Olives & Pitas to open in former Red Mesa Grill space on North Tyler

April 12, 20123:29 p.m.

UPDATED — He’s not planning “Grilled Cheez” for the menu, but Kababs owner Syed Jillani finally is ready to open a restaurant in the former Red Mesa Grill space at 756 N. Tyler.

Jillani moved his catering business, Wichita Private Chef’s Catering, into the space four years ago. Three years ago, he announced plans to open Grilled Cheez to serve a combination of American and European food.

He says the economy forced him to put those plans on hold. Now, Jillani has decided to open Olives & Pitas, a Mediterranean restaurant, there instead.

That’s even though the economy still isn’t where he’d like it to be.

“It’s too long, me sitting on this building for three years,” Jillani says. “I need to change my thinking based on the market needs.”

He says there’s no Mediterranean food in the area except for Bella Luna Cafe near 21st and Maize.

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

B-Tan Tanning to move near Kababs

July 1, 20106:49 a.m.

WICHITA — B-Tan Tanning is moving from 13th and Tyler down the street next to the new Kababs restaurant on Tyler in the former Red Mesa Grill space.

“We just want a better streetfront location,” says manager Dawn Stock.

The new space will have 1,600 square feet compared with B-Tan’s current 1,200 square feet.

B-Tan also has a site at 119th and Maple, which isn’t moving.

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Kababs to open in former Red Mesa Grill

June 11, 20103:46 p.m.

WICHITA — At long last, Syed Jillani is about ready to open a restaurant in the former Red Mesa Grill space at 756 N. Tyler Road.

Two restaurants, in fact.

The first is Kababs, which will serve Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

There will be curry dishes, seafood and vegetarian entrees and, naturally, kababs.

The building is 6,000 square feet, and Kababs will go in only part of it.

Jillani still plans to open Grilled Cheez, a restaurant he first planned at the space a couple of years back.

The economy put those plans on hold, and Jillani instead operated his Wichita Private Chef’s Catering there while waiting for the economy to rebound.

Grilled Cheez likely will open at least two or three months down the road.

It will offer more inexpensively priced American food, though Jillani says Kababs also will be economical and casual.

He plans to still operate his catering company from there.

As soon as a Kababs opening date is set, we’ll let you know.

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Red Bean’s Bayou Grill & Bar repositions to attract diners who don’t want Cajun food

March 12, 20102:48 p.m.

WICHITA — Red Bean’s Bayou Grill & Bar owner Bill Rowe is doing what he can to combat what he calls the “veto vote.”

In the restaurant business, he says, the veto vote is the name for when everyone in a group wants to go to the same place except one person, and they have the power to then veto the restaurant.

“We’re repositioning in an attempt to have the veto vote (be) less of a factor in our business,” Rowe says.

So now, instead of being Red Bean’s Bayou Grill & Bar: A Mostly Cajun Joint, the name is Red Bean’s Bayou Grill & Bar: A Texas-Louisiana Border Joint.

The restaurant has had more than just Cajun food for a while. Previous Red Bean’s owner Richard Waite added Mexican dishes when he closed his Red Mesa Grill.

Rowe says not enough people know the restaurant has other dining options besides Cajun food.

In addition, he says, “There’s a huge misconception about what Cajun food is. . . . There’s a myth that it’s this horrible, hot, spicy stuff.”

Rowe says he’s also adjusted prices and portions, remodeled the patio and added breakfast.

It may not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, he says, but “it’s a big deal to us.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , Filed under Restaurants | Comments

Restaurant still in the works for former Red Mesa Grill space

Sept. 29, 20096:42 a.m.

WICHITA — Syed Jillani still has plans to open a restaurant in the former Red Mesa Grill space at 756 N. Tyler, but the financial picture has changed — for him and perhaps his customers.

Jillani hoped to open Grilled Cheez in the space, which is where he’s operating his Wichita Private Chef’s Catering.

He’s now rethinking the restaurant’s concept and planning something that might be more economically appealing to diners in a tough economy.

Also, Jillani is about $14,000 behind on taxes — he’s not sure of the amount — and has requested a payment plan from the state.

Still, he hopes to open the restaurant by the end of the year.

“I just pray for that,” Jillani says.

He may not use the Grilled Cheez name depending on the concept.

Nor is he certain if the food will be American or European.

Whatever it is, he says, it will be “something unique.”

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Chef plans to serve Grilled Cheez

April 3, 20097:49 a.m.

This time last year, Syed Jillani moved his catering business, Wichita Private Chef’s Catering, into the former Red Mesa Grill space at 756 N. Tyler and told Have You Heard? about his plans for a restaurant there, too.

He now has a name for the restaurant — Grilled Cheez — but still no opening date.

“I am just holding tight to see what Wichita’s going to bring to us,” Jillani says of the economy.

He says his catering has declined by about 45 percent in the last several months.

“Wichita’s getting hit a little harder,” he says.

Once he decides to open the restaurant, which will serve a mix of American and European food, Jillani says all he has to do is hire employees.

“The restaurant is all set to go.”

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