You don’t say

Nov. 9, 20122:49 p.m.

“I’m probably the only armed baker in town.”

– Bruce Reesman, who owns Smart Security and Investigations, Not Just A Cop Shop and Twizted Confections, a bakery that opened this week in Normandie Center

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under East side, New business, Normandie Center, Real estate, Restaurants, Retail, You don't say | Comments Off

Twizted Confections to open in Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn

Oct. 17, 201210:34 a.m.

WICHITA — It perhaps makes sense that Tina and Bruce Reesman own both Smart Security and Investigations and Not Just A Cop Shop. Their newest business, though, is going to be a deviation from the security world.

The Reesmans are opening Twizted Confections, a bakery, in Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn next month.

“My husband actually has been baking for many years, and this is a passion of his,” Tina Reesman says.

The bakery will open in the approximately 3,500 square feet where Subway used to be.

Normandie also is where Sweetly Scrumptious is, but Reesman says she and her husband’s business will be slightly different.

They plan to sell pastries such as cookies, baklava, cannoli and what she calls “authentic East Coast” cheesecake and pies.

“I hate to say this, but you can taste the calories when you eat it,” Reesman says. “We don’t cut back on the butter. We don’t cut back on the sugar. What you’re eating is rich and decadent and melts in your mouth.”

Twizted Confections won’t have cupcakes or cakes.

“My husband is so incredibly talented … that when he makes cakes it’s a huge process,” Reesman says.

They’ll offer some sugar-free and gluten-free items along with some savory food, such as quiches for lunch and mini quiches for appetizers.

The bakery will have a soft opening on Election Day Nov. 6 with some donkey and elephant cookies. Anyone who shows an “I voted” sticker can have a free cookie.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under East side, New business, Normandie Center, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

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: , , , , , , , , , , Filed under East side, Eastgate Plaza, Normandie Center, Retail | Comments Off

Sister Moses owner Linda Burton has two new sister businesses: Traveling Sister and Calamity Jane’s Resale

Sept. 10, 201211:16 a.m.

UPDATED — Sister Moses is no longer an only child.

Linda Burton, who owns the shop at Comotara Center at 29th and Rock Road, now has two sister companies –  literally and figuratively.

In July, she started Traveling Sister, which is something of a traveling boutique where she can sell clothing and accessories in people’s homes and at events.

Next month, Burton is opening Calamity Jane’s Resale in Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn.

So much new business at once is creating some chaos in Burton’s world.

“It’s so bad, one of the girls is working out of the bathroom,” she says, laughing.

Burton says Traveling Sister has already gone as far as Texas, where Sister Moses has a lot of online customers.

“This weekend in Leavenworth, it was insane,” Burton says.

The events are parties of at least about 20 women, who can sip wine and shop in a friend’s home or at an event.

“It’s networking, and it’s finding out about more places that we can go to,” Burton says. “The great thing about it is it’s 20 girls that are being waited on.”

Read More »

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , Filed under Comotara Center, East side, New business, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

It’s confirmed: Planet Fitness to open at Normandie Center

Feb. 29, 20123:45 p.m.

WICHITA — Last week, Have You Heard? reported confirmation of Planet Fitness deals at 21st and Amidon and near 21st and Maize and said it looked like a deal also was done at Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn.

Now there’s confirmation of that, too, in the form of a building permit.

Planet Fitness has a permit for $550,000 at the center.

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , Filed under East side, Health clubs, New business, Normandie Center, Real estate | Comments Off

Planet Fitness signs two new deals

Feb. 20, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — There are deals for two new Wichita Planet Fitness sites, though the chain still isn’t talking about its plans here.

Have You Heard? previously reported that the company is working on locations in the former Star Lumber space at Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn, at Marina Lakes at 21st and Amidon where a new Walmart Neighborhood Market is and also at the 21st and Maize area.

Since then, Scott Harper of Landmark Commercial Real Estate and Grant Tidemann of J.P. Weigand & Sons finalized a deal for the Marina Lakes space.

