A local restaurant is about to get a big presence at Wichita’s Intrust Bank Arena

21 Nov A local restaurant is about to get a big presence at Wichita’s Intrust Bank Arena

A growing local restaurant chain known for its Mediterranean fare will soon have a big presence in Wichita’s Intrust Bank Arena.

Meddys, Alex Harb’s restaurant that has three Wichita locations and a fourth on the way, will soon have spots on both the lower and upper concourses of the arena.

The one on the lower concourse, which will be right next to section 104, which is near the giant marquee that’s visible from Kellogg on the south-facing side of the arena, said Syntina Brown,who is Meddys new business development manager. It will open on Dec. 6 during the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert, she said.

It will be a free-standing kiosk designed to have the same materials and feel of Meddys restaurants, and it will serve meat pies, cheese pies, hummus and pita chips and lamb, chicken and beef kabobs. The kabobs aren’t yet available in Meddys restaurants but will be added to the menu next year, Brown said.

Then, early next year, Meddys will also take over the concession space on the upper concourse most recently occupied by Burger Lab. That space is at section 219, and it will have the same menu as the lower level kiosk.

At the same time, a new renovated area called Meddys Lounge will open right next to the upper level Meddys concession stand. It will have seating for up to 50 and will offer people getting food from any of the arena restaurants a place to sit down and enjoy their meals. The space overlooks construction on the Spaghetti Works District, Brown said.

They hope to have both upper concourse projects done by January, she said.

“We wanted to grow and find ways that we could give back and have more of a presence in the local area,” Brown said.

Greg Read, the director of food and beverage for the arena, said that he was approached by Harb with the idea of adding a Meddys presence in the venue.

He liked the idea, he said, because Meddys would add some variety to the arena’s already extensive list of food offerings.

“It was something that we don’t do currently,” he said. “It’s probably not a food you think of when you come to the arena, but I like the idea of something different, and a local tie-in is kind of what the arena was made for.”