In memoriam: Restaurants Wichita loved, then lost, in 2021
To state the obvious, 2021 was a tough year for restaurants — maybe even tougher than 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic started and they had to temporarily shut down.
News of closings started trickling in early in the year, but as staffing issues worsened through the fall, the bad news started gushing, and Wichita lost favorite restaurants big and small, young and old.
It’s become an end-of-the-year tradition to remember, in memoriam-style, the restaurants Wichita lost over the past 12 months. This year’s list is sad and long.
A moment of silence, please.
February
Egg Roll King, 1321 W. Douglas: This little Chinese restaurant opened in the Delano neighborhood in 2001, but in February, owner Chi Luong announced his plans to retire, and the restaurant closed on Feb. 26. The building has since been demolished by a new landowner who has development plans for the lot.
March
Scooter’s Coffee, 801 E. Douglas: It’s not clear exactly when, but sometime in early March or late February, this downtown Scooter’s Coffee quietly closed after five years in business. It had been a sit-down Scooter’s, and it was one of the first businesses to open in the renovated Union Station project back in March 2016. Since then, Wichita Cheesecake Company has relocated from the nearby Union Station kiosks and taken the space over.
April
Chef’s Table Roadhouse, 353 S. Rock Road: Winfield chef Stan Lerner opened this restaurant in the former Logan’s Roadhouse space at the height of the pandemic in October 2020 and offered a small menu, accepting only customers who had reservations. Six months later, he decided to close the space, which he said he’d intended only as a pop-up concept. Now, a new Cajun seafood chain called Hook & Reel is about to move in.
Lilikoi Asian Bistro, 12111 W. Maple: Chef Greg Cook took over the old Kanai spot in December 2020, but by April — frustrated by his lack of ability to find staff — he announced that he’d decided to permanently close.
Walt’s Klassics, 2420 S. Oliver: This burger restaurant closed this spring, but a new Road Runner Mexican Fast Food restaurant recently opened there.
May
LoLo’s Crepes, food truck: This food truck, which Matt Lo opened in 2016 then sold to Vivian Voo when he moved back to Hong Kong in 2019, closed in May. Voo announced the closing in a Facebook post, where she offered to train anyone who wanted to take the business over. But nothing has materialized, and the truck’s Facebook page has disappeared.
Penny’s Caravan, 2260 N. Coolidge: This longtime bar and karaoke hangout closed in May after owner Sheila Hoskinson lost her lease when her building’s owner decided to sell the land it sat on to make room for a new car wash. Her mother, Penny Lahar, first opened Penny’s in 2001. The building is now gone, and construction on the car wash is underway.
Tacos Raymundo, 1716 W. 21st St.: This longtime restaurant and Penny’s Caravan neighbor also lost its building in the car wash deal and moved out in May. The owner combined the business with Birrieria Raymundo, 124 E. 21st St., which a relative owns.
B.S. Sandwich Press, food truck: They were among the first food truckers on the Wichita food truck scene, but Jodi Buchanan, 44, and her brother, Doug, 36, died one month apart this summer after both suffered health complications. Their parents sold their truck, which the siblings had last taken out in May, to Funky Monkey Munchies owners Lisa and Eddi Palacios. They plan to open it as a cheese-focused food truck called Cheezepanzee.
Espresso Self, coffee trailer: Onetime barista Andi Pugh opened a mobile coffee business in 2017 but announced in May that she planned to close it for good.
June
Jack’s Coffee Shop, 6154 S. Hydraulic: Despite its humble appearance — and its confusing name (Jack’s didn’t serve coffee) — this tiny burger restaurant managed to chug along for years. Owner Shirley Coleman, who turned over the reins of the restaurant to her daughter, Carrie, when she started having health problems, died in October 2020. In June, a family member posted on the business page that the restaurant, known for burgers that far exceeded the size of their buns, was closed for good and that the property was out of the family’s hands.
