Empty lot gets new owner
Bobbi Mlynar, Special to the Gazette
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The site of the former Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant is in the process of changing ownership.
“We have fully executed contracts,” said Wally Storey of Wally Storey & Associates in Salina. “The buyer is doing their due diligence. So it’s getting all done, and hopefully we’re going to close in 90 days.”
Storey could not discuss details of the sale until it is final.
The site at 701 W. Sixth Ave. has been vacant since January 2008, when the restaurant building was demolished to make way for a new Wendy’s restaurant.
Lengthy delays resulted when environmental studies were required to ensure that potential residual hazardous materials had been left in the ground when a service station at that location was removed and the first Wendy’s restaurant was built on the site.
Environmental investigators found no evidence of contamination and approved digging on the property for a new, larger Wendy’s.
The delay brought on by the study, however, caused Sunset Equities of McPherson, which owned the property, to postpone new construction.
The company originally had planned for an extensive remodeling of the restaurant, then later decided to raze the building and erect a new, larger restaurant with digital order boards and other new technological features, according to Gazette records.
An owner of Sunset Equities, Gary Reiman, had a close connection to Wendy’s restaurant before he purchased it.
According to Gazette records, Reiman had managed the restaurant and had been a friend of the late Francis Walters, who owned the store before his death in 2005.
A company history of Wally Storey & Associates states that Storey has been in the real estate business for more than 30 years and is licensed in Kansas and Missouri. He has represented national, regional and local clients in sales and leasing of retail properties.
“His agency has been involved in the site selection, development and leasing of a number of national retailers such as the Home Depot Company, Osco Drugs, Dillons and Kwik Shop,” the history stated. “In addition, he has been instrumental in the site selection for over twenty-five McDonalds Restaurants, plus a large number of Wendy’s International throughout the state of Kansas.”
Storey also has worked with the Dallas office of Staubach Retail Group and continues to represent Staubach in several states.
jmac (anonymous) says...
bought time, wonder what is going to go in there
September 22, 2011 at 2:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
I was surprised to see the first Wendy's there. I had the lease on that station in "73. It belonged to KT OIL co. ( Transport Inn ). I knew what was dumped around back, MANY YEARS AGO. Im sure it's all cleaned up now. WELCOME TO TOWN, (who ever) Glad to see NEW BLOOD.
September 22, 2011 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I wonder what's going in there. Please not another convenience store or (retch) another payday loan place.
September 22, 2011 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
What is that land currently zoned?Has it been rezoned??? How many fast foods can we support?? Yes, lots of questions.
September 22, 2011 at 6:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
actually I think it is another convenience store...
September 22, 2011 at 8:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
someone at the nearby dance studio said something about another kwik shop....but who knows?
September 22, 2011 at 8:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Wait a sec...Bobbi should know since she's on the commission right?
September 22, 2011 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
That not far from where the old Kwik Shop was
September 22, 2011 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
You could use a Kwik Shop #2. They have the cheapest gas in town .IF you use your Dillon's card & plastic. S&S has cheap CASH ONLY gas. If so that makes 6 C stores on 6th. east to west.
September 22, 2011 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
EXCUSE ME, I forgot Scotty's. 7 C stores if it is a new one coming in...
September 22, 2011 at 10:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bubbadleroy (anonymous) says...
It is going to be a Poker R Us building.
Where you can go in sit down and play some poker. OH WAIT! we can't do that, it is gambling. NOT!! It is a game of skill.
But the government say's it's ok to let the old folks piss away there meager means playing BINGO a game that is total luck and you have no decisions to make, or any skill needed. Is this government screwed up or what.
I know some folks that spend over $200 a week, yess a week, playing BINGO. Then bitch about not having any money.
Sorry for the rambling. What we really need is another mexican joint.
September 22, 2011 at 10:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eccentriceric (anonymous) says...
What we really need is another 24hr restaurant. Like Waffle House, except they only go to the biggest of cities, or Ihop or something alot those lines. Or Taco Johns or Taco Bueno for an alternative to Taco Bell. I love Taco Tico but they seem to be going out of business everywhere. especially around Wichita. :(
September 22, 2011 at 11:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
I think it would be a great location for some mid-town monuments, to go along with the new entrance monuments. Emporia has plenty of money for that kind of silly stuff, or so it seems.
September 22, 2011 at 11:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
It doesn't matter to me what it is. Heck, a Whore House would be better than an empty lot.
1. Construction of a building.
2. Hiring of construction workers, and then employees.
3. Probable sales tax revenue.
4. Definitely more property tax revenue.
All done without grants and tax exemptions.
Sounds good to me.
September 23, 2011 at 7:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Good one, Steve. My laugh of the day. I see you capitalized the W and H. Too much.
But yes, almost anything is better than an empty lot sitting there all forlorn and full of weeds and who knows what else.
You would think whoever owns that eyesore would have at least planted it full of sunflowers just for the beauty of it. But no, leave it looking like hell in the middle of town because sunflower seeds might cost a few bucks.
Stupid people. Just no sense of creativity at all.
Too late now. I shoulda gone in there myself late one night and planted a couple of handsful of sunflower seeds, scattered some fertilizer and watched them grow and bloom. We'd have had a great summer vision since they are pretty drought tolerant.
Shucks. Sorry guys.
