NewMarket Square | Have You Heard?

Family Christian Stores to move from Normandie Center to Eastgate Plaza

Sept. 14, 201210:18 a.m.

WICHITA — After more than a decade in Normandie Center, Family Christian Stores is moving to Eastgate Plaza at Kellogg and Rock Road.

“We’re actually going where we feel more of our customers shop,” says Paul Sobol, vice present of real estate for the Michigan-based chain.

Normandie is at Central and Woodlawn, which Sobol says is “not a regional shopping area.”

New stores at Eastgate, such as Ross Dress For Less, “really have a similar customer so that we feel we can reach out to more and more people,” Sobol says.

There’s also a Family Christian Stores location in NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize Road that’s been open for about seven years.

Nationally, there are almost 300 stores, which sell Christian-themed products, such as gifts, books, jewelry, CDs and DVDs.

“We reach out to the whole Christian community,” Sobol says.

The new east-side store will be in the former Mattress Firm space, which is about 4,000 square feet. That’s slightly larger than the Normandie space.

Leisa Lowry of J.P. Weigand & Sons and Andy Boyd of Walter Morris Cos. handled the deal.

Look for the Eastgate Family Christian Stores to open around Oct. 25.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Andy Boyd, Eastgate Plaza, Family Christian Stores, J.P. Weigand & Sons, Leisa Lowry, Mattress Firm, NewMarket Square, Normandie Center, Paul Sobol, Ross Dress For Less, Walter Morris Cos. Filed under East side, Eastgate Plaza, Normandie Center, Retail | Comments Off

Mathnasium to open at the Waterfront

Aug. 2, 20125:00 a.m.

Rachel Allen helps a student at Mathnasium.

WICHITA — Since Rachel Allen opened Mathnasium at NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize Road in February, parents have been driving their children from the east side to get math help.

Now, they won’t have to.

Allen is opening a second Mathnasium, a franchise known as the Math Learning Center, at the Waterfront at 13th and Webb Road.

“I’ve had a lot of interest from the east side,” Allen says, “… and so they’re pretty excited about us opening over there.”

Allen is an accountant and a former middle school math teacher. Her husband, Paul, is one of the principals of the Allen, Gibbs & Houlik accounting firm.

“This is really a perfect fit for my background,” Allen says. “I just really love working with kids and helping them, and this seemed like a great opportunity.”

She says Mathnasium, which teaches a range of math from beginning skills through calculus, gives children help with math concepts in a way that makes sense to them.

“We say we help kids catch up, keep up and get ahead,” Allen says.

Mathnasium even helps some adults, such as those returning to school to complete degrees.

When Allen became a franchisee, she acquired the rights for sites on the east and west sides. She says she found the 1,500-square-foot NewMarket location first.

The 1,400-square-foot Waterfront location is in the former Butter Bean children’s boutique space.

Don Piros of Landmark Commercial Real Estate handled the deal.

Math is a subject a lot of students struggle with, but Allen says parents says they notice a difference in their children’s feelings about it after going to Mathnasium.

“They’re just amazed by … the kids’ confidence and their attitude towards math.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Allen, Butter Bean, Don Piros, Gibbs & Houlik, Landmark Commercial Real Estate, Mathnasium, NewMarket Square, Paul Allen, Rachel Allen, Waterfront Filed under East side, New business, Real estate, Waterfront | Comments Off

In the Sauce Brands looking to franchise Avivo Brick Oven Pizzeria

July 4, 201210:30 a.m.

WICHITA — When Tony Suellentrop announced the opening of Avivo Brick Oven Pizzeria in NewMarket Square in 2005, he told Have You Heard? he expected to franchise the business. Now, it looks like that’s about to finally happen.

“This is probably longer than we thought,” says Suellentrop, who is director of brand management for Wichita-based In the Sauce Brands. That’s the franchisor for Gambino’s Pizza, Hero Deli and Huey’s Smokehouse BBQ.

There are 50 Gambino’s restaurants in five states, two Hero Delis and three Huey’s Smokehouses.

Those brands “took away some of our time, but now we’ve turned our focus back to Avivo, and we’re going to pursue this concept,” Suellentrop says.

“We think at this time that we are … ready to explore franchising because we think the return on investment is a good opportunity,” he says of Avivo.

He says business at the Avivo in NewMarket Square is “actually getting better each year.”

