General News in the 316

[ky-mike]

Just read on FB that Towne West closed today. Doors were locked and the vendors within the mall had no access to their stores. The larger national chains there are still open but the mall itself is effectively closed.

Kohan hasn't spoken to anyone that pays rent at the mall or any media about any of this.

This really sucks for the small businesses trying to make a living and I feel really bad for them. They apparently have some small business chat to keep each other up to date on these things since nobody from the mall ever communicates with them.

The local news (Kentucky) posted a news story today about the closure. It's not just Wichita, but several malls owned by the same group have had temporary closures for failure to pay utility bills.

[Kung Wu]

I believe I heard that Towne East is adding 2 or 3 more tenants and seems full. Anybody on the west side have any idea why Towne West is in such a state? I would think that west Wichita along with Goddard, Maize, Haysville, and Valley Center which seem to be closer to Towne West would give it plenty of support.

My take on the situation (not even worth two cents) ...

Location
---
1) Kellogg + Rock location - one of the most premier locations in Wichita

Amazingly easy access.
Close to middle and upper middle income residences.
Tons of other strip malls nearby with quality tenants and extraordinary foot traffic/car counts.

2) Town West location - the worst engineered portion of Kellogg?

Annoyingly awkward access to/from Kellogg, Maple has too low of car counts to matter.
Lower income housing to the north and east. Some middle income to the west.
Very few surrounding businesses draw attention to TW.

The Mall
---
1) Towne East

Kept modern and fresh
Well lit
Parking lot well maintained
A generally good mix of modern and relevant tenants

2) Towne West

Last renovated while Reagan was President?
Funeral homes are cheerier
Parking lot appears to be repaired by Band-Aid
Rubber dog turds aren't that funny any more and there isn't much else to shop for

[ShockBand]

KMUW - Wichita Jazz Collective set to debut Thursday at Walker's Jazz Lounge



I'd forgotten about Walker's.

Has anyone been? I know there are some jazz fans amongst us.

Nice venue, cozy. Seats probably 60 at most. Drink prices to me are high, but I imagine they are in line with other upscale places. Just a few light food items, like charcuterie and hummus boards. They have a 17 piece big band playing tonight, and that will definitely fill the room with sound!

[SubGod22]

KMUW - Wichita Jazz Collective set to debut Thursday at Walker's Jazz Lounge

The Wichita Jazz Collective will make its debut Thursday, March 28, at Walker’s Jazz Lounge.

The 17-piece big band was assembled by Jim Pisano, Wichita State University assistant professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies, and Joel Boettger, assistant professor of Music and director of bands at Bethel College.

Pisano says that he and his colleagues had discussed assembling such an ensemble for some time, but finding a venue to accommodate the idea presented a problem. How to take the music out of a concert hall and into a club?

“There was never really a space where we could do it,” Pisano says. “There are some wonderful venues in town, but there were always logistical concerns. How could we do this in one space on a consistent basis?”

Enter Walker’s, which opened in late 2023 in Old Town.

“When they opened, we thought, ‘Wow, we can possibly have a regular place for a big band to play.’”

The idea, Pisano says, allows area musicians who may not play together on a regular basis the chance to do so.

I'd forgotten about Walker's.

Has anyone been? I know there are some jazz fans amongst us.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Cirque Italia coming to Wichita in April

Cirque Italia is coming to Towne East Square, 7700 E. Kellogg Dr., from April 4 through April 7.

The show will take guests on an “exhilarating” expedition in search of a pirate’s booty.

“The story begins with our Ringmaster ‘Clown Rafinha’ fishing when he unexpectedly catches a bottle with a treasure map stuffed inside. His ensuing journey takes the audience through storms on the high seas, dreams of angelic aerialists, pirate fights, and more. You will see swashbucklers balancing upside down on a rum barrel, juggling knives, and even one having a run-in with a mermaid. Your jaws will be dropped and you will be hanging on the edge of your seats with our suspenseful Crossbow act and our dangerous Wheel of Death performances. Try not to flinch and look away if you don’t want to miss any of the excitement! Will Clown Rafinha finally defeat the other pirates who are after his treasure and claim it for himself? You’ll have to see our show for yourself to find out,” said Cirque Italia.

