A list of Wichita restaurant closings — some are permanent and some are temporary

Denise Neil
·2 min read

Restaurant closings continue into the new year, and I have a few more to report.

A couple are permanent. The others are temporary and happening because of COVID, staffing and other issues.

PERMANENT: 750 Soul, 4601 E. 13th St: Rhonda Williams finally got her soul food restaurant open at 4601 E. 13th St. in September, but she had to close it at the beginning of January. The reason: her husband has been ill, and she has to be home to care for him. Williams’ fans will recall that she also had to close her first restaurant, Rachel’s Kitchen at 818 N. Mosley, in 2018 to care for her sick mother.

“I didn’t want to try and make a go of the restaurant and caring for a loved one at the same time again,” she said.

Her daughter, Nicole, who was selling her vegan fare from the restaurant, also is on a health pause but will likely resume her business eventually, Williams said. She’ll keep customers posted on her Eat of the Earth Facebook page.

PERMANENT: Alejandro’s Fast Mexican Food 02, 2110 N. Maize Road: This restaurant opened in late 2018 in a spot that had been vacated by Tacos Lopez, but it recently closed. An employee at the original Alejandro’s, which has been open for 18 years at 1212 S. Rock Road, said the owners have no plans to reopen it.

TEMPORARY Doo-Dah Diner, 206 E. Kellogg: This popular breakfast restaurant announced on Thursday that it would be closed until Wednesday, Feb. 2, after half the kitchen staff came down with mild cases of COVID.

TEMPORARY Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 602 N. Tyler: This restaurant announced via social media on Friday that it would be closed until further notice because it is too short-staffed to open.

TEMPORARY The Angry Elephant, 756 N. Tyler: Owner Santiago Munoz is in the process of absorbing the next door Augustino Brewing Company space and has been closed for remodeling since Jan. 17. He’s been updating customers on his progress via Facebook and said he hopes to reopen in about two weeks.

TEMPORARY Pho Cuong, 6605 E. 37th St. North: This restaurant’s owners announced last week that they were closing until further notice because of a family emergency. The restaurant does not appear to have reopened yet.