1950s ‘burger joint’ the latest project of a Wichita dispensary owner, antique collector
Justin Lane’s dispensary business in Wichita is going well — he just opened his fifth area store in Maize.
Now, Lane is planning another business in Maize, and this one will be a tribute to his late grandfather, Bill.
Lane, the founder of the local High Hopes ICT dispensary chain, is working on a new 1950s-style burger joint that will take over the spot at 5125 N. Maize Road formerly occupied by Nancy’s A-Maize-N Sandwiches (and then, briefly, Masters of Barbecue.)
He’ll call it Bill’s Burger Joint, and he hopes to have it open by summer.
The restaurant will serve slider-style burgers, shoestring fries, malts and shakes. Lane, who like his grandfather is a lifelong antique collector, said the restaurant will have the look of a 1950s diner, right down to the jukebox.
“What we’re going for is that you feel like you walk back in time when you come in here,” Lane said. “We want this to be good enough to where you could shoot a period movie in here.”
The dining room will also have high-gloss black, red and chrome booths, an old chrome cash register from the 1950s and even a 1950s commercial restaurant coffee warmer that Lane found.
At the moment, a 22-foot curved and rounded bar is being built, and it will be lined with stools.
Bill’s Burger Joint is an ode to Lane’s grandfather, Bill, who died in May at age 77 after a long battle with cancer. The restaurant’s logo will even feature a cartoon image of Bill.
“Grandpa was the one who held the whole family together,” Lane said.
Lane’s grandmother, Sharon — Bill’s widow — plans to work at the restaurant, and Lane will name one of the burger joint’s combo meals in her honor: The Sharon Special will include two sliders, a large order of fries and a large malt or shake to share.
Lane chose sliders, he said, because he’s always been a fan of White Castle, which got its start in Wichita. He plans to use high-quality sirloin meat for the burgers and organic vegetables for the toppings.
“We want this to be a fast-food experience that’s actually a healthier fast-food experience,” he said.
The restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It also will have a drive-through.
Eventually, Lane hopes to add a couple of carhop spots that will be decorated with antique gas pumps he’s collected. Two vintage cars will be parked in front of the restaurant.
Lane opened his first High Hopes ICT dispensary in 2019, and the business has been a big success, he said. He opened his fifth store last fall at 5255 N. Maize Road in Maize. He also has one at 338 N. Mead in Old Town Square, next to the new Knolla’s Pizza.
Lane said that he and his wife, Krysta, hope to expand the Bill’s Burger Joint concept across Wichita and the state.
“I worked at fast-food places when I was a kid, and when High Hopes started to blow up, this was an idea that came to me,” he said. “A little after my grandfather died, I thought, ‘What’s cooler than opening a hamburger restaurant?”
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