An-Ex Bar & Grill, 6305 E. Harry: The old Annex Lounge spot got another new restaurant and bar tenant in late 2020, but it was gone by summer. The building is about to get new life again, though. Another tenant is planning to open a nightclub in the space.
Shawarma Restaurant, 2020 N. Woodlawn: This restaurant opened in the old Zaytun space in Brittany Center in February 2020, but on June 19, it announced via Facebook that it had closed.
July
Chicago Donuts, 3233 E. Harry: This doughnut shop, which opened in a former Dunkin’ Donuts space in the late 1990s, quietly closed over the summer, and the building is still vacant.
Town & Country, 4702 W. Kellogg: In October of 2020, new owners took over the Town & Country building that closed shortly after longtime owner Larry Conover died in March 2020. They kept the name and ran their own version of the classic restaurant, which originally opened in 1957. But it was closed by July, and the building still sits vacant.
Bocco Deli, 3010 E. Central: Dana Best didn’t offer an explanation when she suddenly announced that she wouldn’t be reopening her sandwich shop of seven and a half years after a temporary closure. “I don’t know how to really word this, other than we won’t be returning due to circumstances beyond our control,” she wrote in a July Facebook post. “Unfortunately, I have to really leave it at that.”
August
Noble House, 3031 E. Central: This Hawaiian restaurant, whose owner first brought his island fare to Wichita via food truck in 2015, closed in August. Akamu Noble disappeared from Wichita for a bit but has since started bringing his food truck back around.
September
Aria Bakery, 6746 E. Central: This popular Persian bakery opened in Normandie Center in September 2019, but its owners decided to move and closed it in September. River City Sweet Shop has since taken the space over.
Next Level Cafe, 3802 E. Harry: It offered the unique combination of gaming and Thai food, but this restaurant closed in September after nearly three years in business. The building has since been taken over by Sorrel’s Jamaican Food.
Nancy’s Amazing Sandwiches, 5125 N. Maize Road: Staffing shortages started really wreaking havoc in the early fall, and that’s when Nancy Parish announced that she was closing her Maize sandwich shop of 17 years. She’s still serving at events at the Cotillion.
Churn & Burn East, 11414 E. Central: Christian Shomberg opened a second location of his popular Churn & Burn ice cream and coffee shop on Wichita’s east side in 2018. But in September, he quietly closed it, leaving only the original at 548 S. Oliver.
Marina’s Mexican Seafood, 3090 W. 13th St.: This tiny Mexican seafood restaurant wasn’t even open a year before it closed in September. The space has since been taken over by a new Mexican food business: La Catrina, which serves “tacos to die for.”
Taco Pronto West Central, 7333 W. Central: The longtime West Central location of this popular family-owned fast food taco restaurant closed suddenly in September with the owners citing staffing issues. The Taco Pronto at 8385 W. 21st St. remains open.
October
DeFazio’s, 2706 N. Amidon: Few 2021 closings hit Wichita as hard as this one. Pete DeFazio, who opened his Italian restaurant in 1982, shocked fans in October when he said he was closing the restaurant because of issues with his knees and the fact that he couldn’t find reliable kitchen help. A few days later, he put on a one-day sale to give customers a last taste and to help him clear out inventory, and people stood in line for hours. DeFazio is trying to sell the business to a new owner.
Beautiful Day Cafe, 2516 E. Central: Staffing issues also did in this longtime health food restaurant, which first opened in 2015. But owner Charloett Knapic closed it in early October when she couldn’t find enough staff to keep it going.
Electric Pizza West, 8977 W. Central: Joseph Fowler took over the old Pizza Hut building near Central and Tyler in July, but three months later, he decided to close, saying that pizza ingredients were skyrocketing in price and that he realized his new restaurant was too close to the original at 240 S. West St. He replaced the restaurant with a new concept in the same space: T’Geaux Cajun, a quick-service Cajun restaurant.
