“We don’t control who tours when but we’re working on providing as many options as we can so we have something for everybody. Keep watching!”
— Intrust Bank Arena general manager Chris Presson’s e-mailed response to criticism that the arena is booking a lot of country acts that appeal only to a limited audience
WICHITA — Only one week ago, Yoder Meats owner Alan Waggoner called YB Meats owner Eric Kauffman to see if he might be interested in selling his store.
Kauffman was, and now the longtime store at 798 N. West St. will operate as Yoder Meats. It officially opens Wednesday (though there may have been a sale or two in the last day or so) and the deal will close in January.
“He was motivated to be done, and I was motivated to take over,” says Waggoner, who owns a meat plant and retail shop in Yoder with his wife, Carol.
If a one-week turnaround seems like a crazy kind of time frame, Waggoner agrees.
“Yeah, way crazy.”
WICHITA — It looks like there’s more to the Olive Tree Bistro story than the Toubia sisters are telling.
According to a lawyer who represents the landlords for the Olive Tree Bistro and Chelsea’s Bar and Grill, the restaurants are being evicted.
“We filed an eviction petition . . . a week ago,” says Jeff Kennedy of Martin Pringle. “They’re not paying their rent.”
Kennedy says Latour Management, which owns the restaurants and banquet facility at 29th and Rock, is more than $60,000 behind in rent.
“In January, that’s when we started having problems with them paying their rent on a timely basis,” he says.
Latour president Joumana Toubia says there are problems with the condition of the building.
Kennedy says some of the property condition issues Latour has raised are nonissues, such as moisture problems that occurred during roof repairs. He says those have been corrected.
As for some of the other issues, Kennedy says, “The management company was perfectly willing to resolve them, but they would not pay their rent.”
He says: “Anytime you get into a situation like this, somebody is going to look for excuses why they’re not paying their rent.”
The restaurants are open for now.
“That’s something that we’re talking about,” Kennedy says.
It’s not clear when they will close or where they may reopen.
WICHITA — After years of flirting with leaving their Olive Tree Bistro space at 29th and Rock, Joumana and Randa Toubia have finally decided to do it.
In a recent letter to customers, the sisters said with “deep regret and great sadness” they decided to move.
“We have great interest in relocating to the heart of the city but are not ready to announce our new location just yet,” the letter said. “However, we can say, we are absolutely committed to honoring the reservations on our books by helping to move events to mutually agreed upon venues and to provide the catering.”
In a statement to Have You Heard?, Joumana Toubia today said:
“After several months of attempts to effect a rehabilitation and betterment of the premises at 29th and Rock Road, continuing operations at The Olive Tree Bistro, Chelsea’s Bar & Grill and the associated Banquet Facility have unfortunately become threatened due to irreconcilable issues with the property owners. Until a satisfactory resolution is achieved, we are committed to finding alternate venues to fulfill the current contracts we have scheduled for our banquet services and facilities. Other Latour Management, Inc. food service operations, including those at the Piccadilly Markets, Bagatelle Bakery and The Olive Tree’s catering service, will not be interrupted.”
The Toubias’ landlord couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Check back for more information throughout the day.
WICHITA — Country fans have a lot to like about Intrust Bank Arena so far.
Brad Paisley is the arena’s inaugural act Jan. 9. News of Taylor Swift’s April 1st show came shortly after that. And Tim McGraw announced he’ll play there June 11.
Now, country legends George Strait and Reba McEntire will play the arena together Feb. 19.
“The ‘King of Country’ is back!” heralds a press release from the tour promoter, and “. . . this time, he’s bringing along one very special lady.”
Strait is a 17-time CMA Entertainer of the Year.
McEntire is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year.
WICHITA — The owners of Freddy’s Frozen Custard are making their first foray into in the Kansas City area.
President Bill Simon says there will be a company-owned Freddy’s in Overland Park near 135th and Metcalf by spring.
It will be the first of about eight stores the company plans to bring to the greater Kansas City area.
“We’ve been wanting to get . . . to the Kansas City area for a long time,” Simon says.
The 3,500-square-foot, free-standing Overland Park Freddy’s will be similar to the one in Wichita in front of the Warren Theatre at 13th and Greenwich.
On Thursday, the new Freddy’s in Derby will open in a strip center in front of Target at Derby Marketplace at 71st South and Rock Road.
This Freddy’s, which is the sixth company store, will be 2,500 square feet and have a drive-through.
And the 30th Freddy’s franchise store will open in Hays on Monday, which brings the total number of Freddy’s stores to 36.
“Where is Jimmy Buffett when you need him? Parrot heads RULE!”
— Retired concert promoter Buck Goodman’s comment on this blog upon hearing Brad Paisley is Intrust Bank Arena’s opening act (Goodman says Paisley is great and will probably sell out but isn’t a superstar)
WICHITA — 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.
WICHITA — An Oct. 14 trial has been set in MDI Partnership #72′s case against Eaton Steakhouse.
MDI, which owns Eaton Place, has filed lawsuits to reclaim $10,708 from Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton and to evict them from the property at Douglas and St. Francis.
After a couple of postponed court dates for a previous eviction notice, the Comptons caught up on more than $50,000 in back rent in August but then fell behind again.