Historic Wichita restaurant space will hit the auction block next week
A historic Wichita restaurant building that was once famously featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives,” is about to hit the auction block.
The Valentine Diner at 4834 E. Lincoln, which most famously was home to Brint’s Diner, is being sold in an online auction by McCurdy Real Estate & Auction. Bidding will open at 2 p.m. on Tuesday and close at 2 p.m. on June 17. Interested bidders can tour the property at open houses that will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on both Tuesday and June 11.
The building is a 1960s-era Valentine Diner, which were pre-fab buildings manufactured by Wichita businessman Arthur Valentine and his Valentine Manufacturing Inc. About 2,000 were made between 1938 and 1971, and a couple of them are still in operation in Wichita: Grinder Man Subs at 510 Pawnee and Sport Burger at 134 N. Hillside.
The Brint’s building, which features a lunch counter with stool seating and neon lights along the ceiling, first opened in 1960 as Hunt’s Diner, but by 1962, a new owner had changed the name to Brint’s. It was featured on an episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” when it was owned by Jessie Medina.
“There’s lots of nostalgia there for sure, including the interior, which I don’t think has changed much,” said McCurdy’s Rick Brock, who will serve as auctioneer.
The building has had several short-lived tenants since Medina closed it in 2012. Its most recent tenant was J’s Diner, a soul food restaurant that took over the space in late 2024 and appears to have closed earlier this year.
The building’s owners, who operate under the name APPD Foods LLC, are based in Washington State, according to the Kansas Secretary of State website.
According to McCurdy, the building has 1,344 square feet and sits on 0.22 acres. Several interior items are being included in the auction, such as booth seating, tables, commercial kitchen equipment, fryers, coolers and coffee makers.
“Whether a buyer is looking to revive a classic diner concept, create a unique restaurant destination, or invest in a high-visibility commercial property, the former Brint’s Diner location offers a unique opportunity in an established Wichita corridor,” read a news release from McCurdy.
The property will sell to the highest bidder, regardless of price.
For more information about the auction, visit McCurdy.com/11403
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