Four Wichita restaurants temporarily closed in December. Now, their plans have changed.
Back in December, when COVID-19 numbers were worsening and restaurant business was slowing, a few local owners announced plans to close down until spring. A couple of them mentioned March 1 as target reopening dates.
Now, March 1 has passed, and spring is in the air. So what’s next for these restaurants?
Here’s a look at what is known about four of those restaurants, one of which will not be reopening.
El Rincon, 11309 E. Kellogg: This Mexican restaurant opened over the summer in the former Beijing Bistro space at near Kellogg and Greenwich but has been closed since Dec. 12. At the time, owners said the closing would be temporary. But since then, said co-owner Ricardo Ortiz, they’ve decided they won’t be reopening at all — at least not in that space. They’re going to “hold off for a while” on their business, he said, though they haven’t ruled out eventually trying again in a different spot.
Sorrel’s Jamaican Food, 222 S. Commerce: This restaurant, which moved to its Intrust Bank Arena-adjacent space in November 2019, announced in early December plans to shut down until spring because of slow business during the pandemic. Though the restaurant won’t be reopening as a brick-and-mortar business, said owner Christine Rhoden, who opened Sorrel’s as a food truck in 2017 with her husband, they do plan to downsize and reopen again as a food truck. Their landlord let them out of their lease, which was a relief, Rhoden said. She hopes to have the new truck open by the end of the month.
Sam’s Southern Eatery, 6600 W. Central: This restaurant, which opened in January 2020 in the former Marco’s Cantina space near Central and Ridge, closed in December, posting a sign on the door that said the restaurant would reopen on March 1. Now, that date has passed, and it still isn’t open. I reached out to the owners and haven’t heard back, but there’s a new sign on the door that reads, “Opening soon under new management.” I’ll let you know what I find out.
Journey East Asia Grill, 4510 E. 19th St: This Asian restaurant adjacent to the Wichita State University campus closed at the end of December but reopened on March 5. To celebrate, its offering a $5 build-your-own bowl special through Sunday. The restaurant is part of Braeburn Square — the new retail complex on the WSU campus that already has a Starbucks and a Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.
This story was originally published March 4, 2021 at 2:06 PM.
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