Delano restaurant loses its lease, but owner is on the hunt for a new space
A Delano restaurant that’s been in operation since 2016 has lost its lease and will have to close after this weekend.
But Shannon Johnson, the owner of The Fusion Restaurant at 1812 W. Douglas, says she hopes the restaurant won’t be closed for long.
She’s already started the hunt for a new space, where she hopes to expand her offerings. Though she’s come close on a couple of spots — and even had a letter of intent signed on one space — they haven’t worked out, and she’s still looking.
“It’s tough, and it’s frustrating at times, but Wichita’s received us so well, and this is my passion,” Johnson said. “I want to continue it and so does my staff and my general manager.”
Johnson, who said she’d like to stay in the Delano area if possible, is hoping to find a space where she can make Fusion a “day bar” concept, where she’ll “step it up just a tad” and add to her menu of home-cooked comfort food.
Her landlord, the New Life Covenant Church across the street, did not want to renew her lease, Johnson said, and they told her they had different plans for the space.
She’s planning to close the restaurant at the end of business on Sunday but is hoping fans will come in for a “goodbye-for-now” sendoff over the weekend, when she’ll be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday serving burgers, a turkey salad wrap and more, and from 10 am. to 2 p.m. on Sunday for a brunch buffet.
The Douglas closing also will displace Big B’s Beef, which has been putting on a monthly popup at the restaurant serving its deep-dish Chicago-style pizza. The pizza side of the business is on temporary hold, said Big B’s owner Liz Bathgate, but she’s agreed to help Johnson keep her business going while she looks for a new spot.
Johnson said that fans will be able to order her take-and-bake dishes like fresh ground burgers, smoked pork, and mac-and-cheese and pick them up from the Big B’s Beef truck, which will be parked every final Friday at the Wichita Boathouse.
Johnson said fans can check out the restaurant’s Facebook page for information about how to order take-and-bake dishes and to follow along with her journey to find a new spot.
This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 2:47 PM.
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