A new beach-themed bar will open later this summer on East Douglas in Wichita
East Douglas in Wichita will soon be home to a beach-themed bar called The Dive.
Shawn Gilbert, who owns The Elektrik Chair tattoo and piercing shop at 1201 E. Douglas and 42 Below smoke shop at 1203 E. Douglas, also owns the spot directly east at 1207 E. Douglas. It’s been vacant since Old Town Appliance moved out a couple of years ago, and Gilbert decided to make use of it.
The bar likely won’t be open until late July at the earliest, he said.
Gilbert, who first opened The Elektrik Chair 20 years ago, said he envisions the new bar as an after-work hangout. He’s planning to keep it open six nights a week, but will likely close by midnight so that his customers don’t disturb the apartment dwellers on the second floor. For the same reason, Gilbert said, he won’t offer live music at The Dive.
Though the bar will have a beach theme that will extend to its cocktail menu, it’s not — like Lava & Tonic several blocks east at 1716 E. Douglas — a tiki bar, he said. It’ll have light blue walls, beach decor and a deck out back.
Gilbert said he hasn’t decided for sure if he’ll offer food, but if he does, it’ll likely be just pizza.
Originally, Gilbert said, he’d thought about putting a coffee shop in the space but abandoned that idea and decided on the beach bar concept.
He’s waiting on various licenses before he can open The Dive but said he’d keep me posted on an opening date.
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