Wichita has a new barbecue restaurant, but it’s sharing space with a daytime-only place
It’s a trend in bigger cities, Shannon Johnson says, so she figures it can work in Wichita, too.
Two restaurants. One space.
As of this weekend, Johnson’s The Fusion Restaurant, which opened three years ago at 1812 W. Douglas in Delano, is sharing its space with another restaurant concept: Bigley’s BBQ.
The space will house The Fusion Restaurant during the day, as it always has, then on weekend nights, the table settings will change, the sign out front will switch, a couple of neon signs will be hung and the restaurant will turn into Bigley’s.
Johnson said she got the idea after talking with her friend, Shane Bigley, who for the past year has operated his Bigley’s BBQ food truck in Newton. He really wanted to find a brick-and-mortar space, he told Johnson. Meanwhile, Johnson had for years been fielding requests from customers who wanted her to open her restaurant at night. But she’s a single mom with 10-year-old twins.
“I’ve tried, but it’s not going to happen for me,” she said.
The two agreed that they’d try a “dual concept,” and they did a soft opening on Saturday.
From now on, Bigley will serve his barbecue out of the Fusion space from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. His specialties are pulled pork, brisket and pork ribs, and he’s also known for his Beer Can Burger, which features a beef patty depressed with a beer can then filled with sauteed onions and cheese before being slow smoked.
Before he opens, Bigley will do a quick redecorating of the space by adding different centerpieces and tablecloths, changing the music and putting up some of his own decor. He’ll also put his sign out front when he’s open. Then, Johnson will switch it back the next day.
She’ll keep operating her restaurant, which offers Southwestern-style cuisine, as normal, opening from 9 am.. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and offering brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some of Bigley’s barbecue will be added to her brunch offerings.
Eventually, she said, Bigley hopes to add additional nights. He also plans to continue with his food truck when the weather warms up.
His menu also includes garlic coleslaw, homemade potato salad and peach baked beans.
The deal worked out particularly well for Johnson’s staff, she said.
“Our staff will overlap as well,” she said. “Some of my staff wanted second jobs, and now they have one.”
Bigley’s BBQ Menu
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 12:25 PM.
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