Knolla’s owner has decided where he’ll move the pizza restaurant he’s operated since 2005

Late last year, Dan Knolla shared that he would have to find a new home for his Knolla’s Pizza restaurant at 7020 W. Central — the oldest operating Knolla’s in town.

His lease is up on Halloween, he said, and he’ll have to vacate the building where he’s been since 2005.

Now, Knolla has decided exactly where he’ll move the restaurant. He purchased a piece of property just north of the new Sticky Bird restaurant at Kellogg and Tyler, and that’s where he’ll put up a brand new building for the restaurant.

Construction likely won’t start until early June, he said, and the new building probably won’t be ready for occupancy until sometime around Thanksgiving. Until then, the restaurant will continue to operate where it is, Knolla said, and he thinks his landlord might let him stay an extra month if the new building is not ready by the time the lease expires.

The new Knolla’s will be set up similar to the one at Central and Ridge but will be a bit bigger, he said. It’ll have seating for around 30 people, but the most important upgrade will be a much larger kitchen space for his staff, which is led by his sons.

“The biggest thing is that the boys will have so much more room to move around that kitchen,” he said. “They can’t wait.”

Knolla, who also has the Knolla’s at 4041 N. Maize Road, said that the restaurant will be the first Knolla’s to have opened in new construction that the owners designed. He has a wealth of construction experience, he said, and he’s eager for the build to get underway.

He likes the new location, Knolla said, because it’s close to Kellogg and isn’t too far from where the restaurant is now. It’ll also be convenient for the many nearby aircraft workers who are regulars at Central and Ridge.

Knolla’s restaurants in Wichita are owned by different members of the Knolla family. Dan Knolla and his wife, Ruth, have their two restaurants. Dan’s brother, Pat — who brought Knolla’s to Wichita — died in 2015, but his daughters Darinda and Raelene Knolla own the restaurant at Douglas and Main and are also opening a restaurant in Old Town. Darinda also owns the Knolla’s at Central and Rock.

This story was originally published April 4, 2024 at 10:51 AM.

Denise Neil

The Wichita Eagle

316-268-6327

Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Her Dining with Denise Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. She’s a regular judge at local food competitions and speaks to groups all over Wichita about dining.