WICHITA — There’s a new tenant for the former Krispy Kreme space at 8512 W. Central, and it may be a surprise to some.
Genghis Grill, a Mongolian grill, will sublease the space.
“It’s going to be right in the middle of everybody,” franchisee Terry Newman says of all the neighborhoods in that area.
Newman and his partner, Frank Carney, opened Wichita’s first Genghis Grill at the former Bennigan’s space at Douglas and Rock Road in January 2009.
“The east side’s doing phenomenal,” Newman says. “It beat our expectations.”
The former Krispy Kreme space is about 4,000 square feet, which Newman says is a standard size for Genghis Grill.
It doesn’t faze him that Krispy Kreme didn’t succeed at that spot.
“That’s kind of the least of my worries, if someone was successful there before us or not.”
Besides, he says, “We’re not doughnuts. We’re a full-service restaurant.”
Brad Saville of Landmark Commercial Real Estate handled the deal.
“Brad Saville was very key in making this work for us,” Newman says.
Krispy Kreme first went up for lease in May and then closed in August.
Saville called Newman to let him know he had a west-side property that might interest him.
Newman said, “That’s kind of funny, because I was just sitting in the parking lot of your west location.”
The new restaurant should be ready within about four months.
“I wish it was tomorrow,” Newman says.
Newman and Carney also are partners in Papa John’s Pizza, and Newman believes it’s their solid reputation over many years that has also helped Genghis to succeed.
“Our repeat business is unbelievable,” he says. “In all my years of being in restaurants, this is just a tremendous opening.
“I don’t expect anything any different out of the west side.”
