Gary Gregory selling First Gear in Old Town after 25 years

Dec. 14, 201211:06 a.m.

WICHITA — A quarter of a century after opening the running specialty store First Gear, Gary Gregory is selling the Old Town business.

“I have the absolute best job in the world. I really do,” he says of selling sport shoes and apparel. “I’m just ready to do something different.”

Greg Reed of GW Investments, a communications company, is buying the business, which is at 111 N. Mosley. He’ll be partners with Raquel Stucky, who currently works there.

“She’s really the one that has a lot of experience in the business,” Reed says.

He says he likes the business and the industry and says feels “like there’s a lot of opportunity there.”

“I’m sure we’ll make some changes,” Reed says. However, all of the things customers have come to love at First Gear, “we’re going to continue to do.”

Gregory opened First Gear on North Rock Road in 1988 and moved to Old Town seven years later.

He says it was a difficult decision to move, but business doubled within the first year.

“I wasn’t getting west-side shoppers on Rock Road,” he says.

When he moved, he kept most of his east-side business and gained the west side as well.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Old Town, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

Doc Howard’s Lounge temporarily closes due to lapsed liquor license

Dec. 14, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — It looked like some critics of Doc Howard’s Lounge might get their wish to have the bar close.

The Old Town bar shut down this week because its liquor license expired Dec. 10.

“Yeah, I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that will be excited,” says owner Bryan Shapiro.

The situation is only temporary, though.

The city won’t renew the license until Shapiro gets a fire door for an opening at the bar, which has frequently been in the news due to fights and other disturbances in and around the business.

Shapiro says it’s taking a while to get the door.

“We weren’t prepared for it because we’ve never been asked for it before,” he says. “Ten years, 10 inspections, nobody mentions the door. Now they mention the door?”

Doc Howard’s has been in business almost three years, but Shapiro has had a bar of some sort in the space for a decade.

“It is what it is, and we do everything we can to comply,” he says. “I don’t think we have an operational issue here.”

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Mike’s Wine Dive owners to open the Hill Bar and Grill in the former Barrier’s space

Nov. 29, 20125:31 p.m.

Brothers Brent (left) and Brad Steven in front of the former Barrier’s building at Douglas and Oliver, which they’re going to transform into the Hill Bar and Grill.

WICHITA — As some residents of Crown Heights are organizing a group to protest a bar and grill going in the former Barrier’s space at Douglas and Oliver, the restaurateurs hoping to open it are ready to share details.

Mike’s Wine Dive owners Brent and Brad Steven plan to open the Hill Bar and Grill — named for the hill in College Hill — in 5,100 square feet of the building in March.

Mike’s is in the center at the northwest corner of the intersection. The Hill will be on the northeast corner.

Though Brad Steven says the Hill will be a great place to catch a game, he says, “It’s not going to be a sports bar.”

“Our focus will be a wide selection of craft beers as well as American food,” he says. “Basically, we’re going to be specializing in beers the way we specialize in wine at Mike’s.”

There will be 25 beers on tap and craft beers from around the world.

Brent Steven describes it as “kind of like an ale house.”

He says the idea is “a place that’s totally different than Mike’s.”

Where Mike’s is more fine dining, he says, he and his brother envision the Hill as “more of a hangout spot.”

“It will appeal to a wider audience than Mike’s does.”

There will be seating for about 150 customers.

There will be an outside patio facing Douglas that is within the front of the building and will serve as an area for smoking. There will be another patio that wraps around the east side of the building.

There will be another 2,400 square feet left in the building for another business.

The Hill’s hours aren’t set yet, but the Stevens are thinking 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. most days and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on the weekends.

The hours are a key issue for some residents.

“You can go on the news and see all the time what happens in Old Town at 2 a.m.,” says Melinda Foley, who is president of the Crown Heights Neighborhood Association.

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

You don’t say

Nov. 27, 20129:48 a.m.

“ … at first I thought someone hacked their sign, but then realized it was just the worst case of timing possible – or, best, if you want the publicity.”

– Wichitan Rick Slater’s e-mail after seeing a digital billboard for Doc Howard’s that advertised “Seasons beatings” for Dec. 1 boxing and fights at the Old Town bar, where a man attacked a bouncer over the weekend and was then beaten himself

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Social Manor to open in Old Town on Dec. 1

Nov. 26, 201211:03 a.m.

WICHITA — The holidays are a social time, so perhaps it’s fitting that Lauren Johnson and Erin Kice are opening their new Social Manor in Old Town on Dec. 1.

The two first shared their plans with Have You Heard? in September.

The store, which is in the former Gingeroot Studios space at 920 E. Douglas next to I Do Bridal & Tux, will have furniture, art, accessories and gifts along with design services.

“It’s a pretty even mix of gifts of furniture to artwork,” Johnson says.

“We’re getting there,” she says of being ready to open. “Some things came up last minute that you just don’t anticipate.”

Johnson says shipping over Thanksgiving was an issue.

“We’re still waiting on a couple of orders that will probably block Douglas.”

She’s not kidding. Johnson and Kice discovered that the large trucks bringing their inventory can’t fit in the alley by their business, so they temporarily park on the busy Douglas, blocking it.

“Everyone knows when we have a delivery,” Johnson says.

Although the shop has some holiday decor, she says, “We didn’t want to go too crazy because it is already December when we’re opening. We focused mainly on gifts this year.”

Social Manor also will offer in-store instructional events on decorating. Johnson says she and Kice hope the classes and the store in general will be an inspiration for shoppers.

“We like bringing fun things downtown,” she says. “We think the store will be great for Wichita.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under New business, Old Town, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

Gianluca Sciagata is no longer at Luca Italian Kitchen but name won’t change

Nov. 2, 201212:19 p.m.

UPDATED — Last year when Melad Stephan told Have You Heard? the name of his new Old Town restaurant would be Luca Italian Kitchen after Chef Gianluca Sciagata, he acknowledged that Sciagata might not stay forever but that the name would.

“Ahhh, well, the name will stay,” Stephan said, quickly adding, “I hope he’s going to be around for a while.”

He didn’t stay long, though.

Stephan says Sciagata, who came from Aspen, Colo., was not happy in Wichita and has left the restaurant.

Former Ya Ya’s Eurobistro Chef Damon Stephens is now the Luca chef.

Stephan says the name won’t change because Sciagata “doesn’t have the trademark on (the) Luca name.”

 

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Old Town, Restaurants | Comments Off

Former Frida’s Mexican Grill owner looks to reopen in Old Town

Oct. 29, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Fans of the former Frida’s Mexican Grill may not have to keep dreaming of piratas, the tasty cross between a taco and a panini, much longer. They could be a reality early next year.

Owner Mario Quiroz is looking to reopen the restaurant, this time in Old Town.

“I would like to do something there,” Quiroz says.

He’s eyeing several possibilities but doesn’t have a deal yet.

Frida’s, which closed in 2010, used to be just west of 21st and Amidon near Thai Binh.

Quiroz hasn’t decided if he’ll resurrect the Frida’s name, though he thinks it’s likely.

Fans of the former restaurant don’t have to worry about what he’ll serve, though.

“I know I will use the Frida’s menu for sure,” Quiroz says. “I had a lot of followers.

“People are still asking me . . . ‘Hey, when are you going to reopen Frida’s?’”

His answer:

“As soon as I can get in a good spot.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under New business, Old Town, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

Michelle Borin sells Garage Bar & Grill; Jennifer Ray to open Circle Social Club

Oct. 22, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Michelle Borin soon will be back to running just her Michelle’s Beach House. She and her son, Brandon, have sold the Garage Bar & Grill in Delano to Jennifer Ray.

“Things have just kind of changed,” Michelle Borin says. Her son is now focusing more on the aerospace industry, she says.

“I don’t want to run it by myself and take 100 percent responsibility between this place and the Beach House.”

Ray has been running Emerson Biggin’s and Rock Island Live in Old Town. She’s worked at Emerson Biggin’s for more than a decade.

“It was just a natural progression of things,” Ray says of starting her own business.

The new bar will be called the Circle Social Club after the traffic circle in front of the business, which is at 579 W. Douglas.

“I have always been interested in that property,” Ray says. “I live in Delano, so it’s a perfect fit.”

She plans to remodel.

“It’s just going to be a lot of cosmetic changes.”

Ray plans to change not just the look but the feel of the business.

“It would be great to have a concept in there that really fits the neighborhood. Something that caters to the eclectic tastes of people who live in Delano,” she says. “We’re thinking something laid back. Very, very quality food, good service … a very nice beer selection.”

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Filed under Bars, Delano, New business, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

Carla Whaley to reopen Carla’s in Delano

Sept. 26, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Part of the reason Carla Whaley closed her Carla’s Love It at Bradley Fair this spring is because her husband was ill, but she found herself pretty bored after a while.

“I was walking around not knowing what I was supposed to do,” she says.

Her husband knew the solution.

“He said, ‘Well, do what you like to do.’”

So Whaley is reopening Carla’s, this time in Delano at 605 W. Douglas between Twist and Hatman Jack’s.

“You know, my nieces come down here a lot. … They just think it’s the coolest place ever.”

Whaley agrees.

“It’s always been pretty cool.”

Something new is happening, though, she says.

“It’s the new hot spot. … There’s a rebirth again of Delano.”

Whaley says her friend “Hatman” Jack Kellogg showed her some Delano spaces, but she couldn’t find just the right one initially.

Then he pointed out that the Twist owner was hoping to downsize a bit in the space he owns next to his hat shop.

“I said, ‘Well, why didn’t you bring this up to begin with?’” Whaley says.

Other than that small transgression, she says, “He’s just been a delight to work with.”

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , Filed under Delano, New business, Real estate, Retail | Comments Off

You don’t say

Sept. 12, 20125:02 p.m.

“I definitely don’t want to make the brides worry.”

– “I Do” Bridal & Tux owner Trinh Nguyen, who says a mail mix-up led to a tax delinquency of more than $12,000 but that it’s been taken care of and her Old Town business is doing fine

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under Old Town, Retail, Taxes, You don't say | Comments Off