Town & Country’s new owners putting their own spin on the classic Wichita restaurant
It’ll still have the roosters, but there will also be classic cars in the decor at Town & Country Classic, the new version of an old Wichita restaurant favorite that’s set to open next week.
Billy Wood, a faithful customer of Town & Country when it operated at 4702 W. Kellogg, has partnered with longtime friend and former Pizza Hut manager Richard Hicks Jr. to open a new version of the classic Wichita restaurant at K-42 and Maize Road. Their plan is to open on Monday.
Earlier this week, they invited me for a sneak peek at the new space — and shared a copy of the new menu, which you can peruse below.
Town & Country Classic is taking over the spot at 10510 W Southwest Blvd. that until recently was occupied by Paula’s Bar and Grill. It’s a tidy brick building that sits just off the highway, adjacent to a neighborhood. Inside, the partners have painted, installed new carpet and filled the space with new tables and chairs.
They weren’t allowed to bring anything over from the old building, which they left after being unable to work out a deal with former owner Larry Conover’s longtime landlords. Conover, whose father, Jay, opened the restaurant in 1957, died in March at age 73 after a two-year battle with throat cancer.
The old Town & Country space on West Kellogg is now listed for lease. Troy Farha of NAI Martens is handling the space.
Wood and Hicks were able to save a few of the rooster figurines that customers had gifted Conover over the years, and they are positioned on shelves that line the restaurant. But Wood and Hicks, both classic car enthusiasts, have re-branded the restaurant to reflect their passion. The new logo features a vintage Cadillac owned by Wood.
They’ve pared down the menu, but it still includes many Town & Country favorites, including a breakfast menu populated with omelets, biscuits and gravy, skillets and breakfast combos. Breakfast will be served from 6 to 11 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 7 to 11 a.m. on Sundays.
The lunch and dinner menu offers salads, sandwiches, steak dinners, prime rib, hot open-face sandwiches and more. The daily lunch specials, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, will still include old school favorites like fried liver and onions and fried chicken livers.
Town & Country’s longtime cook made the move with Wood and Hicks, they said. And that bread basket Conover always served, featuring cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls, will remain a part of the tradition at Town & Country Classic.
They’ll serve beer, but not a full bar like at the old place.
The new restaurant seats about 75, far fewer than the 225 that could fit in the original space. But Wood pointed out a patio on the restaurant’s south side that the landlord said could be converted into more dining space if the restaurant takes off.
The new building has a drive-through window, where Wood and Hicks plan to serve food to-go when people call ahead. And the building also has lots of space surrounding it, including a big grass field, where the new partners can put on car shows in the future.
Town & Country’s longtime fans have been stopping by, hoping the restaurant is open, Wood said. He hopes many of them will make the transition.
“We’ve had several people walk in the door and say, ‘Can I just have a beer?’” he said. “People are calling and saying, ‘I’ll visit.’”
Town & Country Classic menu
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 11:12 AM.
.jpg)