The public is invited to the soft opening of a new west Wichita pub and pizza restaurant

Its owners are still trying to hire staff and finish up some paperwork, but JJ Beard’s Pub & Pizza — the bar and restaurant taking over the old La Sufrida space at 13th and West — has started its “soft opening. ”

And although some restaurant owners prefer to limit soft openings to friends and family, this one is open to anyone. It started on Thursday, and for now, owners are opening the doors for abbreviated hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays through Saturdays (with the option to stay open until 2 a.m. if the place is still busy) and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays (so that people can watch football.)

When they’re ready for their grand opening, the owners will expand the hours, but they still haven’t settled on a date for that.

The menu at JJ Beard’s, which you can see below, includes appetizers like wings, loaded fries, brisket mac and cheese bites, and Irish egg rolls stuffed with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss and Reuben sauce.

There’s also a list of sandwiches, including a grilled chicken sandwich, a cheeseburger, a peanut butter and jalapeno-topped cheeseburger, and a “Juicy Lucy,” which features a burger patty stuffed with “molten, bubbling cheese.”

The list of 10-inch specialty pizzas includes a Reuben pizza; a Hawaiian pizza; a chicken, bacon and ranch pizza; a buffalo chicken pizza; a barbecue chicken pizza; and a veggie pizza. People also can build their own.

JJ Beard’s also has a full bar that offers a menu of signature cocktails, including an old fashioned, a blueberry lemonade made with vodka and club soda, and the Lunchbox, which features red ale, amaretto and orange juice on the rocks.

The bar stocks several bottled beers, and on tap, it has Bud Light, Coors Light, Corona, Michelob Ultra, Miller Light, and Walnut Brewing Company’s Warbeard.

JJ Beard’s, whose address is 3827 W. 13th St., is owned by Kevin Kinkelaar and Derek Ludewick, both founding members of the band KingShifter .

The band is on hiatus, and the two musicians decided it was a good time to go forward with a dream they’ve had for more than a decade — opening a bar where people could hang out and enjoy adult beverages.

They also have a pool table, and they hope to eventually have live acoustic performers in the bar or offer karaoke.

Crowds have been good so far, especially considering that JJ Beard’s has kept its opening relatively quiet.

“Locals seem to be thankful that we’re bringing what we do to that area of town,” Kinkelaar said.

JJ Beard’s Menu

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