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Sig’s Gourmet Butcher Shop will carry on without its late founder

Sept. 16, 20103:36 p.m.

sig2 WICHITA — With the Sept. 2 death of Sigmund “Sig” Everhart, 59, some devoted customers of his Sig’s Gourmet Butcher Shop in Derby have wondered what will happen to the store.

“We’re going to continue to run it just like Sig was still with us,” says Aretta Everhart, his widow. “This was his dream, and we’re going to go forward with this.”

Everhart is running the business with her 29-year-old son, Justin.

“His daddy worked with him for quite a bit and taught him as much as he possibly could,” Everhart says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Aretta Everhart, Justin Everhart, Pizza Hut, Sigmund “Sig” Everhart, Sig’s Gourmet Butcher Shop Filed under Derby, Retail | Comments

Office Park Plaza to locate at former Allegiant GMAC Real Estate building

July 23, 20102:58 p.m.

WICHITA — After sitting empty since late 2008, the red brick Colonial-style building near Douglas and Oliver has a new owner.

Contractors Christian Shomberg and Mark Eggel have bought the building at 4601 E. Douglas, where Allegiant GMAC Real Estate used to be and Associated was before that.

The two plan Office Park Plaza, which Shomberg describes as similar to Max Cole’s Office This on East Harry.

They plan to lease office spaces, which will come with desks, phones and computers, on a month-to-month basis.

“The idea is kind of staging an office,” says Shomberg, who owns other commercial and residential properties.

Shomberg also is a national contractor who paints Pizza Huts.

Eggel has M.L. Eggel Construction.

Shomberg says since the economy began struggling, he’s found that it’s easier to lease space that’s already furnished.

“This I’m taking to the next level to having everything provided,” he says.

The 12,000-square-foot building has two stories and a basement that will all be for lease.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Allegiant GMAC Real Estate, Associated, Christian Shomberg, Il Vicino, M.L. Eggel Construction, Mark Eggel, Max Cole, Mike's Wine Dive, Office Park Plaza, Office This, Pizza Hut Filed under Leases, Real estate | Comments

Panda Express to open at One Kellogg Place

May 19, 20101:50 p.m.

WICHITA — Panda Express has chosen One Kellogg Place on East Kellogg where Wal-Mart is for its first Wichita site.

Last year, Have You Heard? reported the California-based chain of more than 1,300 restaurants wanted to come to the Wichita area.

The first Panda will be in a freestanding 2,449-square-foot building with a drive-through between Pizza Hut and IHOP.

It will be ready in the fall.

“We just like the energy that surrounds that area,” says Susan Flesher, Panda’s real estate manager.

She specifically points to the nearby traffic and daytime population.

“We just felt like that was a good first site.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Chipotle, IHop, J.P. Weigand & Sons, Leisa Lowry, One Kellogg Place, Panda Express, Pizza Hut, Susan Flesher, Wal-Mart Filed under East side, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments

Bossa Grill Brazilian franchise to debut in Wichita

Dec. 2, 20095:29 p.m.

WICHITA — An international company with ties to a Brazilian restaurant group is bringing a new franchise concept to the United States and opening its first restaurant in Wichita this spring.

alberto “Wichita is a good lab,” says Alberto Moreira, who is bringing Bossa Grill to Northrock Retail Center at 3242 N. Rock Road.

Moreira points to Wichita as the successful home to franchises like Pizza Hut and White Castle.

“It’s a good test market for a restaurant.”

Moreira and Wichita business attorney Michael Biggs are partners in Bossa Group International with several Brazilians who are owners of TAC Comercio Alimenticio.

That company has 80 restaurants in Brazil, including the Bonaparte and Donatario concepts that are the inspiration for Bossa Grill.

“We’re taking what works in Brazil, and we’re adapting it for use . . . in American markets,” Biggs says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Alberto Moreira, Bonaparte, Bossa Grill, Bossa Group International, Brady Miller, Donatario, J.P. Weigand & Sons, Leisa Lowry, Michael Biggs, Northrock Retail Center, Occidental Management, Pei Wei, Pizza Hut, TAC Comercio Alimenticio, White Castle Filed under Leases, Real estate, Restaurants | Comments Off

Smashburger chooses SHS for brand help

Sept. 11, 200912:28 p.m.

burger WICHITA — Denver-based Smashburger has hired Sullivan Higdon & Sink as its agency of record for its Wichita and Tulsa markets.

“We have more work to do to develop the brand in the Wichita market,” says Smashburger founder Tom Ryan.

He says the Smashburgers at 3570 N. Woodlawn and in Derby are “doing fine.”

“All restaurants can do better,” Ryan says.

“I don’t think we opened that market as strong as we opened other markets,” he says. “That’s why I wanted to get some fresh eyes on the brand.”

He likes SHS for several reasons.

“We used them years ago when I was with Pizza Hut,” Ryan says.

Also, he says, “They had a great history of bringing new brands to the Wichita market.”

He particularly likes how SHS helped Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau launch its new brand with a mix of traditional and social media.

He hopes to use both for his restaurants as well.

“I would expect to see a resurgence of the Smashburger brand in Wichita,” Ryan says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pizza Hut, Smashburger, Sullivan Higdon & Sink, Tom Ryan Filed under Advertising, Restaurants | Comments

Fairfield Inn and Suites coming to Maize

June 9, 20097:00 a.m.

fairfield WICHITA — Though there’s been no outward signs of progress, a Marriott-flag hotel is still coming to 37th and Maize.

“It’s definitely coming,” says owner Lindsay Olsen of Prairie Village. “Marriott has approved us for an 84-room Fairfield Inn and Suites.”

In November, Have You Heard? first reported a Marriott-flag hotel would be coming to the Wyn-Wood commercial development where Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, City Hall and the Maize Dialysis Center already are located and where Barn’rds has plans to locate.

But there have been no signs of it since.

“We are working on it,” Olsen says. “It’s just not stuff you see by looking at the lot.”

Olsen won’t share a timetable for development, but he says, “It’s a good brand for the Maize market.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Barn'rds, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Lindsay Olsen, Maize City Hall, Maize Dialysis Center, Marriott, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Wyn-Wood Filed under Hotels, Maize | Comments Off

Reading Room moves to Delano

April 17, 20094:49 p.m.

The Christian Science Reading Room is now in Delano at 702 W. Douglas next to Pizza Hut.

The bookstore, which is affiliated with Second Church of Christ, Scientist, used to have locations in the Petroleum Building downtown and on East Central near Papa John’s.

“We’ve moved from one pizza place to the next,” says Ann Garvey, a volunteer for the store.

“It is kind of like putting both of our other reading rooms together,” says Garvey’s sister Julie Sheppard, the staff librarian.

The new space is 1,600 square feet.

“We wanted to find a place that had more pedestrian activity, that was more central, that was more easily accessible,” Garvey says. “We’re delighted to be in Delano.”

Sheppard likes it because it’s a neighborhood, and it has great foot traffic.

“It’s really fun,” she says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: Ann Garvey, Christian Science Reading Room, Julie Sheppard, Papa John's, Petroleum Building, Pizza Hut, Second Church of Christ Scientists Filed under Retail | Comments Off

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