Suellentrop says he believes there’s investment money out there and that people are waiting for the right opportunities. He says his group is talking with several potential franchise groups in several areas.

So how close is a deal?

“That’s always the magic question,” Suellentrop says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Avivo Brick Oven Pizzeria, Gambino's Pizza, Hero Deli, Huey’s Smokehouse BBQ, In the Sauce Brands, NewMarket Square, Tony Suellentrop Filed under East side, Franchises, NewMarket Square, Restaurants | Comments Off

Discount retailer Marshalls to open in former Borders space at NewMarket Square

June 27, 20121:32 p.m.

UPDATED — In December, Have You Heard? reported that with any luck, by the 2012 holiday season shoppers in east and west Wichita would have two new Marshalls stores to shop at.

That’s going to happen – at least for west-siders.

The Massachusetts-based chain, part of the TJX Cos., has a building permit for $580,000 to remodel the former Borders space at NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize Road.

“I can confirm we do have a lease with Marshalls,” says Jerry Jones, vice president of commercial development for Slawson Cos., the NewMarket developer.

The approximately 23,000-square-foot building was built in 2001. Borders left the space in September.

Jones referred questions about the opening to a Marshalls representative, who wouldn’t confirm that the store will be coming to Wichita.

“When opening new stores, we tend to announce our plans when we believe it is the right time to do so competitively,” wrote spokeswoman Doreen Thompson in an e-mail. “Generally speaking, it is our practice not to announce store openings until close to an intended opening date.”

It looks like that will be in time for the holidays – or before.

“I like that it brings a large apparel component to the center,” Jones says. “It’ll really complement everything else we have out there real well.”

Slawson Real Estate handled the lease for the landlord.

Marshalls also has looked at opening on the east side, but that deal doesn’t seem to be as far along.

TJX owns Marshalls and sister store T.J. Maxx, which is in Eastgate Plaza at Kellogg and Rock and at Westgate Market at Kellogg and Dugan.

Marshalls, which is similar to T.J. Maxx, is known for carrying designer clothing and homeware at discount prices — “never pay full price for fabulous” is the current tagline — though shoppers often have to wade through merchandise to find those deals.

Look for more details later today on Marshalls’ entry into the Wichita market.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Borders, Doreen Thompson, Eastgate Plaza, Jerry Jones, Marshalls, NewMarket Square, Slawson Cos., Slawson Real Estate, T.J. Maxx, TJX Cos., Westgate Market Filed under East side, Eastgate Plaza, New business, NewMarket Square, Real estate, Retail, West side | Comments Off

Body Central to open at NewMarket Square

May 18, 20121:57 p.m.

WICHITA — Florida-based Body Central is opening a second Wichita store, this time in NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize Road.

The first Body Central, a clothing store that caters to young women, is at Towne East Square.

“Your part of the country has been very successful for us,” says Matt Swartwood, senior vice president of stores.

“We have a solid group of stores in Kansas City. We do some great business in Oklahoma.”

The chain also is in Topeka.

Swartwood describes the store as “junior fast fashion,” meaning it quickly turns whatever the latest fashions are for the junior set.

Competitors include Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 and Wet Seal.

The 4,000-square-foot store will open next to Carter’s at NewMarket Square.

April Reed of Slawson Cos. handled the deal.

If all goes well, look for the store to open in August.

“We just see this as part of filling in the market,” Swartwood says. “We’re just awfully excited to come to your city with another store.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: April Reed, Body Central, Carter’s, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21, Matt Swartwood, NewMarket Square, Slawson Cos., Towne East Square, Wet Seal Filed under New business, NewMarket Square, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

Hallmark expands at NewMarketSquare

May 14, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Hallmark is expanding its presence at NewMarket Square.

In August, the chain will go from about 3,000 square feet to about 4,800 square feet.

“We’re very excited we’re going to be able to expand and grow this location,” says Cliff Sallee, a Hallmark district manager.

“We’re going to be able to get more product lines (and) more cards in the store.”

Sallee says the remodeling that will accompany the expansion will create Hallmark’s first advanced design in Wichita. It will feature maple trim, new fixtures and updated carpeting.

“It’s our very polished … store concept that we do,” he says.

Hallmark is taking the space Personally Yours will be vacating when it expands and moves across the parking lot this summer.

April Reed of Slawson Cos. handled both deals.

Sallee expects the expansion to take less than a month. The store may have to close for about a week during that time, but then it’s back to business.

