Newest Young Rembrandts site to be at Artist Central

April 26, 20131:47 p.m.

WICHITA — Think your child is a Rembrandt in the making?

Carla Calvert is going to cater to young artists with a new Young Rembrandts location.

The Chicago-based international franchise offers step-by-step drawing lessons for preschool and elementary school children.

“We’re really designed for after-school programming,” Calvert says.

She offers classes at the Maize Recreation Center, the Goddard Community Center, the Church of the Holy Spirit and is adding a location at Jo Zakas’ Artist Central at 5014 E. Central next month. That’s on the north side of Central between Oliver and Edgemoor.

Calvert says her instructors are “art enthusiasts, educators and enjoy working with children.”

Young Rembrandts is designed to, among other things, help children become better observers while developing motor skills and increasing their confidence.

In May and throughout summer, Calvert will offer one-hour classes Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Wichita Jazz Festival office to open at Clifton Square

May 7, 20122:33 p.m.

WICHITA — Clifton Square at 3700 E. Douglas is going to be the new home of the Wichita Jazz Festival office.

Executive director Craig Owens has been running the 41-year-old group from his office at Wichita State University where he’s director of the jazz studies program and teaches jazz guitar.

“It’s just important for the festival to have its own office,” Owens says. “It’s just the next natural step in the development of our organization.”

The group, which has a weeklong festival every April and educational activities throughout the year, also is adding staff for the new office.

Clifton Square developer Jo Zakas says the Wichita Jazz Festival will help her celebrate the center’s 40th birthday this fall.

“I would like to have a citywide community jazz day at Clifton Square,” she says. “We’ll just make it an all-day thing.”

Zakas says she’s surprised Clifton Square has been around so long. Then she rethinks it.

“I knew we’d be here this long. I’m just surprised it came so quickly.”

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Artist Central adds artists and square footage

Jan. 12, 20124:32 p.m.

WICHITA — The new Artist Central on East Central between Oliver and Edgemoor is already expanding.

Clifton Square owner Jo Zakas and a group of other artists opened the space late last year to create, show and sell art.

It has grown from 900 square feet to 2,400 square feet and has three new private art studios, one of which is still available.

New artists have also joined the group, including Pamela Lamont, who used to be in Delano, and Bob Bayer, an abstract artist who started painting at age 75.

“Isn’t that great?” Zakas says.

California transplant Joseph Parker also has joined the group.

“He has got some very interesting work,” Zakas says.

The group has debuted a monthly artist’s talk – Steve Murillo took the first one – and is starting acrylic paint classes Jan. 18

The $150 class is every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for 10 weeks.

Zakas says the studio has kicked off in a big way.

“We’ve had tremendous support from everyone, including our artists, which we are just extremely thankful for.”

 

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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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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.”

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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.

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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

Clifton Square has several new tenants

April 23, 20103:21 p.m.

WICHITA — Clifton Square, which is at 3700 E. Douglas, has some new tenants and may be getting a few more soon.

Lisa Rose is opening Hair X-perteez in early May.

Rose formerly owned Hair Expert but sold it four years ago to stay home with her youngest daughter.

She’s still been cutting hair from her house, but now she’ll be back in business full time.

Rose likes that Clifton Square is in College Hill.

“It’s very quaint.”

Avance Medical Aesthetic Solutions has moved its west-side office to Clifton Square, where its sign now reads Med Spa.

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Jo Zakas wants to sell or lease Clifton Wine and Jazz

Feb. 11, 20106:31 a.m.

WICHITA — Clifton Square owner Jo Zakas loves her Clifton Wine and Jazz bar, which she opened in May, but she doesn’t love having a day job and a night one, too.

“I just can’t physically do it,” she says.

So she’s looking for someone to buy or lease the business at her development at 3700 E. Douglas.

“I don’t want to see it go away,” Zakas says.

The business is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but Zakas says it needs to extend its hours.

She thinks it’s a great opportunity for someone.

“Well, where else are you going to find a growing business that is . . . doing well, and you don’t have to start from scratch?” Zakas says.

“There’s not a more cost effective way to get in business than that. I wish someone had done that for me.”

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You don’t say

May 21, 20092:54 p.m.

“It just looks like Dorothy’s just floating around up there, and the Wicked Witch is underneath it. . . . And we’re going to bury her.”
— Jo Zakas on the house that was moved from property at Parkstone at College Hill to Clifton Square, where it’s now sitting on jacks and steel beams

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