WICHITA — He’s waited 10 years just to be sure, but now T.J.’s Burger House owner John Abdayem is ready for his second location.
Thanks to what he calls “unbelievable support,” Abdayem says, “I think we’re strong enough to handle another one on the east side.”
The first T.J.’s is in Delano at 1003 W. Douglas.
The new T.J.’s will open in late September near Harry and Webb behind Felipe’s Mexican Restaurant.
“The minute we walked in, it’s like, it was made for T.J.’s,” Abdayem says of the space, which used to be a diner.
He found vintage-style tables and chairs with chrome and red covers, a checkered floor and neon signs.
“It’s like that decor was made for a hamburger parlor.”
The space will seat at least 150. The Delano T.J.’s holds 120.
Abdayem’s brother, Tony Abdayem, has La Galette just down from T.J.’s. John Abdayem helped start that years ago.
And his nephew, Roni Attari, owns the new Yuca Bistro on the west side.
When John Abdayem and his wife, Tracie, were starting T.J.’s, they decided to name it after themselves.
“It was supposed to be T&J’s, but it didn’t sound good together, so we called it T.J.’s,” Abdayem says.
Like the existing T.J.’s, the new one will be open for lunch and dinner six days a week.
“We’ve had such a big success over here,” Abdayem says. “Obviously, we’re doing something right for 10 years to survive.”