September 23, 2011 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
Steve, yes, some of you guys would like a Whore House, a form of fast food, but is it zoned for such????? Yay for added taxes etc! Put a beautiful building there so you guys would be "comfy"....yes, have our own "red "zone" area!!!! An empty lot doesn't sound so bad!!!!!
Create, there are a couple florist in that area, they could have had their own local supply of wild flowers. Nice idea.
September 23, 2011 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Glitterbird (anonymous) says...
Someone just told me it will once again be Wendy's.....Who knows?!?
September 23, 2011 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
Please let it be another Wendy's. Please let it be another Wendy's. Please let it be another Wendy's. Please....
My family and I ate there at the previous Wendy's often. The one out on Industrial is a poor excuse for a restaurant. Even for a fast food restaurant!!! JMHO
September 23, 2011 at 1:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
If it were going to be another Wendys', why would it be sold, when the corp. that owns the Wendys' chain sell it and then buy it back ?
Would they sell it just to keep from paying taxes on it ? How much could taxes on an empty lot be anyway ?
Oh, I forgot, this is Emporia, Ks. the home of ridiculously priced land and that means the taxes could be outrageious, even on an empty piece of land !
September 23, 2011 at 9:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Yes, and remember meth, those rules can be relaxed at any given time depending on who wants to relax them.
Sandman, great comment, "a form of fast food."
In Italy, there is even a sauce for spaghetti that is made in no time at all. So fast in fact, it's called Putanesca sauce. I prefer its taste to the longer simmering sauces in fact. In Italian, a puta is a whore.
September 24, 2011 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
off topic, did anyone know that coburns restaurant was razed this morning? it only took about an hour. poof.... another empty lot in emporai!
September 24, 2011 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Rumor has it that the lot where Coburns was, was bought by Spangles' .
But this is just a rumor, will have to wait and see !
September 24, 2011 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
ohh spangles???? ....i could be wrong but don't they own genesis health club?
September 24, 2011 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scarlett01_98 (anonymous) says...
oops typo. the stevens own spangles...
September 24, 2011 at 2:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
Create, I believe "Puta" also means the same in spanish. In trying to help our children to remember the difference between vertical and horizontal, I told them to just look at the first part of the word. I know, many say parallel to the horizon, believe me they remembered my method much easier and that their mother would say such!!!!! :-) Also remembering "intra" and "inter"....think of international and then "intra"-within. Funny how we remember various words!!!!
September 24, 2011 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
They doing soil testing at Coburns a few weeks ago
September 24, 2011 at 6:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Coburns is in a bad location as it stands. 1 drive in & out. Too close to traffic light, backed up traffic prevents traffic flow in & out of site. Spangles would need more land also. Coburns did a GREAT job for many years. One of the best burgers (next to J's) in town. Spangles looked at east Burger King site many yrs.ago. But turned it down, IDK Y ??
September 24, 2011 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
I hear S&S will open soon but not as 24 hour restaurant.....
September 24, 2011 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
I wish a Culver's would come to Emporia. Yeah, another fast food place, but they're my favorite.
September 24, 2011 at 10:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
The Coburns building is down
September 25, 2011 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
The boys working there this AM told it was a Spangles
September 25, 2011 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
If it's Spangles, they must have found a way to enlarge the parking lot and design better entrances and exits. It would be a great addition to Emporia and I can see where it would be a moneymaker right off the Interstate. That left turn onto 18th from the north can be a bear though. Let's hope they iron it out.
sandman, Good job of teaching language. Your method is actually the accepted way since words do have more than one part like you say. If you get the front part down, you're home free. Very handy for scientific terms. When my kids were little I'd say horizontal starts with H and the bar crossing the H is horizontal. The two bars on the V are standing up so they must be vertical. Just plain trickery to get the point across. We should write a book.
September 25, 2011 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
Create, like your means with the "H"...had used the same with the "V". Went to a meeting yesterday in Topeka concerning "No Child Left Behind", was excellent. Believe is truly showing up for what it was.....a quick bill of sale!!!!!
September 25, 2011 at 11:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Well Coburns building is gone, Looks like you are getting another choice for lunch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMhFle...
September 25, 2011 at 8:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gooseylucy (anonymous) says...
Yeah, I heard this about a month ago, from a very reliable source. It is going to be a Spangles. Yummy!! I can't wait. I love their food!!
September 26, 2011 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
sandman, so glad you went to NCLB meeting. I always supported that plan except for the part about kids being able to continue to make higher and higher scores. Just impossible for it to continue like they said it would. Teachers preached that for years but nobody listened. The feds have finally figured it out and are letting the states design their own objectives. One of those "hurry up and wait" government things I suppose. $hit!
September 26, 2011 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
There was a notice in the gazette the other night for a zoning request from Spangles for a sign variance on the Coburns site.
September 26, 2011 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thanks orlando. That seals it. Yeah, Spangles!!! I like their stuff.
September 27, 2011 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Hey, Steve C.,
The City could rezone the vacant Wendys' lot, to, oh, say, Eating and Entertainment . Then a Whore House could be built there with, " Dine in only and " No Carry Out, or Drive Thru and Call In Reservations Accepted " .
September 29, 2011 at 1:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
They don't have a manager, the city cops never caught the Wichita PIMP..
September 29, 2011 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )