You don’t say

Jan. 3, 20131:20 p.m.

“You can whine and cry all you like … but I don’t make enough money to cry for long.”

– Rusty Rathbun of Twin Peaks on dealing with the flu

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , Filed under Restaurants, You don't say | Comments Off

Twin Peaks franchisee negotiating on west-side space where another restaurant is

Oct. 3, 201210:16 a.m.

WICHITA — A popular pastime in some circles seems to be guessing where the west-side Twin Peaks will go.

Franchisee Rusty Rathbun is regularly asked about spaces as they become available, which has included the former Brooklyn’s Chophouse space, where Larry Bud’s Sports Bar & Grill now is, and the former Tommy’s Restaurant and Lounge and Gobi Grille spaces.

“We’ve got something else in the works,” he says. “We’ve got a better location in mind.”

Rathbun says he can’t talk about the space because there’s a restaurant in it.

“Somebody’s in it, and negotiations are under way,” he says.

Rathbun hopes to open in the space by April or May.

He says the location isn’t one anyone is likely to think he’d put a Twin Peaks.

“It’ll blow people’s mind.”

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

Ciao Italian Kitchen may open in former Tommy’s Restaurant and Lounge space

June 27, 201211:00 a.m.

WICHITA — Less than a year after opening Ciao Italian Kitchen on the east side at the Waterfront, Guillermo Perez-Munoz is working on a west-side location.

Perez-Munoz isn’t talking yet, but it looks like he’s negotiating to take the former Tommy’s Restaurant and Lounge space at 2121 N. Tyler.

Twin Peaks owner Rusty Rathbun has eyed that spot as well and is still considering other west-side space.

Look for a west-side Ciao deal possibly in the next week or two.

 

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

Twin Peaks eyes former Tommy’s Restaurant and Lounge space and one other west-side site

May 9, 20125:00 a.m.

WICHITA — There’s buzz about Twin Peaks opening near 21st and Tyler where Tommy’s Restaurant and Lounge closed last month, but that’s only one of two west-side options for the restaurant.

“We’re looking at it,” says franchisee Rusty Rathbun. “There’s another one that popped up.”

He won’t say where the other space is because “there’s a restaurant in it.”

Wichita’s first Twin Peaks opened in the former Timberline space near 21st and Rock Road last year, and Rathbun says it’s doing well.

He says there are issues with both west-side buildings. For instance, at the former Tommy’s space – where owner Michael Redick says he overspent on renovations and had to close – Rathbun says he would have to spend $1 million to remodel.

“To me, that’s a little too much.”

If neither space works, Rathbun says he’ll go to Manhattan or Topeka next. His preference is to find west-side space first, though, and he’d like to be open by September.

“I’ve got to have something nailed down in May before I can open in September,” Rathbun says. “We’re crossing our fingers … and hoping we can.”

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Former KSN, Channel 3, anchorman is the new Mooyah franchisee for Wichita

Feb. 8, 20125:00 a.m.

UPDATED — Anthony Powell can now add hamburgers to his resume — loaded ones at that.

The former KSN, Channel 3, weekend and 5 p.m. anchorman, who still contributes on-air reports for the station, and his wife, Jennifer, are the new Mooyah franchisees for Wichita.

The Powells are working with Twin Peaks franchisee Rusty Rathbun and Maria Peak of Bovine Development, a company that is developing Mooyah sites.

Jennifer and Anthony Powell

“The guy is very, very impressive with his track record at Subway and Twin Peaks,” Anthony Powell says of Rathbun. “He’s just so experienced with the restaurant business. He knows what it takes to be successful.”

Powell says Rathbun’s office is helping him with traffic counts and other information on where to locate.

He’s looking everywhere but says that “the west side is looking more promising right now.”

The Dallas-based Mooyah chain is in several states, though the majority of its restaurants are still in Texas. It’s in the fast-casual dining segment, which caters to people who want quick meals in a nicer dining setting than fast food restaurants usually provide.

“Fast casual is affordable but still a dining experience,” Powell says.

