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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.

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:
  • El Torito’s Pancake Pop-Up at Placeholder Coffee
  • Tanya’s Soup Kitchen at Central Standard Brewing

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.

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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

• Sundance Film Festival: mama.film in Wichita is one of the film organizations that have been invited to partner with the festival in 2021
• NAIA Wrestling National Championship at Hartman Arena - March 4-6, 2021
• American Cornhole League Cornhole Mania Tournament at Charles Koch Arena - March 19-21, 2021
• USA Women's Volleyball Nations League at Charles Koch Arena - June 1-3, 2021
• NJCAA D1 and D2 Men’s Soccer National Championships at Stryker Sports Complex - June 4-10, 2021
• US Figure Skating National Theatre on Ice at INTRUST Bank Arena - June 17-20, 2021
• NWBA Toyota National Championship Series at Wichita Hoops and the Wichita Sports Forum - June 24-27, 2021
• Dude Perfect at INTRUST Bank Arena - July 11, 2021
• Backstreet Boys at INTRUST Bank Arena - Sept. 11, 2021
• Toby Mac at INTRUST Bank Arena - Oct. 9, 2021
• NJCAA D2 Women's Soccer National Championship at Stryker Sports Complex - Nov. 15-19, 2021
• Joe Rogan at INTRUST Bank Arena - Dec. 3, 2021

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!