Issa brothers opening Emporia IHOP

Sept. 28, 20122:29 p.m.

WICHITA — A year and a half after buying their first IHOP, the Issa brothers are ready to open their second one, this time in Emporia.

“We had an opportunity, and we took it,” says Ali, who is partners in the business with his brothers Ty and Mike.

They also own Larkspur, Ya Ya’s Eurobistro, Hereford House and Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge.

Their existing IHOP is at 515 S. Ridge Circle in west Wichita.

Their Emporia IHOP, which will open either Oct. 8 or 9, will be in the former Village Inn space at 2831 W. 18th Ave.

“We didn’t have a plan for Emporia,” Ali Issa says of locating there. “It just came up. … It was a good deal.”

He’s not sure where — or even if — they’ll open another IHOP.

“It’s hard to predict.”

Issa says he’ll spend the next month or two focusing on Emporia, although he says he’ll still continue to pop into Heat, which he also runs.

“Heat’s is doing very well,” he says.

Along with a loyal clientele, Issa says he has good employees to help him.

“We have some very good people (at) both places.”

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

You don’t say

Jan. 11, 20122:30 p.m.

“I can go there and eat and not have to pay.”

– Ty Issa, joking about why he’s acquired an ownership in Ya Ya’s Eurobistro

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

Larkspur owner Ty Issa becomes a partner in Ya Ya’s Eurobistro at Bradley Fair

Jan. 10, 20124:14 p.m.

WICHITA — Larkspur owner Ty Issa has acquired an interest in Ya Ya’s Eurobistro at Bradley Fair.

“We’ve been talking about this for years,” Issa says. “We’re fortunate to come on board.”

Earlier this month, Paul Khoury of Kansas City’s PB&J Restaurants, which owns the Ya Ya’s chain, told Have You Heard? the restaurant wasn’t selling. It looks like negotiations have been on and off.

Issa says they’re still working out some operational details.

“We’re going to be sharing a lot of ideas for improvement, that’s all,” he says.

“I have some ideas, they have some ideas. So you know, that’s all what it is.”

Khoury’s son, Patrick, will be helping run Ya Ya’s. Issa won’t have a huge presence there.

“Here’s been my concern,” Issa says. “I don’t want to confuse people.”

Issa says he’ll still be a daily presence at Larkspur in Old Town.

“Nothing’s going to change. It’s just a great merger with them.”

 

 

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Issa brothers purchase west-side IHOP

April 21, 20114:57 p.m.

WICHITA — The restaurateuring Issa brothers have purchased the IHOP at 515 S. Ridge Circle, just down from the new Panera Bread.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Ali Issa says. “There’s a future in it. They’re very successful.”

Issa and his brothers, Ty and Mike, also will continue to operate Larkspur, Hereford House and Heat Cigar & Hookah Lounge.

At IHOP, they’re making a lot of changes. Some are cosmetic on the interior and exterior. Other changes include retraining the staff “from A to Z,” Ali Issa says.

He says he and his brothers are not looking to buy other IHOPs, at least not yet.

“We’re too busy with that one. It’s too early to talk about the next venture.”

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

Larkspur suffers $150,000 in smoke damage

Jan. 15, 201011:19 a.m.

WICHITA — An early morning fire caused $150,000 in smoke damage at Larkspur in Old Town.

“What a bummer,” owner Ty Issa says.

The fire started at a dryer in a storage room behind the kitchen.

Police officers patrolling the area noticed smoke coming from the building at 904 E. Douglas shortly after 12:30 a.m. today.

Firefighters forced entry through the front door and found smoke throughout the building, says Capt. Stuart Bevis.

They discovered a fire in a back room where a dryer had been drying towels.

“The fire was contained to a pretty small area,” Bevis says, but he says there’s substantial smoke damage.

Issa was sleeping at home when he got a call from his alarm company.

“I’ve been up probably all night,” he says.

Still, Issa says, “I’m happy it’s contained to that kind of damage.”

He’s fully covered by insurance — including for lost revenue — but the situation is a huge headache.

“The inconvenience of all this is just like we’re in the construction business,” Issa says.

Larkspur needs mostly cosmetic repairs, which Issa hopes take no longer than a week or 10 days.

“If I can get all these people to work on the weekends, that’s what they’re promising right now.”

There also will be an extensive four-day cleaning.

“So it will be the cleanest restaurant in this town.”

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