Mooyah specializes in hamburgers with a serious array of toppings. There also are veggie and turkey burgers, thick-cut fries, shakes and a children’s menu.

Powell hopes to have his first Mooyah open by June.

“We’re in talks on one,” he says.

Read More »

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

Twin Peaks franchisee looking for west-side space

Jan. 23, 20122:51 p.m.

WICHITA — Twin Peaks franchisee Rusty Rathbun is scouting west-side sites for a second Twin Peaks.

“Nothing’s etched in stone,” he says.

Rathbun wants to make a decision by the end of March so he can open by September at the latest.

Wichita’s first Twin Peaks, which opened in the former Timberline space near 21st and Rock Road last year, is doing well enough to consistently be in the top 10 of the chain’s more than 20 restaurants in terms of volume, Rathbun says.

For the west-side location, he’s considering existing spaces along with possibly constructing a new building.

“We think that it’s probably going to take four months to build it,” he says.

So which would he prefer?

“I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag yet.”

Rathbun and his partners in the Udder Group, a company that is developing Mooyah sites, are close to signing a franchisee who will open six or seven of the burger restaurants in Wichita.

He says the deal should happen in early February. If all goes as planned, Wichita’s first Mooyah should open by May or June.

We’ll keep you posted.

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

First two Wichita Mooyah sites should be open by late fall

June 27, 20115:10 a.m.

WICHITA — In January, Have You Heard? reported that a Mooyah franchisee, who didn’t want to be named yet, is looking to bring seven of the hamburger restaurants to Wichita.

Now, the franchisee is talking, and he doesn’t mind sharing his name or his plans.

Twin Peaks franchisee Rusty Rathbun and his five Wichita partners, who do business under the name Le Grande Tetons, have a second company called the Udder Group to develop Mooyah sites.

The Dallas-based chain sells third-pound hamburgers, French fries, hot dogs and shakes among other things. It also bakes fresh buns daily.

“We are moving ahead,” Rathbun says. “Moooving ahead.”

He says he hoped to start with two Wichita sites but may wind up with three.

“I may have to take three to get two,” he says of a deal with one potential landlord.

He and his partners initially planned to be the franchisees for each site, and they may still run one, but now they’re looking for franchisees for the other potential Mooyahs so they can keep their focus on Twin Peaks.

Read More »

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Twin Peaks to open next week

May 12, 20113:39 p.m.

WICHITA — Twin Peaks is opening — just a bit behind schedule — next week in the former Timberline Steakhouse & Grill space at 8310 E. 21st St.

“We had a heck of a time getting our timbers in,” franchisee Rusty Rathbun says.

Rathbun is referring to the chain’s signature big wooden columns because, in addition to Twin Peaks being as veiled a reference as Hooters, there really is a lodge look at the restaurant as well.

The restaurant will open for half days — 5 p.m. to midnight — starting Tuesday.

Then its regular schedule will begin May 23.

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Rathbun says he’s going to gauge customer demand for a possible west-side Twin Peaks as well.

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Twin Peaks to open in the former Timberline Steakhouse & Grill space this spring

Jan. 17, 20119:03 p.m.

WICHITA — Twin Peaks franchisee Rusty Rathbun confirms what Have You Heard? predicted earlier this month.

The first Wichita Twin Peaks will open this spring in the former Timberline Steakhouse & Grill space at 8310 E. 21st St.

“It’s got a lot of the motif that’s already inside a lodge,” Rathbun says of the Dallas-based chain’s theme.

Except, of course, his theme is a bit broader than that.

The restaurant’s name is about as veiled a reference as Hooters.

“I guess you could compare it to that level,” Rathbun says. “I would like to think that we’re just a little bit classier than that.”

He says he’s not trying to take anything away from Hooters.

“This is more of a lodge or mountain cabin atmosphere.”

The sports bar caterers to the 25-to-35-year-old single male demographic.

“But you should see how many people bring their families in.”

Rathbun, who is a Subway developer, has four partners in Twin Peaks.

The chain sells a range of food, including steak, pot roast, hot dogs and some fried food such as chicken fried steak. There’s also a kids’ menu.

Read More »

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