Domino’s and Bella Vita Bistro expand, Fazoli’s remodels and enhances service

WICHITA — Wichita is serving up quite a bit of restaurant news this week in addition to the Timberline and Jose Pepper’s news:

Domino’s Pizza franchisees Mike and Stacia McKnight are preparing to open their third Wichita restaurant.

They already have Domino’s sites near 21st and Maize Road and Harry and Rock Road.

Their next one is opening in the former Quiznos space near 21st and Amidon in October.

Mike McKnight says it gives the chain coverage on the north side and a bit into downtown.

He and his wife, who have three Domino’s sites in Topeka and six in Kansas City, plan three or four more Domino’s restaurants here within the next year or two.

Bella Vita Bistro is expanding at 120 N. West St. where it opened in early 2010.

“We have to,” says Lory Wooley. “We have too many customers.”

Wooley runs the restaurant with her daughter and son-in-law, Crystal and Adrian Prud Homme DeLodder.

They’re doubling their restaurant size for a total of 2,400 square feet and adding a bar. They’ll also now have space for private parties when renovation is complete in December.

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Original Timberline Steakhouse & Grill closes after 14 years in business

UPDATED — It was just a matter of time.

Eight months after the east-side Timberline Steakhouse & Grill closed, so has its sister restaurant on the west side.

“It was a very difficult decision that we needed to make,” says Scott Redler, who owned the chain with Bill Simon.

“We’re looking at this as a celebration of 14 great years of business for Timberline . . . and appreciate everyone involved.”

The Timberline near 21st and Tyler was Redler and Simon’s first in the chain, which had seven restaurants in six cities over the years.

There’s one Timberline left.

Salina licensee JRI Investments owns that restaurant and has purchased the concept with plans to open more Timberlines.

“You know, we had an opportunity to sell, and it just seemed to make sense,” Redler says.

He and Simon plan to continue to focus on Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, which they run with Simon’s brother, Randy, who also is a Panera Bread franchisee.

Redler says Freddy’s average ticket of about $6.50 makes a lot more sense than Timberline’s $17 average.

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BG Bolton’s closes; Jose Pepper’s to open

jose

Businessman Bud Gates’ “baby” is no more.

“This is the lousiest feeling on one of the best days I’ve ever had,” Gates says of closing his namesake BG Bolton’s Sports Grill today.

He sold the business to Kansas City-based Jose Pepper’s, a chain of nine Mexican restaurants.

“There’s so much to be happy about,” Gates says. “But it was my baby. It does have my initials and the town I grew up in.”

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