Midtown Wichita - Wichita, KS

The Historic Midtown area was the original site of the city of Wichita. The first home was built in 1868 by Darius Munger, and in 1869 he built several more. In 1870, Bill “Dutch Bill” Griffenstein and Munger began filing plats and establishing the area’s first street grid. During this time, the Historic Midtown area expanded north, and settlers started building Victorian homes. Development continued through the 1940s as a result of migrating workers in the aviation industry. However, by the 1960s, Midtown began experiencing a decline. It was not until 1972 that local residents started organizing to preserve the neighborhood and declare areas historic districts.

This neighborhood has the arts district, the nearby Wichita Art Museum and the Kansas African American Museum, which hosts exhibits on African American culture in Kansas.

Dining options in Historic Midtown include some local favorites. Residents visit nearby downtown Wichita for a more diverse selection of eateries.

Pig In Pig Out BBQ has established a reputation for preparing some of the best barbecue in Wichita, and it has the competition ribbons to prove it. Guests praise the restaurant for the great rub, smoke flavor and generous portions. Pig In Pig Out BBQ plays live music during lunch and has become a local favorite as a result of the hospitality and reasonable prices. Popular menu items include the brisket, pulled pork and ribs. Guests also enjoy sides that include baked beans, potato salad, and mac and cheese.

My Tho Restaurant serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine that guests highly recommend for the traditional yet flavorful dishes. Although this restaurant only accepts cash, guests find the friendly staff, appetizing menu and reasonable prices worth the inconvenience. My Tho Restaurant serves pho, hu tieu and banh mi, which guests praise continuously. Visit this restaurant for a casual lunch or dinner.

Little Saigon also serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine, with variations on traditional menu items. This restaurant has fresh spring rolls, Vietnamese steak sandwiches and lettuce wraps.

The only nightlife location in Historic Midtown, J's Lounge, borders Central Avenue. This lounge has drink specials, darts, free Wi-Fi and a jukebox. For more nightlife locations, nearby downtown Wichita has options that include dive bars, sports bars and lounges.

Residents of walkable Historic Midtown accomplish many errands on foot. This area also has multiple bike lanes and several Wichita Transit bus lines passing through it, including the 16 East Central, 9 East 13th and 3 East 17th routes. Nearby State Highway 85 and Interstate 135 provide convenience for drivers.

Services such as Uber and Zipcar serve this neighborhood. Taxis can be reserved ahead of time through local companies such as Safe Riders and Best Cabs. Parking in Historic Midtown consists of customer parking lots and permit or street parking.

The Historic Midtown neighborhood has multiple neighborhood parks that include Prospect Park, Woodland Park and Oak Park. Prospect Park, a small neighborhood park, has a children's playground and has been enhanced by additional trees and shrubs. This family-friendly park incorporates grassy areas and walk trails useful for exercise or sports-related activity. Woodland Park, a larger park, has a children's playground, basketball courts, picnic tables and multi-use courts that include tennis, shuffleboard and horseshoe courts. This park also has a senior center for older residents and grassy areas for exercise-related activities. Oak Park has a lily pond and a disc golf course.

Historic Midtown has a 4 percent lower cost of living than Wichita. A one-way bus ride on Wichita Transit costs $1.75, and a one-bedroom apartment rents for an average monthly rate of $459.

The area's average gas price is 15 percent lower than the national average, and residents should expect to pay $2.50 for a domestic beer at a local bar.

Shops in Historic Midtown consist of a few nearby department stores and chain retailers as well as several boutiques and specialty shops. The central location for shopping borders Central Avenue. For grocery needs, residents shop at the nearby Whole Foods and Walmart. These stores have a wide selection of products and food items that include seafood, home essentials and prepared foods. Super Del Centro provides an alternative for produce and meat products in the Historic Midtown area.

The Historic Midtown neighborhood lacks a nearby farmers market; however, Greenacres Natural Foods Market & Deli sells natural and organic products. This store opens daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located several miles east of Historic Midtown.

The Yard has grown into a popular specialty store in the Historic Midtown area. This store sells a diverse selection of products that includes canteens, socket sets, ball caps, ratchets, belts, fishing nets and much more. The Yard has friendly sellers and vendors that provide useful products for cheap prices. The Yard has become a one-stop shop for home essentials, gift items, clothing and tools.

J.R. Koontz Flowers has a broad selection of flowers and floral arrangements for special occasions. This boutique has several kinds of flowers, plants and herbs that customers find suitable for weddings, graduations and special ceremonies. These flowers can range from roses to orchids to posies. J.R. Koontz Flowers has flowers appropriate for romance or to simply make someone smile.