Tanya Tandoc to reopen her Tanya’s Soup Kitchen downtown

Jan. 26, 201111:15 a.m.

Tanya Tandoc and the team helping her reopen her Soup Kitchen: (from left) Sister-in-law Ann Tandoc, business consultant Jill Miller, husband Wayne Gottstine and brother Warren Tandoc.

UPDATED — For almost seven years, Wichitans have relentlessly asked: When is Tanya going to reopen her restaurant?

The answer: This spring.

Tanya Tandoc is bringing back her uber-popular Tanya’s Soup Kitchen.

She’s opening in a new spot with the same name.

“Don’t fix what ain’t broke,” is her philosophy.

Tandoc is taking almost 2,100 square feet at 1725 E. Douglas across from the Donut Whole.

That’s Phil Ruffin’s newly renovated Sunburst Plaza at 1725.

“The menu will be much like people remember it,” Tandoc says.

That includes favorite soups, such as her signature tomato bisque, which will be on the menu daily.

“Still, ridiculously, the very most popular soup I have ever served — ever!”
Sandwiches, such as the Milano and the Crocoville, will be back, too.

Tanya’s Soup Kitchen will be open for lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“It’s all flexible,” Tandoc says. “If people are banging down the door at 5 o’clock, well, we’ll open.”

Tandoc was forced to leave her space in the former Union Station baggage area when her landlord, Cox Communications Kansas, wanted it back in 2004.

She’ll have the same amount of seating — about 40 or 50 seats — as she previously did. She’ll also eventually have a patio.

Instead of having table service, though, customers will order at a counter and runners will bring out their food.

“We’re going to try and streamline the experience a little bit,” Tandoc says. “We’ll be able to turn tables a little bit faster than before.”

The “we” in the venture includes her brother, Warren, and his wife, Ann.

Their return to the Wichita area is part of what’s inspiring the restaurant now.

“It was like, oh, wait, the best line cook I ever met in my life and an incredible chef,” Tanya Tandoc says of her brother. “This is awesome.”

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

It’s official: New Balance and Heads shoe stores to open near 21st and Maize

Oct. 21, 20105:26 a.m.

WICHITA — Cindy Warren confirms what Have You Heard? reported last week:

She’s bringing a New Balance store to the west side along with a new Heads shoe store.

Both will locate in the former Blockbuster space at 10231 W. 21st St. near Maize Road.

“We think that the area deserves the type of service and quality that we bring to town in a shoe store,” Warren says. “We think that they’re going to be very receptive of it.”

She says she’s done a lot of market research.

“It’s a different demographic out there than it is on the east side of town,” Warren says.

Warren owns Heads Village Shoe Store at Douglas and Oliver, Fair Village Shoe Store at 2407 W. 13th St., the New Balance shoe store at 1720 N. Webb, and the Little Feet Boutique children’s shoe store adjoining Heads.

“We’re taking our Fair’s shoe store on West 13th, and we’re lowering the price point,” says Warren’s son Andy, who is general manager.

Shoes have been averaging $90-$100 at Fair.

“We’re going to try to bring that down to about $60 to $70,” Andy Warren says.

The new stores will have the higher price point with more fashionable comfort shoes.

Warren says he sells a wide range of footwear, including orthopedic shoes, boots and “a cute little gladiator sandal.”

He says proper size and comfort are his main focuses.

At the 6,000-square-foot former Blockbuster space, New Balance will take 2,000 square feet and Heads will take 4,000 square feet.

“New Balance doesn’t require a lot of space,” Andy Warren says.

Leisa Lowry of J.P. Weigand & Sons handled the deal. Farha Construction is the contractor.

Construction will start in early November, and the new stores should open in early February.

“We’re doing a complete overhaul of the existing facility,” Andy Warren says.

Spangenberg Phillips Tice has created the plans.

“They’ve done just a phenomenal job,” Andy Warren says.

Expanding in the current economic climate isn’t daunting to Cindy Warren.

“You know, it should be, but at the same time, we’ve done our homework, and we feel like we’ve picked a spot that is central to the part of Wichita that’s growing very quickly. So hopefully our homework will prove out that we made a good choice.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , Filed under Real estate, Retail, West side | Comments

Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy to double in size at Bradley Fair

Sept. 8, 20106:01 a.m.

sveta3WICHITA — A decade after opening at Bradley Fair, Sveta Yakubovich is doubling the size of her Sveta’s Skin & Body Therapy.

“We’re still keeping . . . who we are,” she says. “It’s just kind of time to grow.”

Part of the reason with the timing is because Zumo Juice will be leaving its space.

Sveta’s has 1,000 square feet and will now have 2,200 square feet with the Zumo space.

Construction starts in October, and the business will remain open during the expansion.

The additional space will allow for double bookings for, say, a mother and daughter who might like to schedule appointments at the same time.

“We’re turning down lots of business like that,” Yakubovich says.

“That would add, I think, a lot.”

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Filed under Bradley Fair, Real estate, Restaurants, Retail | Comments Off