What Up Wichita?
I know most of you are at home because everything in the city decided to close because of the weather. Sounds like you have some bathroom reading material right here!

In today’s email:

• JOANN: Time to say goodbye

• Time to Connekt: There’s a new cafe over at west Central

• Lottē: We interview one of the best chefs in town

NOTICE: If for some reason, this email gets cut off for length, you can check out the web version here.

FEATURE STORY
Sew It’s Time To Say Goodbye

With JOANN filing for bankruptcy, approximately 500 stores will be closing, including one of the Wichita locations at 3665 N. Rock Road. Given the downward trend of this national chain, who knows if their location at 6930 W. Kellogg Dr. will be open for long. Read more

But did you know there are some other local fabric stores around town?
- Faithful Remnants Fabric at 318 S. Greenwood (Read our feature)
- Kechi Quilt Impressions at 3500 N. Rock Road
- Picket Fence Quilt Company at 7011 W. Central Ave
- Beehive Quilt Shop at 122 N. Washington Ave in Wellington

EDDYTORIAL EXCLUSIVE
Wichita By E.B. Trivia

A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog review on a chain that upset many people thinking I should strictly focus on local restaurants. To be petty, I decided to start a new feature called #SaturChains where I cover national chains on the weekends.

Can you name which national chain was the first to be featured in the SaturChains segment?

DINING SCENE
Restaurant News

A new restaurant is headed to 3337 E. Central Ave. Levantine Kitchen is tentatively set to open sometime in February at the west end of the strip center that holds Panera Bread near Central and Hillside.

Some people may be familiar with the owner, Hassan Ballout, who opened Albero Bistro along with Albero Cafe.

While Albero serves Italian fare, Ballout has different plans for Levantine Kitchen. Diners can expect Mediterranean food..

I had the chance to speak to Ballout late last month and was told the plan was still to open in February. Of course, that’s always subject to change.

Recent Openings

• Connekt Cafe - 9310 W. Central Ave.

• Beemer & Freeman Craft Barbecue - Home based operation

Closings

• Burger King - 2111 N. Woodlawn

Coming Soon

• Wichita Brewing Company - 901 W. Douglas (February 2025)

• Levantine Kitchen - 3337 E. Central Ave

• Small Sliders - 13th and Greenwich (March 2025)

• Parlor Doughnuts - 8020 W. 21st St. (Spring 2025)

• Chicken Chicken - 13th & Mosley (Spring 2025)

• The Big Biscuit - 2330 N. Maize Road (Spring 2025)

• N&J Cafe - 8448 W. Central Ave. (Spring 2025)

• Taco Bell - 3233 E. Harry (Spring 2025)

• KVH Steakhouse - 2926 N. Tyler Road (Summer 2025)

• Raising Cane’s - 350 S. Ridge Road (2025)

• KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot - 2243 N. Tyler Road (TBD)

FEEDBACK
Is It Time To Expand The Newsletter?

I only have so much room in each newsletter to share what I want for the week. Each week, I’m going over the email size limit and having to make cuts. I’m now considering splitting the weekly email into two sends per week.

A Tuesday send focused strictly on restaurants and the Thursday Eddytorial send focused on the rest

EVENTS
What’s Coming This Weekend

Here are some snippets from the upcoming Best Things Happening This Weekend blog.

Thursday

Pitch-A-Friend at Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge
Bach & Brews at Tor Brewing

Friday

The Book of Mormon at Century II
Carden Circus 2025 at Park City Arena
35th Annual Winterfest Bluegrass Festival at Wichita Marriott
Valentine’s Disco Ball at Wichita Brewing Company Event Venue

Saturday

The Book of Mormon at Century II
Carden Circus 2025 at Park City Arena
35th Annual Winterfest Bluegrass Festival at Wichita Marriott
Grand Opening at Thrift for a Cause
Bliss Climbing and Fitness New Ownership Celebration at Bliss Climbing and Fitness

Sunday

The Book of Mormon at Century II
Carden Circus 2025 at Park City Arena
Central Stand Up 12

View the Event Calendar

WATCH NOW
Wichita Dinner Table

This week, we were lucky to have Chef Josh Rathbun from the awesome restaurant Lottē on to discuss his restaurant, his work with the National Kidney Foundation and more! If you’ve never been to Lottē, they are a top 5 restaurant in my book.

Available on Facebook, YouTube, Apple Podcast and Spotify.

NEWS
Blogs You Missed

Let’s catch you up on the blogs you may have missed over the past week from our website, Facebook or Instagram.

• Is AMC Theatre the best in town (more)

• Then romantic date night restaurant options (more)

• Have you ever been to Shake Shak (more)

• The Sunflower Summer program could be on the chopping block (more)

EVENTS
Live Music Sponsored by Mort’s Martini Bar

Friday Live Music: 2/14

Saturday Live Music 2/15

See The Live Music Calendar

Want To Be In The Newsletter?

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Whether it’s our newsletter, talk show, podcast, website or social, we are always open to new partnerships and collaborations to help spread the good word of Wichita!

Let’s chat