New office will help Wichita lawyer tackle ‘the hardest topic in America right now’

The last time lawyer and real estate developer Abdul Arif built himself a new office, he left enough space to have a couple of restaurants next to him as well.

That was Huddle House and Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen in front of Twin Lakes, at 21st and Amidon, where Arif said his firm has outgrown the space.

Now, he’s renovating a building with the intent to move his firm there and then lease the rest of the space, but not to a restaurant.

Arif purchased a former eye clinic at 2160 W. 21st St., just west of 21st and Amidon and next to Burger King.

His office will take 5,000 square feet of the building’s 7,000 square feet. That compares to the 2,500 square feet Arif currently has.

“I’m hiring two new attorneys because the immigration world is exploding,” Arif said.

Among other things, his firm helps immigrants on the path to citizenship.

“It’s the hardest topic in America right now,” Arif said.

The firm will move the first week of October.

Arif said he’s looking for a tenant similar to his business to take the remaining space.

He said he’s put a lot of work into the building, which has been vacant for several years.

That includes a new patio and garden space for employees to enjoy.

Arif said if you saw the building before what it looks like now, “you’ll think it’s a new structure.”

“It’s just (a) dramatic difference.”