Rine Center for Performing Arts is coming to former Immanuel Baptist Church on South Hillside

WICHITA — When last we checked with Janet and Grant Rine, they’d decided not to move their Old Town Architectural Salvage to the former Immanuel Baptist Church at 147 S. Hillside.

They bought the former church and adjacent school in April but decided to put plans on hold for a while.

Now, they’re moving forward by trying to get commercial zoning for what likely will be called the Rine Center for Performing Arts.

“It’s a slow, painful process,” Janet Rine says.

“It just takes time to jump through all the hoops and get everybody on the same page,” she says. “Sometimes it’s just difficult to be progressive.”

Kathy Page-Hauptman and Ann-Marie Rogers will book and produce shows that Rine says will create “a niche that’s not being met in Wichita.”

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Andy’s Woods By Design to close at the end of the year

WICHITA — After fourteen years in business in Old Town, Andy’s Woods By Design is closing.

“We have some health issues in the family that we need to address, so that takes priority,” says Carol Anderson, who owns the business with her husband, Andy.

They have a lot to look forward to, though.

“We are at the stage in our life that it’s time to make changes and take some vacations,” Anderson says.

Also, the couple is expecting its first grandchild in March.

The eclectic Andy’s Woods, which is at 300 N. Mead, sells gourmet food, home decor items, souvenirs and, until a month ago, custom woodworking.

The Andersons stopped taking new woodworking orders in order to get everything done by the time they close at the end of the year.

A closing sale starts Oct. 19.

“There’s a little excitement, but there’s a lot of regret because we like it down here,” Carol Anderson says. “We love Old Town. It’s a wonderful place to be, and we’ve had a lot of good customers come in.

“We have a made a lot of good friends.”

Let’s Be Frank to close, possibly reopen elsewhere

WICHITA — After fewer than six months in business, Let’s Be Frank is closing.

“We got an eviction notice today, and we are probably going to be closed,” says partner Brad Standing.

The restaurant, which is at 2425 E. Douglas, will close Nov. 1.

Standing says there’s been an ongoing dispute with his landlord over a sewage line problem.

It’s the same problem that drove Savage Salon from the center.

Salon owner Chawalee Riggs reopened at 230 N. Mosley across from Whiskey Creek in Old Town.

Her new salon is called Salon Q, which she named for her 5-year-old, Quentin.

Standing would like to reopen somewhere else, but he’s not sure if he will.

“This all happened just a few hours ago, so no definite plans yet,” he says.

If Let’s Be Frank reopens elsewhere, look for it to still be in the Douglas Design District, Old Town or possibly Delano.

Playa Azul to open in former Ajuua space

WICHITA — Playa Azul is opening its second Wichita restaurant next month, this time on Rock Road.

The first Playa Azul opened in Old Town in 2005.

The new one is opening in the former Ajuua space at 360 N. Rock Road.

“It’s a good choice to go to Rock Road,” says manager Victor Camarena. “Everybody wants to be on that street.”

The restaurant, which will have a full bar and be open for lunch and dinner daily, will open in early November.

Hereford House could open at Terradyne Country Club

herefordWICHITA — It looks like diners from the Wichita area will no longer have to drive to Kansas City to enjoy Hereford House.

The popular Kansas City steakhouse — with the slogan, “50 Years Old and Still in Our Prime!” — now has several Kansas City-area locations.

It’s newest location outside of the city likely will be in what’s currently the Palomino Grill at Terradyne Country Club in Andover.

Former Italian Garden owner Mike Issa is working on a deal to open in the space.

No one is talking about it yet, but look for a deal to happen as early as this week.

In August, Issa closed the west-side Italian Garden. The east-side Italian Garden closed prior to that.

Senor Tequila is now in the former Italian Garden space at 21st and Tyler.

After opening at Terradyne, Issa may have the rights to open one more Hereford House in Wichita.

We’ll keep you posted.

Online store Chapter 34 to sell designer goods

tonya2WICHITA — Tonya Harge says she’s giddy about opening an online business next month, though it has its roots in something sad.

Harge previously worked in senior and child care, but then she lost her grandmother and mother in a short period of time.

“You really can’t care for others if you don’t take care of yourself first,” Harge says.

So she took time off and traveled abroad.

Her travels gave Harge the idea for Chapter 34, an online boutique for designer products.

“It’s the new chapter in my life,” Harge says. “I’m creating a one-stop shop for designer goods.”

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You don’t say

“It was a killer. We were having such a good week, too.”

Melad Stephan, who owns several Old Town restaurants, on the gas outage in that area Saturday night that affected a number of businesses during peak dinner hours

54 new plaques give Old Town visitors a glimpse of history

plaque2WICHITA — Old Town is obviously one of Wichita’s most historic areas. Now, some of that history is readily available for people to learn as they visit the area.

Developer Dave Burk this month placed 54 plaques on buildings throughout Old Town. He finished a couple of days ago and has already seen visitors stopping to look.

“This was research that we put together when we compiled all the information to get this into a National Historic District,” Burk says.

That was back in 1990.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time,” Burk says.

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You don’t say

“Should I go out and mow the yard? Maybe go get the mail right now? Or clean out these closets that I’ve been neglecting?”

— Freelance broadcast designer Justin McClure on the distracting thoughts he had working from home, which prompted him to open an office in Suite D at 151 Rock Island in Old Town

Old Town Martini to close; owners to keep catering business in new location

martiniWICHITA — After a decade in business, Old Town Martini is closing.

But fans of the restaurant in the former Rock Island train depot can still get food by brothers Kassem and Ali Yassine because they’ll continue their catering business at 3407 E. Douglas.

“I had a good time here, but I have to do this move,” Kassem Yassine says. “In this time and in this economy, I’d rather be small.”

Business is still OK, but there are several things prompting the move.

The restaurant’s banquet business used to be big, with at least one or two a week.

Now, Ali Yassine says, “We don’t see them.”

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