Growing Wheat State
Pizza chain will open a sports bar and grill in downtown Emporia
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Monday, June 25, 2007
Emporia will have the first and — so far — only Wheat State Grille, which opens the first part of July inside of Lucky’s, 707 Commercial St.
Ryan Murphy, owner of Wheat State Pizza, Adam Hagemann who will be supervisor of Wheat State Grille, and Buzz Snyder, who will be the general manager/kitchen manager, decided to open up the new business after the owner of Lucky’s approached them about opening up a restaurant inside the club. Murphy said the former Club 707 is closed and in its place, he and Hagemann will open up Wheat State Grille.
Wheat State Pizza is a Kansas chain started in Lawrence by Emporia native Murphy. It now has nine stores, including one in Emporia at 1015 Commercial St. The company is preparing to open pizza restaurants in Salina and Overbrook. The Emporia Wheat State Pizza will remain open.
But the Wheat State Grille is a first for Murphy.
“The focus is going to be a great sports bar and grill,” Murphy said. He added that the theme of the grill will be Emporia State University athletics.
The new grill will serve Wheat State Pizza but also an array of grill items and salads and soups. The grill also will serve and order drinks from Lucky’s.
“We’ve put together a great menu,” Murphy said. “It’s awesome.”
The grill will be located where club 707 used to be. The dance floor will remain as there will be dancing at night, Murphy said. Seating will be moved into the area to seat almost 130 people. Outside, there will be a beer garden where people can eat and drink. This area will seat 25 to 30 people.
Murphy said that while Wheat State’s focus always has been pizza, opening a bar and grill has always been a desire of his. When they were approached to open up the restaurant, they took the opportunity.
“Wheat State Pizza has been very successful here,” he said. “And this is an incredible location. We’re pretty much in the heart of downtown.”
Murphy said he hoped to fill a gap that was left when Bruff’s Bar & Grill burned down at 22 E. Sixth Avenue. The popular downtown restaurant burned to the ground on Feb. 29, 2004, after a grease fire in the kitchen spread out of control.
“When Bruff’s burned down, it took a piece of Emporia with it,” he said. Murphy added that Wheat State Grille would bring back the downtown bar and grill that was lacking.
Wheat State Grille will open on July 4 and will be open during the Fourth of July parade. The hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week for the full menu. Appetizers and pizza by the slice will be served from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
peanutbutter (anonymous) says...
Finally, something new in Emporia that isn't Mexican or Chinese food! I went to school with both of these young men and they are Awesome!!!
June 25, 2007 at 10:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
I'm willing to try it out.
Is the existing Wheat State worth trying out again? The last few times I ate there, we had poor service and the place was extremely noisy. Haven't been back in probably a year. If they've addressed the service issues and fixed that intolerably loud ice cream freezer, I'll give them another shot.
June 27, 2007 at 1:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gypsymoth (anonymous) says...
When it first opened, I went into Wheatstate a couple of times, and the country music TV station was on. Over the past few years, I've periodically checked to see whether this continues. I like the food, but I won't eat in Wheatstate because of this. I know that some like pop country, but many who live here can't stand it. Muzak--elevator music--would be preferable. I'd add that in my business, I sometimes take visitors out to eat. It would be embarrassing to take a visitor to a restaurant that is playing country music, whether on TV or piped in. I want to support new businesses in Emporia, especially food services. I hope the new restaurant doesn't play country music. If it does, I won't support it.
June 27, 2007 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fluffygirl0604 (anonymous) says...
If I went to lunch with someone, my main concern would not be what music is playing, it would be what the person I was with was saying. If I did get bored with the person that took me to lunch, I definately would not want to hear elevator music, especially in a pizza place. Maybe a juke box would be a good idea.
July 5, 2007 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
Looking for comments: Has service improved? Do they get your pizza order to you in a timely manner? Do they get your order right? If there are problems, do they take immediate steps to fix the problem?
July 8, 2007 at 5:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
I've been to their place on Merchant and found the pizza quite good and the service good as well.
I went to the downtown place for a burger last week and the service was okay, but the food wasn't all that good. Jay's has a much better burger and the price and service at Jay's are also better.
I hope Wheat State does well downtown, but the food and service will have to improve in order for that to happen.
July 8, 2007 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
J's is my favorite restaurant in Emporia. I go out of my way to take out-of-town guests to J's. I think it exemplifies the best of smaller-town America, and wow is the food good.
La Hacienda is perhaps tied with J's. Always good service, always good food.
Perhaps it is time for a genuine restaurant review for Emporia...
July 17, 2007 at 10:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
47hclwym (anonymous) says...
Wheat State is great, Service??? Did you stop and think not everyone likes likes your style of "music" either. That is one of the lamest reasons not to eat some where I have ever heard. J's DRY DRY every time I've been in. NO seating... but he has great service.
July 19, 2007 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )