Sandwich chain closes original Wichita store, which had been in business since 1978

Wichita’s first Schlotzsky’s sandwich shop opened on South Rock Road in 1978, promising Wichita “a unique new sandwich” served with things like marinated ripe olives and garlic butter on bread baked fresh daily.

Now, that shop — which in the mid-1990s moved across the street from 1117 S. Rock Road to 1140 S. Rock Road — has closed. Its last day in business was Wednesday, said franchisee J.J. Ramsey.

Closing the restaurant, said Ramsey — who took over Schlotzsky’s Wichita market in 2019 — was always his intention. His restaurants at 6507 E. Central, his newest Wichita location at 2629 Greenwich Court and his Derby restaurant at 2550 N. Rock Road are close enough to pick up traffic from the South Rock Road store, he said.

“It was always part of the plan to relocate it eventually,” he said. “For right now, we want to make sure the Derby location stays strong, and that business can go to Central and Woodlawn and to Greenwich.”

Ramsey and his wife, Hortencia — who are based in Bentonville, Arkansas — also have Schlotzsky’s restaurants at 8710 W. Central and at 1334 W. Pawnee.

Ramsey said he may open more Schlotzsky’s restaurants in the area eventually, but he’s not ready to share specific locations.

“Wichita is a great market and is plenty big enough to handle more,” he said.