“This has been a great market up here.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: April Reed, Cliff Sallee, Hallmark, NewMarket Square, Personally Yours, Slawson Cos. Filed under NewMarket Square, Real estate, Retail, West side | Comments Off

Personally Yours to move, expand at NewMarket Square

May 8, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — When Have You Heard? last checked in with Personally Yours owner Linda Webb, she was making what she called “the big move” from 21st and Tyler to NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize Road.

More recently, Webb says she had to make a choice: Either expand the shop or retire.

“We are expanding,” she says.

Her store, which Webb describes as a ladies and babies gift boutique featuring custom embroidery, is jumping from 1,260 square feet to 2,300 square feet.

“We’re just moving across the parking lot,” Webb says.

She’s taking the former Wild at Heart space.

The move and expansion will allow more room for merchandise, including new product lines, and will make space for parties and seminars.

For instance, last year Webb says she had a seminar on decorating for the holidays with things already at your house. “We had a lot of fun with it, but we were just on top of each other.”

She had to turn down a local cookbook author who wanted to have a signing there.

“This way, we will have some room to do those,” Webb says of the new space.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: April Reed, Linda Webb, Michael Webb, NewMarket Square, Personally Yours, Slawson Cos., Wild at Heart Filed under NewMarket Square, Real estate, Retail, West side | Comments Off

Maurices to expand at NewMarket Square

May 3, 201212:42 p.m.

WICHITA — Maurices is expanding at NewMarket Square.

“I know that they’ve wanted to expand for years, and we’ve just finally found an opportunity to do that,” says April Reed of Slawson Cos., the NewMarket developer.

The shop, which sells women’s clothing, accessories and shoes, currently is in 3,622 square feet between the former Borders store and Justice.

In July or August, Maurices will move to 6,000 square feet near Bed Bath & Beyond. Old Navy recently downsized, and Maurices will take its former space.

Reed, who handled the deal for the space, says Maurices is making the move in part to expand its plus-size offerings.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: April Reed, Bed Bath & Beyond, Borders, Justice, Maurices, NewMarket Square, Old Navy, Slawson Cos. Filed under NewMarket Square, Retail, West side | Comments Off

Beau Monde Spa and Boutique to expand at Comotara Center

April 27, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Michele Wheeler began contemplating expanding her Beau Monde Spa and Boutique at Comotara Center more than a year ago.

With the entry of six new national competitors in the market, though, she figured she better wait before she made the investment.

She’s not waiting anymore.

“I just decided that it was the right time,” Wheeler says.

She’s adding 2,000 more square feet to her almost 6,000-square-foot space at the center at 29th and Rock Road. That’s where Eccentricity was before moving to part of the former Olive Tree Bistro space.

“I knew we had a great clientele,” Wheeler says.

Still, it was daunting when a new Sephora opened at Bradley Fair and two more opened within JC Penney stores. There also are two new Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance stores, which are at NewMarket Square and Eastgate Plaza, and a Bare Escentuals at Towne East Square.

“I had to wait kind of wait and see what was going to happen,” Wheeler says. “We just had to stay true to our game and let everybody go check it out.”

She thinks Beau Monde has continued to do well in part because customers have “gotten behind that ‘shop local.’”

Also, she says, “It’s a little more personal attention when you come in here.”

In addition to the spa, Beau Monde offers makeup and skincare products.

Wheeler was prompted to finally take the extra space for a couple of reasons.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Bare Escentuals, Beau Monde Spa and Boutique, BlowOut Bar, Bradley Fair, Comotara Center, Conco Construction, Eastgate Plaza, Eccentricity, JC Penney, Michele Wheeler, NewMarket Square, Olive Tree Bistro, Sephora, Towne East Square, Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Filed under East side, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

Dress Barn to open at Eastgate Plaza

April 18, 20125:27 a.m.

WICHITA — Another new business is coming to Eastgate Plaza at Kellogg and Rock Road.

Dress Barn is going to open in 7,800 square feet next to Office Max.

No one with the New York-based company returned a call to comment.

There’s a Dress Barn already in Wichita at NewMarket Square at 21st and Maize.

Andy Boyd of Walter Morris Cos. handled the deal for the Eastgate space.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Andy Boyd, Dress Barn, Eastgate, NewMarket Square, Office Max, Walter Morris Cos. Filed under East side, Eastgate Plaza, New business, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

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