Show times:

• Thursday, April 4 – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, April 5 – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 6 -1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 7 – 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The box office, located on-site, will open on Tuesday. On days with no scheduled shows, the box office will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On days with a scheduled show, the box office will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

[SubGod22]

I believe I heard that Towne East is adding 2 or 3 more tenants and seems full. Anybody on the west side have any idea why Towne West is in such a state? I would think that west Wichita along with Goddard, Maize, Haysville, and Valley Center which seem to be closer to Towne West would give it plenty of support.

Two Korean/Asian restaurants and some store called Miniso or something like that.

I know Towne West is smaller, but I've always been amazed at how drastically different it is to Towne East. I used to work for a business that had locations at both and we'd bounce around for work. Sold a lot less at Towne West as I always interacted with fewer people. The only perk to working out there at the time was we were in a kiosk just outside American Eagle and those girls were friendly. The other side was Foot Locker which didn't completely suck.

I do think if someone other than Kohan was running it that it could find some life. I haven't been there in a long time, nor have I been to Towne East, but I believe much of the mall proper is made up of local small businesses and less national brands like Towne East is/was. I'm assuming the bulk of Towne East is still your major national brands (Champs/Lids/Foot Locker).

[pogo]

Just read on FB that Towne West closed today. Doors were locked and the vendors within the mall had no access to their stores. The larger national chains there are still open but the mall itself is effectively closed.

Kohan hasn't spoken to anyone that pays rent at the mall or any media about any of this.

This really sucks for the small businesses trying to make a living and I feel really bad for them. They apparently have some small business chat to keep each other up to date on these things since nobody from the mall ever communicates with them.

New location for Homeless Center. When a door closes a window opens somewhere.

[pogo]

KSN - Wichita women's football team gets new name, new league



For what it's worth.

I suppose the Wichita Chili Buns would be deemed inappropriate for their new name.

[ShockTalk]

I believe I heard that Towne East is adding 2 or 3 more tenants and seems full. Anybody on the west side have any idea why Towne West is in such a state? I would think that west Wichita along with Goddard, Maize, Haysville, and Valley Center which seem to be closer to Towne West would give it plenty of support.

[1972Shocker]

Not to mention the disappointed walkers.

If my parents were still alive and in their mall-walking days they would have been devastated. It was far more than just a little exercise for them.

[SHOXAAC]

Just read on FB that Towne West closed today. Doors were locked and the vendors within the mall had no access to their stores. The larger national chains there are still open but the mall itself is effectively closed.

Kohan hasn't spoken to anyone that pays rent at the mall or any media about any of this.

This really sucks for the small businesses trying to make a living and I feel really bad for them. They apparently have some small business chat to keep each other up to date on these things since nobody from the mall ever communicates with them.

Not to mention the disappointed walkers.

[SubGod22]

Just read on FB that Towne West closed today. Doors were locked and the vendors within the mall had no access to their stores. The larger national chains there are still open but the mall itself is effectively closed.

Kohan hasn't spoken to anyone that pays rent at the mall or any media about any of this.

This really sucks for the small businesses trying to make a living and I feel really bad for them. They apparently have some small business chat to keep each other up to date on these things since nobody from the mall ever communicates with them.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Biomed and beyond: A look at 7 projects in Wichita's core poised to make major progress in 2024

The last year in downtown Wichita development has been highlighted by many long-vacant buildings being given new life: from Keycentrix's new headquarters at 423 E. Douglas and the 10-story, mixed-use The National at 150 N. Main, to HiTone Lofts in Old Town.

If plans come to fruition, much more is ahead in 2024.

Led by a transformative biomedical campus, here are seven projects expected to make significant headway this year in the city's core.

Wichita biomedical campus

Description: The first phase of the $300-million biomedical campus is expected to break ground this spring at the southeast corner of Broadway and William. Phase 1 will feature an eight-story, 350,000 square-foot building and is planned to be open in time for the fall 2026 semester.

Local government, economic development and business leaders have all expressed confidence that the campus will spark tremendous growth in the city's core. The center is expected to initially bring 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff to downtown, with the Greater Wichita Partnership projecting as many as 12,000 people could eventually be on campus. WSU president Rick Muma has called the campus "the most significant financial investment in the history of Wichita's downtown."

Petroleum Building, Kress Energy Center and McClellan Hotel building revitalizations

Description: Schellenberg and Crain's move to buy three buildings near the biomedical campus site — and put them back under local ownership — marks a huge shift in the real estate landscape within Wichita's core. The Petroleum Building, Kress Energy Center and McClellan Hotel Building (also known as the O'Rourke Title Building), have been a part of downtown Wichita's fabric since the 1920s and cover more than 125,000 square feet combined.

