The new 54 Craft 7 Co. in Wichita will be similar to JC Craft & Co., which operates inside a Marriott hotel in West Des Moines, owners said.Chad Jackson Photos
For years, the Green Mill Restaurant at the Holiday Inn at Locke and Kellogg in Wichita has been a reliable place for hotel guests to grab pizza and for Wichita residents to enjoy a holiday buffet.
However, the hotel restaurant closed sometime last year after being open for more than 20 years.
Now, a new concept is expanding into that space. Later this week, crews will begin a “major renovation project” to turn the old Green Mill into a restaurant called 54 Craft & Co. Will Harrington is director of operations for Quinces Hospitality Companies, which owns the Holiday Inn at 549 S. Rock Road. — said construction will be completed this summer.
54 Craft & Co is named after Highway 54, also known as Kellogg, which the hotel overlooks. The restaurant offers a “homemade cooking experience.”
“The atmosphere and menu will be very different from the old Green Mill,” Harrington said.
When complete, 54 Craft & Co. will be similar to other hotel restaurants the company has recently opened in Iowa. One of them, JC Craft & Co. at the Marriott Hotel in West Des Moines, serves entrees like grilled porterhouse chops, chicken paillard over sautéed vegetables, and pan-seared salmon. It offers. We also offer sandwiches, burgers, fish and chips, pizza and flatbreads.
Another new Kinseth restaurant is located in Iowa City and is called Vue Rooftop. Part of the Hilton Garden Inn, the restaurant offers a menu similar to JC Craft & Co., including steak, chicken and seafood dishes, as well as burgers, sandwiches and shareable appetizers. Both restaurants also have bars offering craft cocktails, beer, wine, martinis, and more.
The Quinses also plan to open a restaurant called KC Craft & Co. at the Holiday Inn at 8787 Reeder St. in Overland Park, which is expected to open several weeks before the Wichita restaurant.
Harrington said 54 Craft & Co. in Wichita has a special surprise in store.
“While we can’t go into details yet, we’re excited to add to the menu some classic favorites from another restaurant chain that exited the Wichita market more than a decade ago,” he said.
That restaurant is almost certainly Benegins. Not only does the Kinses own Bennigan’s Restaurants in Urbandale and Clear Lake, Iowa, but the official Bennigan’s Restaurants website lists “Bennigan’s on the Fly” in the “Coming Soon” section. , the address listed there (549 S. Rock Road) is the same as the Holiday Inn.
Bennigan’s On the Fly is a virtual kitchen concept that the chain is also expanding into hotels. Mr. Kinseth has opened two virtual kitchens in Iowa, Bennigan’s On the Fly (he has one in Coralville and one in Dubuque). At these two of his businesses, Bennigan’s food is only available for delivery and takeout. The menu includes Bennigan’s famous Monte Cristo and Turkey O’Toole sandwiches.
The Kinses also appear to be poised to open Bennigan’s on the Fly inside the KC Craft & Co. restaurant in Overland Park.
Wichita was once home to a Bennigan’s restaurant at 111 S. Rock Road, which closed in 2008 after nearly 25 years in business.
“We’ll have more to share as we get closer to completion and begin planning for our grand opening celebration,” said Harrington, who is based in Wichita.
This article was originally published on April 17, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
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Dennis Neal has been covering restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Her Dining With Her Dennis’ Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. She regularly judges local food competitions and speaks to groups throughout Wichita about food.
