Meddys Bringing Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine to Crossroads

By Kevin Collison

Meddys, a popular Wichita restaurant serving healthy dishes from Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean region, plans to open its first out-of-town outlet in the Crossroads by next summer.

“We love that market and we feel there’s a lot of energy in it,” said Alex Harb, founder of Meddys. “It’s a beautiful city and we’ve had a lot of customers here tell us you ought to go to Kansas City.”

Meddys would like to locate in the Monogram Building at the northeast corner of 18th and Wyandotte, a multi-tenant, historic structure that once included YJ’s Snack Bar among its tenants.

Discussions however, are in the preliminary stage with the building’s new landlord.

“There seems to be a demand for more food options in the West Crossroads,” said Spencer Sight of Sight Realty, the firm that purchased the Monogram last summer.

“We spoke with Meddys several months ago, but are being very selective about who we put into the building. They have to fit well with the current mix of tenants and the neighborhood as a whole.”

Meddys would like to open a restaurant in the Monogram building at 18th and Wyandotte.

In the four years since Harb, a native of Lebanon, opened his first Meddys, its menu, including such Mediterranean favorite as hummus and shawarma, has become a hit. It was voted best Mediterranean restaurant by readers of the Wichita Eagle in 2014.

The restaurant, described as fast casual, specializes in using fresh, health ingredients and offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. It also aims at providing a good meal for $10 or less.

“Our audience are millennials who want to eat healthy and don’t want to spend a lot of money,” Harb said. “Our motto is our ingredients are delivered today, chopped today and served today.”

A recent international health report found that a Mediterranean diet contributes to increased life expectancy.

Meddys is about to open its third outlet in Wichita, this one a 5,000 square-foot restaurant in downtown. It will include a full bar and later hours.

Harb said the planned Crossroads restaurant should be similar size and also serve beer, wine and cocktails. Hours are anticipated to go as late as 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight or 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Exterior rendering of new Meddys opening soon in downtown Wichita. (Image from Meddys)

Don’t miss any downtown news, sign up for our weekly CityScene KC email review here.