Fred & Barney’s, 2424 N. Woodlawn: Longtime Wichita restaurateurs Kevin Brown and Tracy Fahrbach opened their new restaurant in the old Sweet Basil space in November 2020, performing an extensive remodel on the space. But in October, they quietly closed the restaurant, citing staffing issues and health problems.
Birney’s Snack Shop, 156 N. Cleveland: Janelle King, who owns The Workroom, announced in October that she was closing her attached snack shop, where she’d served breakfast tacos, toast, coffee and more since December 2019. A new tenant has recently moved in, though: Kristina Grappo’s Viola’s Pantry, which serves homemade pasta and sauce to go.
Sweet House, 701 E. Douglas: People were pretty excited in May when this business took over one of the Union Station kiosks and began serving playful bubble waffles with sweet toppings. But the business was closed by October. The owner said he’s not sure if it will reopen.
Oh My Sushi, 6339 W. Kellogg: This little sushi restaurant, which opened in the old Carrie B’s sports bar space in September 2020, closed temporarily this year and was closed for some time before owners announced in October that it would not reopen. A new business called The Shadows, billed as a speakeasy with dinner, drinks and dancers, is set to open in the space soon.
November
Augustino Brewing Company, 756 N. Tyler: After a dispute with his landlord, Augustine Iacopelli closed his brewery near Central and Tyler in late November. He’s been quiet about his plans but has said he’s looking for a new space. In the meantime, the owner of neighboring restaurant The Angry Elephant is planning to take over the space and put its own sports bar there. Augustino Brewing Company first opened in 2017.
Outskirtz Bar & Grill, 10909 E. Harry: Local general contractor Patrick Alvarez opened his bar and restaurant in the former Mojoe’s Grill & Bar space in the fall of 2020. In November, he closed it, saying he couldn’t find staff and was getting too busy with his construction business.
Knolla’s, 3817 W. 13th St.: This local pizza chain’s tiny carryout restaurant on West 13th Street was one of its most popular and had been open since 1995. But the owner suddenly closed it in November. Knolla’s Pizza can still be obtained at 7732 E. Central, 111 W. Douglas, 7343 W. Central and 4041 N. Maize Road.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken, 1302 N. Broadway: This fried chicken restaurant, which opened in the summer of 2019 in an old Church’s Chicken space, quietly closed sometime in October or November. But a new restaurant called Wing Boss & Burgers — a spin off of the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit chain, will open in the space soon.
Birria TJ 664, 803 N. West St.: This birria restaurant opened in July in the old Sonic space on West Street, making use of a spot vacated when its sister restaurant, Tacos TJ 664, moved down the street. But it closed in November after owners decided that the west side was too crowded. They’re now looking for a spot on the east side.
December
Planet Sub, 535 W. Douglas: Wichita has just one Planet Sub left after the closing of this restaurant at 535 W. Douglas, which Doug Brantner first opened in 2016. Brantner said his lease was up and that he’d decided to retire. Wichita’s last Planet Sub is at 10330 W. Central.
Da Chicken Shak and More South, 1112 W. 31st St. South: It’s been a hard year for the Granger family, who lost patriarch Chris Granger in January, less than three months after his son and business partner, Tim Granger, also died. Tim’s son, Gabe, has since been running the Da Chicken Shak and More restaurants his father founded but announced in December that one of them was closing — the south restaurant that had initially opened in January 2018. Da Chicken Shak and More restaurants at 343 S. Greenwich and at 2428 W. 13th St. are still open.
Country Kitchen, 915 E. 53rd St.: This restaurant has been serving locals and guests of The Best Western Wichita North hotel for years, but managers announced in early December that the hotel had sold and that the restaurant’s last day in business would be Dec. 28.
Crazy Horse Supper Club, 2539 W. Pawnee: In May 2020, Eric Peabody reopened his own version of his late grandfather’s Crazy Horse Supper Club in the same place the iconic restaurant had operated for decades before closing in the 1990s. On Dec. 1, though, he announced that he was closing the restaurant permanently.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 1:29 PM.
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