On Friday, Tidemann and Landmark’s Nick Esterline finalized a deal for the former bowling alley space at 2350 N. Maize Road. That’s where Countryside West Lanes closed in 2007.

It looks like there may already be demo work going on at the possible Planet Fitness space at Normandie.

Planet Fitness isn’t the only new gym coming to the city.

Gold’s Gym International also has been working on sites here. In fact, it appears it was negotiating for some of the same space Planet Fitness nabbed.

Earlier this year, Have You Heard? reported that a Gold’s deal at Harry and Rock may already be done.

Both companies are being similarly silent. We should hear something from them soon, though.

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Filed under East side, Health clubs, Marina Lakes, New business, Normandie Center, Real estate, West side | Comments Off

Planet Fitness coming to Wichita with at least three gyms

Jan. 19, 20124:31 p.m.

WICHITA — Gold’s Gym International isn’t the only new fitness chain coming to Wichita.

Planet Fitness is finalizing deals for three locations as well.

In fact, the two chains have been jockeying for some of the same spaces.

No one with Planet Fitness is talking just yet, but it looks like the company is working on locations in the former Star Lumber space at Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn, at Marina Lakes at 21st and Amidon where a new Walmart Neighborhood Market is and also at the 21st and Maize area.

The website for Planet Fitness describes its gyms as fairly basic.

“We don’t have any salespeople, and we don’t bother with all the extras like juice bars and childcare that drive up costs and can make a gym membership seem more like a car payment.”

Look for more news on the deals in the coming weeks.

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under East side, Health clubs, New business, Normandie Center, West side | Comments Off

West-side Pathfinders Birkenstock to close

Jan. 11, 20125:08 a.m.

WICHITA — The economy has spoken, and the west-side Pathfinders Birkenstock store is closing at the end of this month or in early February at the latest.

“The economy is telling us we’ve not needed two stores in Wichita for some time,” says owner Jill Dunning. “It makes no economical sense to have two stores when, honestly, we probably never needed two stores in the first place.”

The previous owner signed a 10-year lease for the west side store south of NewMarket Square near 21st and Maize. Dunning bought the store about eight years ago.

Renewing the lease wasn’t an option.

“With an accountant husband, of course I can’t,” Dunning says, laughing.

Still, she’s sorry to have to do it.

“We love the building over there, and I hate to take away the ease of a west-side store for my west-side customers.”

Her store in Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn will remain open

“Business as usual.”

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Normandie Center, Retail, West side | Comments Off

Yoder Meats to open third Wichita store

Sept. 27, 20115:20 a.m.

WICHITA — Yoder Meats is expanding its Wichita presence by taking over the former Kline’s Meats location near Maple and Maize.

“We just stepped in and bought that equipment and will be opening that location up the first of November,” says owner Alan Waggoner.

In addition to the Yoder Meats retail shop in Yoder, Kan., the company also has stores in Normandie Center at Central and Woodlawn and at 798 N. West St.

“We’ve had a lot of requests and demands from the far west side of Wichita,” Waggoner says.

“People only travel so far,” he says. “I think that’s why there’s a Dillons on nearly every corner.”

Waggoner says there will be about six miles between each of his stores.

“They’re all very even across the city.”

So is the far east side next on his agenda?

“Far east Wichita is something I’d look at, but probably not before I’d considered Rose Hill or Derby,” Waggoner says.

There’s also a Yoder Meats plant in Yoder.

“We have local products from local farms,” Waggoner says. “We process most all of our product here in Yoder from a three-county area.”

The newest store will be open Monday through Saturday, as is the Normandie store.

Waggoner says the West Street Yoder Meats also is open Sunday afternoons.

“Just so, you know, if somebody wants something they can drive a few miles, but they can get it.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under New business, Normandie Center, Retail, West side | Comments Off

You don’t say

June 15, 20115:14 p.m.

“I can’t possibly be that old.”

— Best of Times owner Nancy Robinson on her store, which is in Normandie Center, turning 30 on July 7

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under East side, Normandie Center, Retail | Comments Off