Wichita Jamaican restaurant is taking over a spot adjacent to Intrust Bank Arena
It’s been vacant since The Hungry Heart vacated it more than three years ago.
But soon, the space at 222 S. Commerce — which sits at the northeast corner of Intrust Bank Arena — will be filled with food and life again.
Sorrel’s Jamaican Food, which has operated out of a colorful but tiny spot at 3090 W. 13th St., since late last year, is in the process of moving into the space. Owners Sorrel and Christine Rhoden say they should be ready to open there in the next several weeks.
Last week, they closed down their 13th Street space, which they’d turned into a bit of an urban island with palapas, picnic tables and Jamaican music, and began the moving process. At the moment, they’re trying to hire cooks, bartenders and servers.
The new space, Christine said, will be much larger than the old one.
The couple will serve the same menu of jerk chicken, jerk pork, coco bread, ox tail and other Jamaican specialties that it had on 13th Street, plus they’ll have a full bar. They’ll also try to recreate the party atmosphere on the front patio of the new space.
They’re also hoping to make the restaurant a nightlife destination and will have live entertainment and DJs, she said.
The couple, who first opened their business as a food truck, were stationed at 2808 E. Douglas before they moved to 13th Street. They liked being downtown and have been wanting to get back there, Christine said.
I’ll let you know when the restaurant is ready to reopen.
This story was originally published November 13, 2019 at 3:25 PM.
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