Wichita nearly lost this longtime bar and grill, but its new owners had a change of heart
Wichita came close to losing one of its longtime “Cheers”-type neighborhood bars and grills.
But instead of closing the business, as its new owners originally planned to do, they’ve decided to improve it.
Longtime fans of Walt’s All American Bar & Grill, which has operated at 5534 W. Central since the early 1990s, have noticed that it’s been closed for several weeks and that a big blue dumpster has been set up outside.
Recently, business partners Hamendra Bhakta and Jason Bradley purchased the strip center that includes Walt’s and made plans to close the restaurant and convert the space into offices for their quickly growing Global Collision Centers business next door. They closed Walt’s, which sits near Central and I-235, on May 23.
Then, they were able to buy a property directly north of their Global Collision Centers and decided it would be better for their planned offices.
“So we decided to keep Walt’s, and we’re not going to change anything but the interior,” Bhakta said.
The restaurant is currently undergoing a major renovation that will result in new flooring, new furniture and an updated kitchen. Bhakta said he hopes to have Walt’s reopen by the second week of July.
He said he plans to keep about 90% of the menu, which features things like burgers, sandwiches and country fried steak. He also may make a few additions.
“We want to improve upon what was already there,” he said.
In late 2020, Bhakta and Bradley also took over and remodeled Champ’s Bar & Grill at 1106 S. Seneca. Bhakta also owns the BD’s Mongolian Grill at 111 S. Rock Road.
Longtime customers of Walt’s, who loved its inexpensive steak dinners and friendly atmosphere, have been telling the partners that they’re glad the restaurant is being saved.
“While we’re gutting it, we’ve had a handful of customers coming in every day, and we’re saying, ‘Hey, just give us a few weeks and we’ll reopen,’” Bhakta said. “It has a loyal following.”
Bhakta said his company will use the east end of the strip center that holds Walt’s for offices and that he hopes to have the new office space north of his Global Collision Centers ready by the end of the year.
This story was originally published June 14, 2022 at 2:35 PM.
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