New lounge coming to Old Town for a very particular kind of music
Gary Jones has been on the board of the Wichita Jazz Festival for about six years, and he said the group is always looking for venues for the festival in April.
The latest search has resulted not only in a new venue for the festival but a new year-round lounge for Old Town.
Walker’s Jazz Lounge is opening in December at 252 N. Mosley, which is the former Oasis Staffing space on the southeast corner of Second and Mosley just east of the Pumphouse.
“We started talking to people,” Jones said. “There was just a lot of appetite for a high-end lounge.”
The business is named for Jones’ son, Walker, who will be general manager.
He’ll bring in local, regional and sometimes even national jazz musicians.
“The youth aspect of what we’re doing is extremely important to me personally,” Walker Jones said.
He said he wants to create a premium experience for all ages, but he said he wants to show a younger population what else is out there.
“I’m super excited to impact the younger crowd.”
Gary Jones said local musicians can play on their own or back up regional or national performers who come to Wichita.
“There’s just so much local talent we can tap.”
The lounge will be open every day but Monday.
Hours will be 3 p.m. to midnight, with last call at 11 p.m. and doors locked by midnight.
Shows will begin around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., though times will be adjusted when an act has two shows in one night.
There will be live jazz on Tuesdays and weekends.
There will be a soft opening Dec. 1, and jazz singer and pianist Donna Tucker will perform Christmas shows Dec. 15 and 16.
Along with comfortable seating, Jones said there will be craft cocktails, wine, beer and charcuterie boards, including a hummus board.
“We’ve been remodeling now for a few months,” Gary Jones said.
He previously owned LivingSound before selling to McClelland Sound in late 2019.
Jones called himself a “big music connoisseur.”
“It just seemed like it was time to . . . bring back that type of spot in town.”
This story was originally published October 10, 2023 at 4:47 AM.