Tillie’s,” Haynie says.

She says it did help with some overflow business, but not enough.

“We thought . . . being across from St. Joe’s hospital would help, but they pretty much have their own stuff going on,” Haynie says.

She’s confident in the new space, though.

“We’re hoping for better foot traffic in Clifton Square.”

There’s also new space available at the center where the Bay Leaf Cafe recently closed.

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New owner of Liquid Sun will relocate and possibly expand at Clifton Square

June 29, 20116:44 a.m.

WICHITA — Alicia Dixon manages the Walgreens in Derby, but she’s always known she wanted her own shop.

“I have just always had a fire to run my own business,” she says.

So she’s purchased the Liquid Sun spray-tanning salon near Central and Webb and is moving it to Clifton Square in College Hill.

“It will help me draw from both sides of Wichita,” Dixon says. “It just has a unique feel.”

She also thinks that being near similar businesses, including two massage places and a couple of salons, will help draw customers.

“It’s in our ‘beauty row,’ ” says Clifton Square owner Jo Zakas. “That’s a new name. . . . Isn’t that cute?”

Dixon is already thinking of expanding within her first year by growing into a day spa or adding a boutique in addition to offering tanning.

“It is just kind of a good stepping stone for me.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Clifton Square, Salons | Comments Off

Couple buys Barcelona Hair Lounge as an investment

March 29, 20115:40 a.m.

WICHITA — When looking for investment opportunities, some people choose stocks or bonds. Others choose real estate.

Physician assistant Kathryn Welch and her husband, high school journalism teacher Jeffrey Welch, have surprised everyone — including themselves — and bought Barcelona Hair Lounge in Clifton Square as an investment.

“I’ve talked with several hair stylists, and they’ve said, ‘You’re crazy. Why would you do that?’ ” Kathryn Welch says.

Unlike, say, a rental property, she says there will be very little maintenance and not much risk in the salon.

There’s one stylist there already and there’s room for two more along with a manicurist.

Previous owner Maria Jose Diaz Vera is returning to Planet Hair, where she used to work.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Clifton Square, Salons | Comments Off

New bar to locate in former Clifton Wine and Jazz space

Sept. 14, 20103:16 p.m.

– There’s a new bar going in the former Clifton Wine and Jazz space at the Clifton Square development at 3700 E. Douglas.

Owner John Fitzthum isn’t sharing details just yet, but it sounds like the venue will feature a variety of music.

Clifton Square owner Jo Zakas owned Clifton Wine and Jazz but found it was too much to run the bar and the center. She closed earlier this summer.

Like the previous bar, it sounds like the new venue will serve food as well.

Look for more details closer to the opening, which most likely will be in October.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Bars, Clifton Square | Comments

Bay Leaf owners to open City Limit Grill

July 16, 20104:15 p.m.

WICHITA — Opening a new restaurant is challenging enough, but two at one time?

“I don’t know (how), but we’re going to do it,” says Nicole Chappelle, who recently reopened the Bay Leaf with her sister Ericka Chappelle, Matthew McCann and his mother, Nga McCann.

Everyone but Nga McCann is now partnering to open City Limit Grill in August at 15019 W. U.S. 54.

Nicole Chappelle says they’ve been working on the space since April 2009.

“It had been taking so long, and then this opportunity came up,” she says of buying the Bay Leaf at Clifton Square.

Where the Bay Leaf offers what Chappelle calls homemade and gourmet food, City Limit will specialize in homemade pizzas and burgers.

“It’s kind of more like a sports bar,” she says.

There will be a dining room and a separate bar area.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Bars, Real estate, Restaurants, West side | Comments

Clifton Wine and Jazz closes while Jo Zakas seeks a new owner

July 2, 20105:43 a.m.

WICHITA — Earlier this year, Jo Zakas announced she wanted to find someone to buy or lease her Clifton Wine and Jazz bar.

She hasn’t found that someone, so she’s closed — for now.

Zakas, who owns the Clifton Square development at 3700 E. Douglas, didn’t intend for last Saturday night to be her final regular night in business. That’s what it turned out to be, though.

On July 9 at 7 p.m., Zakas will have a going-away party of sorts to use up remaining food and liquor. For a $10 cover, which will go to a charity, customers can have free food and discounted drinks.

Zakas also will still book private parties at the venue while she continues to look for a new owner.

She says it’s a turnkey operation, where everything is ready to go for a new owner.

“I wish I could have found a place like that that had everything done,” Zakas says.

The business will be closed until fall unless someone buys it before then.

“I may have to try again, I don’t know,” Zakas says.

She then reconsiders.

“No,” Zakas says confidently, “someone’s coming along.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Bars, Clifton Square, Restaurants | Comments