Old Chicago restaurants in Wichita being remodeled, rebranded

Old Chicago restaurants across the country are getting a makeover, and Wichita’s three locations are next.

Remodeling already has started at the local Old Chicago restaurants — which are at 300 N Mead in Old Town, at 7700 E. Kellogg,  and at 2240 N Tyler — and will be done in a couple of weeks.

When complete, each of the three restaurants will have a new, modern look and outdoor signage. The restaurants even will have new names — sort of. Instead of Old Chicago Pasta & Pizza the restaurants now will be known as Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom.Old Chicago’s old logo, above, and the new one, below.It’ll be high-tech, with digital screens showing when various beers were tapped and who in the restaurant is checked in on FourSquare.

The “rebranding” is intended to freshen up the look and approach of the restaurant chain, which started in 1976 and now has 96 locations in 22 states. Everything from the utensils to the plating of the food to the vintage decor on the walls, says “modern brewery” rather than “30-year-old sports bar.” So far, the chain has launched the new look in three of its restaurants: two in Colorado and one in Minnesota. Topeka and Kansas City stores also are getting the new look.

Several new menu items also will be added, including panini sandwiches, new calzones and salads and a new style of thin and crispy crust for some of the pizzas.

The eastside Old Chicago will open with its new look on March 12, and the west side one will follow on March 13. Old Town will be ready to go on March 14 and probably will have to close for one day between now and then while workers install big new outdoor signage.

This story was originally published February 26, 2013 at 3:03 PM with the headline "Old Chicago restaurants in Wichita being remodeled, rebranded."