Steakhouse owners may reopen in new space

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.

No Eaton Steakhouse update yet

WICHITA — It sounds like the owners of Eaton Steakhouse may have reached an agreement with the owners of Eaton Place, which sued for what it said was unpaid rent.

That’s according to someone answering a court line at the Sedgwick County Courthouse.

No lawyers in the case are talking yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as they do.

Eaton Steakhouse trial set

WICHITA — An Oct. 14 trial has been set in MDI Partnership #72’s case against Eaton Steakhouse.

MDI, which owns Eaton Place, has filed lawsuits to reclaim $10,708 from Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton and to evict them from the property at Douglas and St. Francis.

After a couple of postponed court dates for a previous eviction notice, the Comptons caught up on more than $50,000 in back rent in August but then fell behind again.

Eaton Steakhouse again faces eviction

WICHITA — Eaton Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton are facing possible eviction again.

After a couple of postponed court dates for a previous eviction notice, the Comptons caught up on more than $50,000 in back rent late last month.

But they’re now $10,708 behind on what looks to be September’s rent to Eaton Place.

MDI Partnership #72, which owns Eaton Place, has filed lawsuits to reclaim the money and evict the Comptons.

An Oct. 7 court date is scheduled.

The Comptons declined comment.

Eaton Steakhouse apparently survives

WICHITA — The Eaton Steakhouse hung banners Thursday proclaiming, “We survived. Still open.”

Owners Steve and Stephanie Compton didn’t return calls for comment, but it looks like they’ve pretty much gotten current on the more than $50,000 they owed Eaton Place for rent.

Also, they hung another banner that says E-ma Sweets will be opening soon.

E-ma is a gourmet bakery with custom cakes, pies, cookies and tarts.

There previously was a bakery at the Eaton Steakhouse. There’s no indication on how this one is different.

Eaton Steakhouse hearing continued

WICHITA — The hearing in the petition for eviction against the Eaton Steakhouse has been continued — again.

“We’re negotiating,” says Mike Roach, attorney for MDI Partnership #72, which owns Eaton Place.

Roach says both sides agreed not to discuss the negotiations.

The next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17 at 9 a.m.

Eaton Steakhouse hearing continued

WICHITA — The hearing for the petition for eviction against Eaton Steakhouse has been continued until Monday. We’ll keep you posted on what happens then.

Eaton Steakhouse to have Aug. 6 hearing on eviction

There was a petition on the Sedgwick County District Court docket Wednesday to evict the Eaton Steakhouse from Eaton Place, but nothing has been resolved yet.

Restaurant owners Steve and Stephanie Compton have requested a hearing.

“They’re entitled to their hearing,” says Mike Roach, the attorney for MDI Partnership #72, which owns Eaton Place.

Trial is set for Aug. 6 at 9 a.m.

MDI filed a petition for eviction and a lawsuit last week to recover more than $50,000 in back rent from the Comptons.

“The Eaton Place has no choice in what they’re doing, that’s clear,” Roach says.

“The amount that’s past due in rent is too large,” he says.

The Comptons aren’t commenting.

Roach says the situation is “long past resolution” for the Comptons to negotiate to stay.

If the judge rules in Eaton Place’s favor, the Comptons will be immediately evicted.

“Essentially,” Roach says, “they’ll be out, and we’ll be in.”

Eaton Steakhouse served petition for eviction

HISTORICBUILDINGS.MH6WICHITA — The owners of the Eaton Steakhouse have been served an eviction notice for failure to pay $50,517 in rent at Eaton Place.

MDI Partnership #72, which owns the building at 523 E. Douglas, filed a petition for eviction in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday in addition to a lawsuit to collect back rent.

The lawsuit names Steve and Stephanie Compton of Wichita and Thomas Bowles of Augusta as defendants.

According to the lawsuit and eviction petition, SSC Enterprises, which is now B & C Group, signed a lease agreement in June 2007 for a total of $463,501, which is to be paid in monthly installments.

The lawsuit states that the Comptons and Bowles gave personal guarantees for the lease.

And the petition says the defendants have refused to leave the premises after receiving a 10-day notice to leave on June 24.

Read More »

Lawyer for Eaton Steakhouse owners responds

Through their attorneys, Eaton Steakhouse owners Stephanie and Steve Compton responded to the item on problems at their restaurant.

“Their response is that they’re very sorry that Matt and Troy felt the need to make those allegations, but they’re completely unsubstantiated, and we don’t believe there’s any way they could prove them,” said attorney Richard Stevens of Martin Pringle.

“The important thing . . . is that there are a lot of happy customers that are very pleased with their experience at the steakhouse.”