Braum’s will have two stores in Emporia as soon as the company can get a building permit.
The new Braum’s will be built on land the company owns on Industrial Road near Staples, but the old Braum’s on Sixth Avenue will remain open, according to Gordon Pulis, who works in the Braum’s real estate department.
“We are working on a building permit presently,” Pulis said. “I don’t know when it’s on the schedule to build, but when we get the building permit, we’ll build it.”
Pulis said he didn’t know whether the new store will be built this year, but it will be soon.
The new store will have a different design than the old one, featuring a 5,756 square foot building with an exterior
finished in rock instead of brick.
“It’s our newest design,” Pulis said. “We built one in Wichita, so that would be the closest new store to Emporia.”
Braum’s, based in Oklahoma, began in Emporia as the Braum Dairy. The company started the Peter Pan Ice Cream Store chain, which had 61 stores around Kansas, including two in Emporia.
In 1967, the family company sold the Peter Pan stores to a large wholesaler. Part of the deal was that Braum’s would not be able to sell ice cream in Kansas for 10 years.
In 1968, the company opened its first Braum’s in Oklahoma. In the first year, 23 more stores followed.
After the 10-year deadline passed, Braum’s began moving back into Kansas. In 1994, the company built its first Emporia store, on West Sixth Avenue. The plan at the time was to build two Emporia stores — one at the intersection of Interstate 35 at Industrial Road. Signage restrictions at the time scuttled plans for that store.
Now, 15 years later, Braum’s is getting its northwest Emporia store.
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
This is great news!! I love Braums, and though I won't replace my trips to the centrally located one, I am glad to see one go up over there so the Northwesters don't have to dirty their cars on "east of Prairie" roads. :-D I am just kidding!!! I am just happy that Braums is doing this well and will be bringing in some additional steady jobs. I also see it being more convenient for many who live on that side of town as well as those who end up over there for most of their shopping. Who knows? I may even have occasion to stop in there a time or two. :-)
July 29, 2009 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Totally awesome to the max!
nuff said
Seriously R. Folks
July 29, 2009 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
its my opinion that braums would have built a store about ten years ago but the city of emporia would not let them put up a tall enough sign to attract customers off the interstate. in addition to that their head contracter was not able to pass the local test although he had built over one hundred stores. as i understand it they experienced many things with the building inspection department that emporia is known for throughout the state. anytime you see a building going up, stop and ask about our local inspectors. i hope this will be a good experience for braums ice creame. i will be watching this project. i have recently heard that our new city manager has implemented some positive changes. nuff said.
July 29, 2009 at 10:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Any news about new business and jobs coming into Emporia is good news at this time.
reddog alludes to a possible troubled past between the city and Braums. Well if my admittedly very sketchy memory serves....the troubled past may go a lot further back than ten years.
I have no personal knowledge of this.....but when I was a teenager I remember my dad and others often talking about Braums Dairy.....and we would often visit the Peter Pan stores. As I recall those conversations.....this subject never came up without a lot of ranting and lamenting about how Emporia could have remained the home of the Braums company......and all of the money and jobs that entailed.....except for the city fathers and the Emporia Gazette's refusal to support Braums in any way.
Like I said...this is all very sketchy.....but if anybody has more info on this matter.....a little history lesson might be worthwhile.
July 30, 2009 at 5:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Gwen.....you guys at the
gazette have the access to the paper's morgue......what do the old papers have about this...if anything?
July 30, 2009 at 5:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
biscuitboy,
I also remember the talk way back then about a personality conflict between a certain Braum and a certain city manager or mayor. This conflict supposedly led to the selling of the Peter Pan stores and the Braums moving out of town,(they did keep the dairy farm north of town).
And reddog is correct that a braums store would already have been built out west if it hadn't been stymied by city beaurocrats. Let us all hope this zoning request goes a little smoother. any business that builds a building,(property taxes), and employees more people is a positive for this town.
And speaking of building, Bobbi Mylnar, How is that Wendy's store coming along? A new one sure would purdy up that corner on 6th av.
July 30, 2009 at 6:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
or at least they could plant some purdy flowers there...right now its nothing but weeds and sandburs that get in my dogs feet when they are tending to business.
July 30, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
biscuitboy;
I am smiling. I knew there was some use for that vacant lot. I do miss that Wendy's location. It was really convienent for my grease fix. And have you tried to drive through the Wendy's @ Industrial? I think the same group that designed 15th and Graphic arts intersection designed that drive through lane.
July 30, 2009 at 7:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Good news about Braum's new location. There will be construction jobs and afterwards, jobs doing burgers and ice cream.
Speaking of design, why is KFC so far out of the way? I was happy to leave their chicken alone as long as it was fried, but I find like their grilled chicken. Getting there, however, requires a map and mule.
July 30, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I miss Wendy's too. It was a perfect lunch stop between work and the chiropractor. I agree with Steve that going to the Wendy's at PrairiePort is an interesting experience. Poor design, in my opinion.
I helped open the Braums store fresh out of college (yes, that dates me) and was impressed with the Braum family's personal involvement. Members of the family were on site helping on the opening day. I mean working in the back with the food, not just looking pretty up front. I'm glad they're doing so well they can open another store.
July 30, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
rbow, biscuitboy, reddog
You are all correct about there being a rift between the Braum family and a certain City Manager years ago and that being the reason that Braum moved to Oklahoma .
I agree, it will be nice to see another Braum store in Emporia.
And as far as the Wendys on Industrial, you are correct about the drive thru lane being almost non-negotiable and I went inside once and immediately dubbed it " Wee Wendys " and haven't been back since. The tables are about the size of a large dinner plate and somewhat close together. I am a fair sized guy and need a little more room than a " Munchkin " .
July 30, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Just when I thought I could get away from the Black Forest Sundaes they weaken my resolve with convenience!
July 30, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
West Wendys is filthy inside. They'll not be seeing my family there again.
July 30, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I don't like the Wendy's on Industrial but the building is nicer than the one on 6th. They got that going for them anyway.
July 30, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Wonder if Braums was enticed by the Buxton study?
July 30, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )