New local pizza chain will soon take over empty Clutch House, Knolla’s spaces in Wichita
Clutch House — the rebranded version of Tight Ends Sports Bar & Grill at Seneca and Kellogg — has been closed for more than two weeks, and it isn’t going to reopen.
But soon, that space will be home to the first location of a new local pizza chain.
A group of partners is about to debut a new concept called Tutors Pizza, and they hope to have the first one open in mid- to late July in the Clutch House space at 524 S. Seneca, said owner David Thompson.
That restaurant will be one of four he opens over the next several months in the Wichita area. He already has secured two other spaces: the former Knolla’s spot at 3817 W. 13th St. and a former vape shop space at 946 S. Rock Road. He’s also looking for a spot in the Goddard area.
Thompson, whose partners are Kyle Hughes and Hannah Hughes, has experience running pizza restaurants. He owned Brooklyn Boyz Pizzeria, which had locations in Salina, Manhattan and Topeka, but he closed them during the pandemic. He also was a partner in a restaurant called La Rocca’s Pizza in Topeka.
His pizza is Detroit style, which is baked in a rectangular shape, and his menu will also include pasta dishes, he said. The first restaurant at Kellogg and Seneca, which will have table side service and delivery, will be a family establishment that will include video games, fun nights and movie nights.
The second Tutors Pizza will take over the old Knolla’s space plus an adjoining space in the strip center, where the owners are adding a small dining area, Thompson said. He says it should open shortly after the Kellogg and Seneca spot.
The South Rock Road restaurant should open in about two months. It’s also in a strip center and will also expand into a neighboring space. The Goddard restaurant’s opening shouldn’t be far behind, he said.
Thompson, the father of five children ages 3 to 11 — including two with autism — said education is important to him, and he named the restaurant Tutors to reflect his dedication to helping kids succeed academically. A portion of the restaurants’ sales will be donated to local education facilities, he said, and he also hopes to set up some type of free tutoring program in the restaurants.
“I had a hard time learning as a child as well and know how important it can be for every opportunity in life,” he said.
Thompson said he also hopes Tutors will become a place where schools put on fundraisers.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Thompson said his grandfather was an Italian immigrant who owned a pizza restaurant. Thompson served in the army for 12 years before being medically discharged then went on to open his first Brooklyn Boyz in Salina.
After he closed the restaurants, he worked in management for Wendy’s but then decided he was ready to open his own place again.
His partner, Kyle Hughes, is the owner of Tech Homes and Jones Company Appraisers in Wichita. Hannah, Hughes’ daughter, is attending Butler Community College.
Clutch House opened last August as a re-branded version of the Seneca and Kellogg space’s original tenant, Tight Ends. At the time, managing partner Emmanuel “E.K.” Kolluri said that he planned to operate Clutch House as a family-friendly sports bar and to get rid of the revealing outfits Tight Ends waitresses were required to wear.
But the owners of Clutch House, he said, recently “decided to step away and let another company have an opportunity with this location that is family oriented and has a great concept.”
Look for more information on Tutors Pizza as opening dates draw closer.
This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 11:33 AM.
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