Developers have said the eight-story Petroleum Building, at 221 S. Broadway across the street from the campus, will be first up for a major overhaul with construction starting this spring. While the start date on Kress (224 E. Douglas) and McClellan (229 E. William) construction is to be determined, Marv Schellenberg said in a recent interview that target completion for all three buildings is no later than the biomedical center's Phase 1 opening.

The Petroleum and McClellan Hotel buildings are expected to be mixed-use, with ground-floor dining and upper floors potentially focused on medical or professional office space. Kress Energy Center is less likely to be mixed-use, but it's still possible, Schellenberg has said. Apartments are also a possibility with the properties, he added.

Riverfront Stadium area mixed-use development

Description: After delays in getting highly-anticipated development around Riverfront Stadium off the ground, the Wichita City Council's approval last year of a new agreement with EPC — that removed the development group involving the Wichita Wind Surge's previous owners from the project — and incentives is expected to clear the way for construction to begin in 2024's third quarter.

EPC's $110-million, mixed-use plans call for an eight-story, 165-room hotel, a 180-unit luxury apartment complex, a 260-stall parking garage and 10,000 square feet of retail space on the Arkansas River's west bank.

Exploration Place outdoor expansion

Description: Exploration Place is making big strides this year on a multi-component, $22-million outdoor expansion. In early March, it broke ground on an amphitheater that is set to be completed in time for this September's annual Drone Light Festival.

Then, last week, the science and discovery center announced Textron Aviation as the naming sponsor for the 6.5-acre playscape's centerpiece, which will be called Textron Aviation Flight Adventure. Located on the southeast portion of Exploration Place's property, the playscape has been described as a new generation of playground with a theme-park feel for all ages. Groundbreaking is anticipated this summer, with the new Textron Aviation exhibition expected to open in fall 2025.

Luxury apartments at Washington and Waterman

Description: In February, Vantage Point Properties CEO Paul Jackson unveiled a vision for a $90-million, 370-unit luxury apartment building at the northwest corner of Washington and Waterman, just few blocks east of Intrust Bank Arena. Since that time, issues over finalizing a lease agreement with the city over use of a nearby parking lot for tenants have meant the possibility of a smaller-scale effort — 258 units — but the project still appears poised to move forward.

The effort would transform around 3 acres that have been largely unused for decades into a Class A development at a time when local leaders have emphasized the need for more housing in Wichita's core, particularly with the planned fall 2026 opening of Wichita biomedical campus' first phase.

AC Marriott Hotel

Description: After delays from its previous 2021 opening target, construction progress has been visible in recent months on the planned 119-room hotel at the southwest corner of Douglas and Broadway. The effort involves transforming the historic, 11-story Broadway Plaza property built in 1926.

The hotel is located just north of two other prominent Tokala projects, the Kansas Health Science Center and NICHE, and is also about a block from the planned biomedical campus.

American Legion building renovation

Description: Hutton Development began renovation work earlier this year on the 14,000 square-foot former American Legion Building at 126 N. St. Francis, just north of Douglas Avenue. The company is targeting a mid-2024 wrap on construction.

Hutton Development president Kyle Blasdel said the goal is to turn the property into "a great space" for a new commercial tenant, which could include a retail or office user, for example. Honoring the property's nearly century-long history is a priority, he added.

Just a snapshot of what we have to look forward to downtown.

[SubGod22]

KWCH - Taylor Swift laser show opens at Exploration Place next month

Taylor Swift is taking over Exploration Place next month. Well, kind of.

Visitors are invited to experience some of Swift’s most iconic music inside the Dome starting April 12. Neon images of Swift will be shown on the 60-foot screen while lasers permeate the room.

The show runs will run multiple times daily through May 13. Ticket pre-sales for members have already begun. Regular tickets go on sale March 29 at 8 a.m.

The show lasts 45 minutes and is open to all ages

[RoyalShock]

Pretty much a Kansas Tribute band at this point, given the current line-up (drummer Phil Ehart is out recovering from a heart attack). Saw them a couple of years ago. OK, but nothing like they were in the 70s and 80s.

Rich Williams and Billy Greer have been long-time members of the band, as well. But it was unfortunate when Steve Walsh had to step away. If Kerry Livgren hadn't had the stroke many years ago, I could have seen him doing some touring with the group, but probably not full-time.