Former Eaton Steakhouse owners to open Cinnamon Bakery & Caffe in Augusta

Oct. 12, 20114:51 p.m.

WICHITA — Stephanie and Steve Compton are getting back in the restaurant business.

The two used to have Eaton Steakhouse, which closed amid numerous financial and other problems in 2009.

They made a new start in Augusta by selling baked goods to friends, businesses and at the local farmers market.

Now, they’re preparing to open Cinnamon Bakery & Caffe at 419 State St.

There’s no set opening date yet. It’s likely at least a month away.

“We’re just going to stay with the bakery and the lunches for now,” Steve Compton says of their initial plans.

It doesn’t sound like leaving the restaurant business was an option after the Eaton Steakhouse.

“Well, it’s called making a living,” Steve Compton says. “That’s what we do.”

Why Augusta?

“It seemed like a nice, quiet place to go.”

Eric Christinat, executive director of Downtown Augusta Inc., says he’s aware of the Comptons’ past problems. He says, though, Augusta is happy to have them.

“Everybody absolutely loves their stuff.”

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

Douglas “D.J.” Pitts to return downtown with a new restaurant

Feb. 12, 20105:50 p.m.

WICHITA — Douglas “D.J.” Pitts is returning downtown with a new restaurant concept.

Pitts first opened 626 Douglas in 2004 at 626 E. Douglas.

He’s now opening D&K Kitchen at 217 E. Douglas in the former Stang space next to Athena Jewelry.

So says Athena owner Sophokles “Steve” Anthimides, who says he’s leasing Pitts the space.

Pitts couldn’t be reached for comment.

Anthimides says D&K will serve American and French cuisine.

He says the new restaurant initially will be open only for lunch. Hours eventually will expand.

One restaurant deal that won’t happen for Anthimides is Eaton Steakhouse reopening in the former Lancers space in Century Plaza at Douglas and Main.

“I changed my mind on that,” Anthimides says.

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

Eaton Steakhouse contents will be auctioned today, but who will profit?

Dec. 8, 20096:55 p.m.

WICHITA — A Sedgwick County District Court judge on Tuesday lifted a restraining order that was issued Monday to prevent the former owners of Eaton Steakhouse from selling the contents of the restaurant in a planned auction today.

Bud Palmer Auction can now proceed with the 9:30 a.m. sale. But part of the proceeds from the sale won’t necessarily go to former Eaton Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton and Thomas Bowles.

“Sale proceeds will be placed with the court,” says Mike Roach, an attorney for MDI Partnership #72, which owns Eaton Place. “There will be a trial at a later date.”

MDI alleges that the Comptons and Bowles, upon their exit from Eaton Place when the restaurant closed in October, caused damage and took items not belonging to them in excess of $50,000.

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

Court orders former Eaton Steakhouse owners not to auction contents as planned

Dec. 8, 20096:48 a.m.

WICHITA — A restraining order issued Monday will prevent the former owners of Eaton Steakhouse from selling the contents of the restaurant in a planned Wednesday auction.

Bud Palmer Auction was set to sell the contents for Steve and Stephanie Compton and Thomas Bowles.

But MDI Partnership #72 alleges that the Comptons and Bowles, upon their exit from Eaton Place when the restaurant closed in October, caused damage and took items not belonging to them in excess of $50,000.

The items in question are in a warehouse that Bowles has on East Lincoln.

Sedgwick County District Court Judge Timothy Lahey ordered that the sale not take place and that no property can be sold without a court order.

He also said the property has to remain at the warehouse.

Check back for more information throughout the day.

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

Steakhouse owners may reopen in new space

Nov. 4, 20096:39 a.m.

WICHITA — Former Eaton Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton may reopen their restaurant in a new space.

The Comptons were evicted from Eaton Place for failure to pay rent. They’re now looking down the street at 217 E. Douglas.

Athena Jewelry owner Sophokles Anthimides owns the building and has been talking to the Comptons about leasing the space. He’s meeting with them at 10 a.m. today “to see what they want to do.”

“That’s where they want to be to start,” Anthimides says.

He also owns Century Plaza at Douglas and Main where there’s restaurant space in the basement. The well-known Lancers is one of several restaurants that was once there.

“They’re talking about later on, if they do well here, they can move over there,” Anthimides says of the Comptons.

He says he’ll update us after this morning’s meeting.

There’s no word from the Comptons on their plans because they’ve requested that Have You Heard? not contact them anymore.

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

Eaton Steakhouse trial set

Oct. 7, 20093:46 p.m.

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.

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

Eaton Steakhouse again faces eviction

Sept. 24, 20092:19 p.m.

WICHITA — Eaton Steakhouse owners Steve and Stephanie Compton are facing possible eviction again.

After a couple of postponed court dates for a previous eviction notice, the Comptons caught up on more than $50,000 in back rent late last month.

But they’re now $10,708 behind on what looks to be September’s rent to Eaton Place.

MDI Partnership #72, which owns Eaton Place, has filed lawsuits to reclaim the money and evict the Comptons.

An Oct. 7 court date is scheduled.

The Comptons declined comment.

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

Eaton Steakhouse apparently survives

Aug. 27, 20094:40 p.m.

WICHITA — The Eaton Steakhouse hung banners Thursday proclaiming, “We survived. Still open.”

Owners Steve and Stephanie Compton didn’t return calls for comment, but it looks like they’ve pretty much gotten current on the more than $50,000 they owed Eaton Place for rent.

Also, they hung another banner that says E-ma Sweets will be opening soon.

E-ma is a gourmet bakery with custom cakes, pies, cookies and tarts.

There previously was a bakery at the Eaton Steakhouse. There’s no indication on how this one is different.

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

Eaton Steakhouse to have Aug. 6 hearing on eviction

July 30, 20095:06 p.m.

There was a petition on the Sedgwick County District Court docket Wednesday to evict the Eaton Steakhouse from Eaton Place, but nothing has been resolved yet.

Restaurant owners Steve and Stephanie Compton have requested a hearing.

“They’re entitled to their hearing,” says Mike Roach, the attorney for MDI Partnership #72, which owns Eaton Place.

Trial is set for Aug. 6 at 9 a.m.

MDI filed a petition for eviction and a lawsuit last week to recover more than $50,000 in back rent from the Comptons.

“The Eaton Place has no choice in what they’re doing, that’s clear,” Roach says.

“The amount that’s past due in rent is too large,” he says.

The Comptons aren’t commenting.

Roach says the situation is “long past resolution” for the Comptons to negotiate to stay.

If the judge rules in Eaton Place’s favor, the Comptons will be immediately evicted.

“Essentially,” Roach says, “they’ll be out, and we’ll be in.”

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

Eaton Steakhouse served petition for eviction

July 22, 20093:19 p.m.

HISTORICBUILDINGS.MH6WICHITA — The owners of the Eaton Steakhouse have been served an eviction notice for failure to pay $50,517 in rent at Eaton Place.

MDI Partnership #72, which owns the building at 523 E. Douglas, filed a petition for eviction in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday in addition to a lawsuit to collect back rent.

The lawsuit names Steve and Stephanie Compton of Wichita and Thomas Bowles of Augusta as defendants.

According to the lawsuit and eviction petition, SSC Enterprises, which is now B & C Group, signed a lease agreement in June 2007 for a total of $463,501, which is to be paid in monthly installments.

The lawsuit states that the Comptons and Bowles gave personal guarantees for the lease.

And the petition says the defendants have refused to leave the premises after receiving a 10-day notice to leave on June 24.

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