Three Kingz LLC to open Krab Kingz Seafood on west side | Wichita Eagle

On Wednesday, Texas-based Three Kingz LLC put something on Facebook about bringing one of its Krab Kingz Seafood restaurants here.

Company partner Mickey Smith says he had thought about putting a Krab Kingz food truck in Wichita to test the market.

The response was so immediately phenomenal, he says, “I’m very comfortable putting restaurants over there.”

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Now, he’s considering a few different west-side possibilities.

“We’ve had real estate agents tell us, ‘West side, west side.’ ”

The chain, which has 10 sites and food trucks in Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Missouri, has a simple fast-casual concept.

“It’s a very, very short menu,” Smith says.

That includes crab, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn. There also is a full bar.

“And that’s pretty much it,” Smith says.

“It actually started as a food truck,” he says.

That was two years ago, and it’s grown quickly since then.

“It’s been a very, very successful model for us,” Smith says.

Smith is based in Kansas City, Mo., and will run the Wichita Krab Kingz.

“I’m going to be over there quite a bit,” he says.

Wichita is attractive because there’s not a lot of competition for seafood in the fast-casual segment, Smith says.

Still, he says he was surprised at the immediate Facebook response.

“It’s crazy.”

Look for more information once Smith signs a lease.

Even though he hasn’t secured a site yet, Smith says he hopes to open no later than the end of February.

“We’re looking at turnkey operations,” he says.

“There’s not a whole lot to setting them up.”

This story was originally published January 11, 2018 2:44 PM.