This Wichita saloon previously was just for women, but soon will be for men as well

Just as the pandemic was about to gear up in a major way in February 2020, car dealer Jill Hattan purchased the Pink Saloon , a clothing store at Waterfront Plaza that she called a passion project.

Before becoming president and CEO of Don Hattan Dealerships , Hattan had always wanted to have her own shop.

Even passion projects need to make money, though, and that’s why Hattan is now remodeling the Pink Saloon and adding men’s clothing to one side of the store.

“Our store is just kind of more unique and fun clothing, and there’s really a lack of that for men in the Wichita area.”

Hattan said that “retail is tough out there,” especially for brick-and-mortar stores.

“So part of it is mixing it up. Just kind of looking for additional audiences,” she said. “We’re looking for every which way to find our niches.”

Also, she said, she thinks the city needs it.

The store opened in El Dorado in 2006 and then moved to Douglas and Oliver before moving to Waterfront Plaza , at the northwest corner of 13th and Webb Road.

“It would be a sad thing for any type of boutique like this to ever go away,” Hattan said.

She has a sign at the store encouraging people to shop local.

“That’s a nice way of saying you better shop here, or this store’s not going to be around.”

Pink Saloon isn’t in danger of closing, although it will shut temporarily on Sept. 16, 17 and 18 before unveiling the new men’s lines.

“It’s really for everyone,” Hattan said of the new store.

“It’s really a fun thing for me and for Wichita.”

Next up: Hattan’s new Point Nine restaurant and outdoor venue in Andover will have a groundbreaking in the next month. Look for details, including renderings, soon.