Wichita’s latest Western wear store to celebrate a grand opening

Wichita’s second Boot Barn is now open in Eastgate Plaza.

“We felt that there (were) opportunities as Wichita has grown on the east side,” said Charlie Arbing, vice president of real estate and construction for the California-based Boot Barn Holdings.

In 2015, the company acquired the Sheplers chain and its store at 6501 W. Kellogg.

“It’s always been a hub in Wichita,” Arbing said of that store.

The Sheplers chain began when J.W. Gibson opened Gibson Harness Co. in what the Sheplers website called “a modest storefront in Wichita, Kansas,” in 1899 and then grew with a variety of owners and stores.

The Eastgate store is in 12,000 square feet where Famous Footwear once was at Kellogg and Rock Road. That’s next to Five Below and several doors east of T.J. Maxx.

In addition to boots, the store sells other Western wear.

“We like to say we can find a home for everybody,” Arbing said.

That includes people looking for work wear, women looking for dresses and men looking for casual wear.

“We have a home for them in our stores with a broad assortment.”

The store is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Arbing said there will be a grand opening celebration Feb. 24 to 26 with live music and giveaways.

“We kind of just make it a fun weekend.”

This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 11:17 AM.