The story behind the Mama Deaux restaurant sign that’s recently appeared on West Central
People driving over the Big Ditch on West Central in Wichita might have noticed that a new sign has appeared on a longtime restaurant building.
The sign reads Mama Deaux Southern Kitchen, and it’s been hanging for several weeks on the east side of the building at 6600 W. Central that also is home to Casa Mexicana. The building, best known as the longtime home of Marco’s Cantina, has space for two restaurants under the same roof.
The owner of the building is Sam Eddine, who also was the owner of Marco’s Cantina. That restaurant was open for 34 years — from 1995 to 2019 — and since then, a variety of restaurants have moved in and out of both sides of the building.
But now Eddine says that retirement is getting a bit dull, and he’s ready to get back into the restaurant business. He’s planning to open a version of Mama Deaux in the space late this month, he said this week.
Longtime Wichitans might remember that Eddine also once owned a Mama Deaux restaurant that operated at 606 N. Winterset, just across Central from Marco’s Cantina. It was open from 2003 to 2006.
Eddine says he plans to serve a smaller version of that menu at his revived Mama Deaux, which will offer fried and grilled fish and dishes like etouffee. He’ll also have some pasta dishes.
Casa Mexicana opened on the west end of the building on West Central in August. That side of the building has also been home to businesses like B’chic Bar & Grill and Sam’s Southern Eatery. The side that Mama Deaux is taking over was the longtime home of Green Olive.
The building on Winterset that once housed Mama Deaux now is home to Wellspring Animal Hospital.
This story was originally published January 3, 2024 at 11:15 AM.
.jpg)