The Cheesecake Factory is Officially Coming to Wichita, But Not Everyone is Celebrating

WICHITA, KS – For years, it has been Wichita’s most enduring restaurant rumor, a long-running local meme that felt more like a punchline than a possibility. But the speculation is finally over. The Cheesecake Factory, the iconic casual-dining giant with its novel-length menu, is officially coming to Wichita.  

The confirmation didn’t come from a flashy press conference or a developer’s announcement. Instead, the news broke through a public building permit application, first uncovered by local media, titled “New The Cheesecake Factory”. The filing confirms the restaurant will be built at 2020 N. Rock Road, on the vacant plot in the Bradley Fair shopping center where an Outback Steakhouse once stood.  

The permit details plans for a “one-story steel frame structure for a new restaurant, bar, patio dining, and commercial kitchen,” indicating a brand-new, ground-up build designed to the company’s specifications.  

For many, the question is: why now? For years, the prevailing belief was that Wichita didn’t meet the company’s strict demographic and income criteria. The answer lies in a shift in corporate strategy. The Cheesecake Factory has been developing and testing smaller-footprint locations—around 5,000 square feet instead of the traditional 7,000-plus—to make entering mid-sized markets like Wichita more financially viable.  

While some residents are celebrating the long-awaited arrival, predicting “lines around the building,” the public’s reaction has been surprisingly mixed, described by some as “lukewarm at best”.  

Online forums and social media have lit up with a wide range of opinions. One camp expresses pure excitement, with some recalling they were “clamoring for this when Bradley Fair was still being built”.  

However, a large and vocal group has met the news with a collective eye-roll, arguing the brand is past its prime. “They’re 15 years too late,” one commenter on Reddit stated bluntly. Others have labeled the chain “overrated,” the “king of mediocrity,” and “mid as hell,” reflecting a sentiment that many Wichitans who have visited the restaurant in other cities are no longer impressed. The announcement has even prompted calls for newer national brands like Cava, or regional favorites like Whataburger and Waffle House.  

The news has also sparked a passionate “support local” counter-movement. One popular Reddit post used the announcement to urge citizens to “eat and shop local as much as you are able to,” leading to a long thread of recommendations for local businesses.  

This puts a spotlight on the city’s own Wichita Cheesecake Company, a family-owned bakery in the downtown Union Station district known for its from-scratch desserts. The arrival of the corporate giant sets the stage for a classic David-versus-Goliath “cheesecake showdown” that will test local loyalties.  

While no official opening date has been announced, the filing of the building permit signals that the project is moving forward. As construction begins, Wichitans will be watching closely to see if the reality of The Cheesecake Factory lives up to more than a decade of hype.