Owner hopes Wichita’s east side greets this restaurant as excitedly as the west side did
Earlier this year, Wichita got its first co-branded Auntie Anne’s/Jamba Juice restaurant, which franchisee Derrick O’Keefe opened at 29th and Maize in January.
At the time, he promised he’d add an east-side version by the end of 2024, and he’s just barely squeaking it in.
On Monday, Dec. 16, Wichita’s second Auntie Anne’s/Jamba Juice restaurant will open to the public at 12938 E. 21st St., on the end of a new strip center just to the east of the HTeaO shop that opened in late 2022.
O’Keefe is planning a ribbon cutting that day for 11 a.m., and after, he’ll open the doors to the public. It’ll technically be a soft-opening, though: All the employees will be brand-new at their jobs, O’Keefe, and he’ll be asking customers for patience.
The grand opening, where the shop will give away free pretzels and smoothies, won’t happen until Jan. 31.
O’Keefe said that this Auntie Anne’s/Jamba Juice combo will be his final one in Wichita, but he is planning to introduce the concept to the Kansas City area and will build four stores there. He’s searching for property there now, but the first one likely won’t open for a year and a half. After that, he plans to open one a year.
For now, though, he’s excited to expand to the east side and is hoping for the same reception he got when he opened at 29th and Maize. People flooded the restaurant, creating long lines and a chaotic scene. Though business has leveled off there, O’Keefe said, the store is still performing well. At least 60% of its business comes from the drive-through.
“I think the fan support out of the gate was by far more than we ever dreamed of,” he said of the west store. “We’re so thankful and so excited by all the support right out of the the gate. “
Originally, he said, he was planning a free-standing building for the east side, but then he learned about a new strip center called Hawthorne Court that brothers Brian and Paul Suellentrop were building. It’s already home to a new Jimmy’s Egg, and O’Keefe was able to snag the spot on the end that had a drive through.
“We just love that the 21st and Greenwich area is growing and expanding,” he said. “We just believe that a lot of the market is going east on 21st toward Andover, and this piece of property bridges the gap between east Wichita and Andover.”
After the 11 a.m. ribbon cutting, the new Auntie Anne’s/Jamba Juice will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 2:18 PM.
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