Aviation's U.S. Tool Group is expanding

Not everything in the aviation industry is struggling. U.S. Tool Group is expanding. "Business has been good," says operations manager Michael Obermeyer .

The national company, which is based in Missouri, sells industrial supplies for the aerospace industry and reconditions dull cutting tools. It's been in Wichita for 11 years.

Currently, the company is in about 6,500 square feet at 4509 W. Harry.

Nov. 1, it will move to 4727 S. Emporia.

Obermeyer thinks the 10,000 square feet there will be enough room for the next five to 10 years.

"I'm hoping so, because moving is not fun."

What's up with that?

Here's this week's quick look at a few addresses where new businesses are in the works.

* Peripatetic restaurateur Paul Fleming is working on another new restaurant.

Fleming has owned the Beacon , Cameron's and most recently Clear Lakes Cafe , where Jimmy's Egg moved near 21st and Amidon.

Now, he's reopening Nifty Kitchen at 1815 S. Broadway. A previous owner closed the 24-hour family-style restaurant a couple of weeks back.

Fleming says he's still working through a payment plan with the state on some tax issues he had at Clear Lakes.

His new restaurant seats about 75 compared with 150 at Clear Lakes.

"This is what I was really looking for anyway, a smaller place," Fleming says. "I think I found it."

* The new Chili's going in the former corporate Chili's space at 21st and Greenwich opens to the public at 11 a.m. Monday (which follows some preview events this weekend).

Dallas-based Muy Mucho Group is reopening the Chili's, which corporate owner Brinker International , also in Dallas, closed in February 2009.

"We really feel like now's the time," says Justin Diers , who is the general manager of the new Chili's.

He notes that there are two new hotels in the area in addition to other businesses.

This makes Muy Mucho's 22nd Chili's, including the other two in Wichita.

Diers says the revamped dining area is unlike any other Chili's that diners will have seen.

He's particularly proud of the to-go service customers can have without leaving their cars (thanks to a video camera).

"I'm passionate about service, so I'm going to do whatever it takes to make their life easier."

* Dollar General has plans to tear down the former Braum's building on West Central just west of West Street to build a new store.

A spokeswoman says there's not been a lease signed yet, so she can't comment. The store is already working with the city on approval for some changes at the property, though.

The chain also is bringing a store to 47th Street South near Clifton Avenue. The store is still a ways from being ready, so the company has no further details yet.

You don't say

"I am making so much money on that."

—Bill Gardner of Gardner Design joking about his LogoLounge (a resource for logo designers), which is incorrectly listed on Internet phone directories as a bar

This story was originally published October 16, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Aviation's U.S. Tool Group is expanding."