Hutchinson Redeemed via Chicago
Our family moved here in 2023. For the most part, all of our needs have been met and exceeded by the great town of Hutchinson, with one exception: Pizza. Now, to some people, you order a pizza because… well, “People gotta eat”. Others savor the experience of a meal, and it resonates deep inside their being.
Today was the public opening of Old Chicago at the new Holiday Inn, near 17th Ave and Hwy 61. (1715 N Waldron St, Hutchinson, KS 67502). We arrived at about 6:30 pm, and the place was as I had hoped… packed. Hutchinson showed up and filled the tables. The bonus was that there wasn’t a long wait to be seated, as we agreed to sit at a high table near the bar.
Notable was the wall of serious-looking folks looking like they were in charge. I was super excited. I felt like a kid in a candy store having a new hot spot in town. As I took in the surrounding people in the space, I got the feeling that there was a large collection of supervisors and a crew of nervous new staff.
We were assigned Michaela. She is a young lady, but picking up quickly. I asked who the serious-looking people were, and we joked about them being the important folks. We reassured her that we were friendly folks and not to be worried. She lined us out with an Iced Tea and a Salt City Space Race and took our order. We chose the “Chicago 7” with the OC Thick Crust.
Seeing the community show up in droves was a happy moment. Patrons all around us seemed to be happy and enjoying the atmosphere and fare. Speaking of atmosphere, the Holiday Inn is top-notch. The fit, finish, and wow power of the ground floor is reminiscent of some of the larger cities I have visited in the past. The expansive polished floors and tour to the restrooms reminded me of some of the nicest venues I attended for WordCamps and Conventions abroad.
The pizza arrived before I finished my first beer. Michaela served each of us the first slice and put the hot pan with the remainder on our table. The pizza was HOT, and that is a good thing. I went European-style and used silverware to sample the first few bites. Heidi was as excited as I was. Redemption for Hutchinson has been served. I can honestly say this is the best pizza in town.
Right about the time the second slice was disappearing, a man named Sam came up and introduced himself as the “GM” and asked how we were doing. We raved about Michaela and the pizza. Right after that, another iced tea and Space Race landed on the table, and slice #3 was making its way to my plate. It’s hard to describe how happy I was in that moment.
Suddenly, I saw the opportunity to say hello to the important people. Guess what? They are a lot less serious-looking when you introduce yourself and tell them how much you are enjoying opening night.
My sentiment as I wrap this up is one of thankfulness for the new restaurant in town and the great vibe inside, but also the hope that the community continues to respond and support it as time goes on.
Responses