Spangles hamburger chain sold after 50 years. Here's what to know

Brothers Craig Steven Sr. and Dale Steven have sold their Wichita-based Spangles chain of 26 restaurants to the Hamideh family for an undisclosed price. The deal ends a half-century run for the brothers, who built the “It just tastes better” brand from a single Coney Island hot dog stand.

FULL STORY: After a half century in business, the Steven brothers sell Spangles

Here are key things to know:

• Craig Steven opened the first restaurant in 1971 at the Sweetbriar shopping center at 21st and Amidon, selling Coney Island hot dogs after his parents raved about them following an antiques trip to Tulsa.
• The brothers added hamburgers after seeing long lines at Wendy’s and later renamed the chain through a naming contest that drew about 50,000 entries from across Wichita.
• The Hamideh family, already partners in six Wichita-area Popeyes restaurants and other Popeyes and IHOP locations elsewhere, walked away from earnest money on another Wichita restaurant deal to buy Spangles. Abdul Hamideh is moving from Kansas City to Wichita to run it.
• Key staff will stay in place, including sister Rene Steven as director of operations, CFO Dave Dooman, Craig Steven Jr. as chief corporate adviser and Melissa Hennen in marketing.
• Dale Steven said sales are near an all-time high. Craig Steven, who has 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, said he’s ready to retire, while Dale plans to continue his side career as Stevauni the Magician.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.