Top Photo Credit: Drone-tography

Wichita is constantly expanding and welcoming in new hotels, restaurants and more. What can travelers and locals expect as the ever-expanding footprint welcomes new business and new experiences? Check out our quick-glance guide at some of what’s new and what’s on the way to the Heart of the Country in 2021.

Jax Restaurant in Wichita

New in 2020

Restaurants

  • The Belmont - beautifully situated in the College Hill neighborhood, this new restaurant specializing in fresh ingredients and creative dishes opened in June 2020
  • Knolla’s Pizza - a well-known, locally-owned pizzeria opened a new location in downtown Wichita in June 2020
  • Placeholder Coffee - a new coffee shop that opened in the summer of 2020 inside The Lux in downtown Wichita
  • Fleur de Vin - complete with a French-inspired atmosphere, this tap wine bar opened in summer 2020. They also serve charcuterie, cheese and toast boards
  • Torchy Tacos - the popular taco chain out of Texas arrived in Wichita in September 2020; a second location on the west side of Wichita is in the works
  • Napoli Italian Eatery - an Italian restaurant specializing in ‘rustic, yet modern’ cuisine opened in October 2020
  • Wichita Subs & More - East Coast transplants opened this sub shop featuring Philly cheesesteaks in October 2020
  • Chef’s Table Roadhouse - this new reservation-only restaurant in east Wichita opened in October 2020 and is an extension of Winfield’s Chef’s Table
  • Jax Restaurant - a scratch kitchen that opened in November 2020
  • Da’ Chicken Shak & More - this locally-owned chicken joint specializing in hand breaded and made to order chicken tenders, gizzards, livers and more opened a new location at Kellogg and Greenwich in November 2020
  • Frost - a dessert shop specializing in homemade ice cream and pie by the slice, opened in December 2020
  • Lilikoi Asian Bistro - opened on Wichita’s west side in December 2020
  • The Gilded Cookie - a cookie dough shop in Clifton Square that opened in December 2020; the owner also hopes to launch an accompanying food truck in the summer of 2021
  • Food Trucks:
    • Brazita Bites, a food truck bringing the popular Brazilian street food, coxinha, to Wichita Dunn Right BBQ, a food truck out of Park City serving barbecue and other fixins’
    • Facestuffers Food Wagon, a food truck featuring smash burgers
    • Latino Hot Dogs, a food truck featuring latino hot dogs, elote and more
    • Roxie’s on the Go, a food truck with a menu varying in everything from Carne Asada fries to cinnamon rolls
    • The Rolling Greek, a food truck serving many of the favorites from the now-closed Greek Plus
  • Temporary eateries:

Shopping/Retail

  • Love of Character - opened a new location in Bradley Fair in March 2020
  • PaPa’s General Store - May 2020
  • REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc) - opened in Greenwich Place August 2020
  • Round1 Entertainment - added to Towne East Mall in Summer of 2020
  • The TeaHouse - opened in September 2020 and specializes in all types of teas from around the world
  • White Crow Cider Company - specializes in a variety of hard cider flavors and opened in October 2020
  • Senor Munchies - a Latino-inspired candy, nut and gift shop that opened in fall 2020
  • Marshalls and Skechers - opened in Greenwich Place in November 2020

Hotels

  • The Hyatt Place at Wichita State University opened in September 2020 and is an all-suite hotel with 106 rooms. Located on WSU’s Innovation Campus, amenities include a restaurant, bar, health club and indoor pool.

USA Volleyball Nations League
USA Women's Volleyball Nations League

Coming Soon

Restaurants

  • Crutch BBQ, specializing in upscale barbecue, and Dempsey’s Biscuit Co. will be merging in 2021
  • Alzavino Wine Tavern in Wichita’s Delano District - 2021
  • FAT Brands Inc., which is based in California, will bring three restaurants to Wichita in 2021 (co-branded stores featuring Fatburger and another FAT Brands concept, Buffalo Express, which specializes in chicken wings)

Attractions

  • Wichita Wind Surge - a Minnesota Twins AA Affiliate Team, will play its first season in Riverfront Stadium in spring of 2021
  • Sedgwick County Zoo will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2021 and plans to unveil a new entry and administration complex and Amur leopard habitat
  • Ulrich Museum of Art - reopening in 2021 with four new exhibits, which will be on display Jan. 21 through May 8
  • Botanica Wichita - an all-new Big Bugs Exhibit will open in May 2021 and will feature 12 animatronic insects installed throughout the garden’s 18 acres
  • Dunbar Theatre - the only place in Wichita for Black residents to see a film until it closed in 1963 - efforts to restore Wichita’s historic theatre will continue in 2021
  • TopGolf - the Dallas-based company has announced it is coming to Wichita, but a date has not been set

Events

Hotels

  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Wichita Downtown Delano is set to open January 2021 in Wichita’s historic Delano District. It’s an all-suite hotel offering a variety of amenities including complimentary breakfast, a saltwater pool, outdoor sitting area with barbecue grills and a firepit and combined fitness and laundry facility.

Additional Businesses

  • 430 Re-Development, Hutton’s Delano District Headquarters and other downtown development projects
  • Amazon Distribution Site made its way to Wichita in 2020; a Fulfillment Center is slated to open in the area in 2021
  • Cozine Life Events Center, a venue to host life’s celebrations and special occasions - Spring 2021
  • Brick & Bustle Bridal in Wichita’s Old Town District - January 2021
  • Kansas Health Science Center, a campus that will occupy five downtown buildings will be under construction in 2021, with a planned opening in 2022

Also, Frontier Airlines has announced nonstop flights between Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Las Vegas, starting March 2021!