Wichita Eagle: Carrie Rengers

Deal to buy Luca Italian Kitchen falls through, but Pho Hot Bistro owner Danny Nguyen still looking to open in Old Town

Carrie Rengers — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:29 CDT

WICHITA — Restaurateur Melad Stephan is back from an overseas trip, so now it's possible to ask about a little situation that happened with his Luca Italian Kitchen a few weeks ago.

Luca, the Old Town restaurant that replaced Stephan's once-popular Uptown Bistro, has struggled since opening in 2011. It briefly closed around the time Stephan left for his native Lebanon and a European tour, but the closure wasn't related to the trip.

Stephan had been negotiating for months with Pho Hot Bistro owner Danny Nguyen to sell him the restaurant.

City to waive Century II parking fees for the weekend due to pay system issues

Carrie Rengers — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:09 CDT

WICHITA — The city of Wichita is testing a new parking payment system at Century II, and so far, it's not getting a stellar grade.

"This may not be the solution," says John D'Angelo, the city's director of arts and cultural services. "That's why we call it a test."

Particularly long lines for Music Theatre of Wichita this week had some people resorting to not paying instead of standing in long lines at one of four pay stations on the north end of the lot.

Hotel at Old Town sues two managers who left for positions at the Ambassador Hotel

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:29 CDT

WICHITA — The Hotel at Old Town has filed a lawsuit against former general manager Sheila Cole and former director of sales Amy Grossman, who now hold the same positions at the 6-month-old Ambassador Hotel.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday, Cole faxed DeBoer resignations for herself and Grossman on May 30. The suit says Cole offered Grossman a job at the Ambassador and that Cole faxed a note that Grossman "accepted the challenge of helping turn the hotel around.”

The suit alleges breach of fiduciary duty, the destruction of evidence and the misappropriation of trade secrets, among other things.

Kobe Steak House of Japan to open in former Playa Azul space at 21st and Tyler

Carrie Rengers — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:49 CDT

A Hanney & Associates Architects rendering of the new Kobe Steak House of Japan, which will open this fall at 21st and Tyler. WICHITA — As promised, Kobe Steak House of Japan owners Jim Hamlin and Jim West have a new restaurant to announce.

Hamlin says they're merging their former Derby business with their Kobe near 21st and Maize Road in a new west-side space.

The restaurant will open in November in the former Playa Azul space at 21st and Tyler.

QuikTrip to build two new Generation 3 stores on the south side

Carrie Rengers — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:33 CDT

WICHITA — QuikTrip is planning two new Generation 3 stores to replace existing ones in south Wichita.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the stores we have in Wichita are the older models," says spokesman Mike Thornbrugh. "It's a more mature division."

The QuikTrip at the southeast corner of Meridian and MacArthur is moving to the northwest corner.

Loft to open this fall at Bradley Fair

Carrie Rengers — Sat, 25 May 2013 20:21 CDT

WICHITA — Finally, Bradley Fair can reveal the reason behind its game of musical chairs, business style.

The Loft is coming to the center at 21st and Rock Road this fall.

"We have been working with them for quite some time," says Cathy Erickson, vice president at Laham Development.

Loony Bin closes deal for downtown space

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:10 CDT

WICHITA — As expected, the owners of the Loony Bin closed a deal this week to buy the 13,000-square-foot building between First and Second streets on St. Francis across from the urban park on the southeast corner of Second and St. Francis.

The Loony Bin had been at 21st and Woodlawn in Oxford Square from 1999 until it closed in late March.

Jeff Englert and Nathan Farha of NAI Martens and Dave Brown of Prudential Dinning-Beard handled the deal.

Checkers grocery store to close

Carrie Rengers — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:13 CDT

WICHITA — Checkers, a longtime store in the Pawnee and Hydraulic area, is closing.

"The store is closing just due to economic conditions," says Mike Collins, store manager.

The independent grocery, which is at 1915 E. Pawnee, has been open since 1987.

Financial and other challenges delay opening of Pacific Coast Pizza and Walkers Bar and Venue near Intrust Bank Arena

Carrie Rengers — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:25 CDT

WICHITA — Pacific Coast Pizza and Walkers Bar and Venue were supposed to open next to Intrust Bank Arena in March, but they're still not in business yet.

While construction and other delays are common when opening restaurants, there are more than typical delays happening here.

"Just some unforeseen events came up," says building owner Ryan Mills.

