NEW HEALTH KANSAS Dr. Ekwensi Griffith, founder and medical director for New Health Kansas, knew he could economically add more physical space for his practice by purchasing his own building.
If the new space appears to have been carefully set up and perfected down to the last detail, that might be because it was. But in an interesting turn of events, this ‘extra polish’ wasn’t possible in spite of the COVID-19 disruption but rather—in part—because of it. “We made the best out of the COVID situation. We took the opportunity to do things right and take our time,” Fately said, referencing the nationwide shutdown that went into effect roughly a month before the original move date. Rather than try to reopen as soon as possible, Fately and Pearson simply appended the shutdown with their own temporary business closure while they moved and set up in the new space, allowing for a more seamless transition into the new building. “It didn’t make much sense to reopen for a month and then try to move,” Fately said, “so we actually benefited quite a bit from that downtime.”
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There were some challenges in regards to procuring equipment and furniture, due mostly to COVID-19-related delays in the supply chains, but all-in-all, Fately and Pearson feel that the final outcome was an optimal one. “It was a weird deal, but things really do work out for a reason,” Fately said. July 17 saw the long-awaited grand opening of the new location, and with business back on the rise, the bar and grille is continuing to fill open positions for kitchen positions, servers and bartenders as it looks to a bright year ahead in 2021. “The future is going to be really good,” Fately said. “Topeka is doing amazing things. Downtown, NOTO, Fairlawn, 29th and Wanamaker—there’s a lot of great things happening in Topeka. We’re a secret, but we’re a capital city. Why shouldn’t the capital have the best sports bar in the state, if not the Midwest? And that’s really our goal.” TK Business Magazine
Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL
Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL
Even though the COVID-19 situation delayed the new location opening, Faith Pearson, general manager of Jeremiah Bullfrogs, is pleased that the extra time allowed for a more seamless grand opening.
If asked to describe in one word the past year that Dr. Ekwensi Griffith and his medical practice, New Health Kansas, have experienced, one might land on ‘serendipitous.’ New Health Kansas, which opened a new clinic at 29th and MacVicar in October 2019, could have had quite a tumultuous year had a few critical events gone another way. But thanks to a supportive colleague, a long runway for moving, and great vision, the hormone, weight loss and wellness practice succeeded in opening its new self-owned clinic just months before the COVID-19