Issa brothers opening Emporia IHOP

Sept. 28, 20122:29 p.m.

WICHITA — A year and a half after buying their first IHOP, the Issa brothers are ready to open their second one, this time in Emporia.

“We had an opportunity, and we took it,” says Ali, who is partners in the business with his brothers Ty and Mike.

They also own Larkspur, Ya Ya’s Eurobistro, Hereford House and Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge.

Their existing IHOP is at 515 S. Ridge Circle in west Wichita.

Their Emporia IHOP, which will open either Oct. 8 or 9, will be in the former Village Inn space at 2831 W. 18th Ave.

“We didn’t have a plan for Emporia,” Ali Issa says of locating there. “It just came up. … It was a good deal.”

He’s not sure where — or even if — they’ll open another IHOP.

“It’s hard to predict.”

Issa says he’ll spend the next month or two focusing on Emporia, although he says he’ll still continue to pop into Heat, which he also runs.

“Heat’s is doing very well,” he says.

Along with a loyal clientele, Issa says he has good employees to help him.

“We have some very good people (at) both places.”

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

Issa brothers purchase west-side IHOP

April 21, 20114:57 p.m.

WICHITA — The restaurateuring Issa brothers have purchased the IHOP at 515 S. Ridge Circle, just down from the new Panera Bread.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Ali Issa says. “There’s a future in it. They’re very successful.”

Issa and his brothers, Ty and Mike, also will continue to operate Larkspur, Hereford House and Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge.

At IHOP, they’re making a lot of changes. Some are cosmetic on the interior and exterior. Other changes include retraining the staff “from A to Z,” Ali Issa says.

He says he and his brothers are not looking to buy other IHOPs, at least not yet.

“We’re too busy with that one. It’s too early to talk about the next venture.”

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

Kansas Right to Choose files motion to join lawsuit over statewide smoking ban

June 21, 20105:39 p.m.

WICHITA — Kansas Right to Choose is now taking legal action in its fight against the statewide indoor smoking ban, which takes effect July 1.

The group of more than 50 business owners and others concerned about the ban formed a couple of months ago. It has hired Topeka lawyer R.E. “Tuck” Duncan in its fight.

Duncan has filed a motion for intervention on a lawsuit that the Downtown Bar and Grill in Tonganoxie has filed against the state of Kansas over the ban.

There’s a hearing in the suit June 29.

Duncan says he’s hoping for a temporary injunction on the ban “pending a full court hearing on whether there ought to be a permanent injunction.”

He plans to argue several theories, including equal protection.

The ban would allow casinos and drinking establishments operated by the state to still have smoking but not other gaming facilities, bingo parlors or drinking establishments.

“There’s no basis for that distinction,” Duncan says. “The obvious conclusion is the state doesn’t want to lose revenue from its own operation.”

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

New group of business owners and others forms to fight indoor smoking ban

April 1, 20104:29 p.m.

WICHITA — More than 50 business owners and other people concerned about the state’s new indoor smoking ban met Thursday for the first meeting of Kansas Right to Choose.

“Everybody’s upset,” says Ali Issa, who hosted the meeting at his Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge.

The group is trying to organize a public meeting for next week for other business owners “and also people who do not smoke but don’t like the idea of the state telling you what to do,” Issa says.

He says people from around the state are joining the group.

Issa says the goal is to get as many members as possible to barrage legislators with calls and e-mails voicing their opposition to the ban, which takes effect in most places July 1.

Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, is one of the people who attended the inaugural meeting.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Bars, Legislation | Comments

East-side Italian Garden to close; west restaurant will remain open

June 18, 200911:08 a.m.

WICHITA — Ali Issa has decided to close the east-side Italian Garden at Kellogg and Webb, which has been open since 2000.

“The volume is down,” Issa says. “There’s no traffic. We don’t know where to get the people. You can’t go home and bring them from their homes.”

The Italian Garden at 21st and Tyler will remain open, and the east restaurant’s catering will move there. There’s been an Italian Garden on the west side since 1989, when it opened at Douglas and West.

Issa says the closure has nothing to do with his Heat Cigar and Hookah Lounge at 338 N. Rock, which he says is doing “phenomenal.”

There’s a chance Issa will bring back an east-side Italian Garden one day when the economy is better and he finds a new location.

Issa wants longtime east-side customers to know Italian Garden will be open through dinner Sunday and then close for good.

“I just want to give them a chance to say goodbye.”

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