Wichita Habitat for Humanity moving to Inter-Faith Ministries building

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:46 CDT

WICHITA — Wichita Habitat for Humanity is getting a new habitat of its own.

The nonprofit is moving into the building that Inter-Faith Ministries owns at 829 N. Market.

"We'll be in business there on July 1," says Habitat executive director Ann Fox.

Randy Cooper's Fine Jewelry and College Hill Cleaners to move within Bradley Fair; new national retailer coming soon

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 09 May 2013 05:29 CDT

WICHITA — The latest round of musical chairs — business style — is almost over at Bradley Fair.

"The first piece of the puzzle was moving Howard's Optique, which we did at the end of last year," says Cathy Erickson, vice president at Laham Development.

Howard's moved from its freestanding space to new space between Sephora and Jason's Deli.

Child welfare offices to occupy part of Office This

Carrie Rengers — Sat, 04 May 2013 07:25 CDT

Saint Francis Community Services, which is taking over child welfare services previously provided by Youthville, is going to occupy 31,000 square feet at Office This.

The organization currently operates in about 4,000 square feet on North Amidon.

“We have to significantly expand that space,” says John Hoskins, vice president for marketing at the Salina-based group.

Tim Pett, director of WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship, placed on leave

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:37 CDT

WICHITA — Wichita State University's director of the Center for Entrepreneurship has been placed on administrative leave.

Tim Pett, who also is a professor and the W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Keith Pickus, WSU's interim provost and a history professor, confirms Pett's leave.

GLMV Architecture lays off about a dozen employees in second round of layoffs

Carrie Rengers — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:25 CDT

WICHITA — For the second time in less than a year, GLMV Architecture has laid off employees.

In August, the cutbacks affected a half dozen employees. This time, it's about a dozen. Some employees also will now be working reduced hours.

"Nobody saw this coming," says one laid-off worker. "Everybody's so shocked."

Associated Integrated Marketing CEO Bill Fialka is out as agency eliminates position

Carrie Rengers — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:49 CDT

WICHITA — Most people probably didn't notice when Bill Fialka took over as CEO at Associated Integrated Marketing – and that's how he liked it – but now he's gone.

"The position was eliminated," says Shawn Steward, vice president of client service and public relations.

He won't say if Fialka was fired.

Mattress Hub founders start second company, Furniture Hub, to sell furniture

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:57 CDT

WICHITA — In case opening more than 20 stores in four years isn't enough to keep them busy, Mattress Hub founders Ryan Baty and Mark Barrientos are starting a second company.

"Basically what we're trying to do is expand on the Hub brand," Baty says of starting Furniture Hub.

"We've always been intrigued by the furniture business," he says. "We see a lot of potential and a lot of opportunity."

Hobby Lobby to open in Regency Lakes at 21st and Greenwich

Carrie Rengers — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:13 CDT

WICHITA — Another major building is under construction at Regency Lakes next to where Cabela's opened last year.

According to documents filed with the city, Hobby Lobby is building a new 55,000-square-foot store.

Regency Lakes, a Laham Development property at the northwest corner of 21st and Greenwich, is home to SuperTarget, World Market and Hampton Inn & Suites among other things.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement office to have holding cells

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 06:25 CDT

WICHITA — Some people have expressed concerns about the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office moving to 555 N. Woodlawn from its current space at the 271 Building downtown at 271 W. Third St.

Concerns are related to what has erroneously been labeled a detention center there.

According to ICE spokesman Shawn Neudauer, there will be four temporary holding cells that will be designed to hold illegal immigrants as they are processed for deportation. There will be no beds for overnight stays. Most often, the stays are a couple of hours, Neudauer said through an e-mail.

Bionic Burgers stack up

Carrie Rengers — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 07:23 CDT

Most parts of Wichita have a Bionic Burger, but Raquel and Jimmy Chavez knew one area was lacking.

“We kind of needed one in the southeast area,” Raquel Chavez says.

So they’re opening their fifth restaurant in the family-owned chain at 3257 E. Harry where a Taco Tico recently closed.

Bryce Kuhn to open Twelve Restaurant & Bar in former Shorty Small's space

Carrie Rengers — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:13 CDT

WICHITA — Bryce Kuhn is a familiar face to many Wichita diners from working for others at a number of restaurants here. Now, he's going to have a place of his own in the space that Shorty Small's left at the Westlake Retail Center at 119th and Maple.

"I've always loved the west side," Kuhn says. "My heart's over here."

He's opening Twelve Restaurant & Bar, which he describes as an American grill, in June.