The Love Family name holds weight in Wichita. It means great music — and it means great food.
Rudy Love Jr. is keeping the family’s musical legacy alive. Now, siblings Adrian “Bub” Love and Kiavoni Judie are stepping up to continue the family’s culinary tradition.
This September, the brother-and-sister duo will open Love & Co. Kitchen and Cocktails, following in the footsteps of their grandmother Ahnawake Love, who operated Mama Love’s Kitchen in the late 1990s.
While Mama Love’s offered classic soul food favorites — collard greens, fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and fried catfish — Love & Co. will serve what Judie calls “Modern Soul Food.”
“I want to prepare some of the same dishes our grandmother did,” said Judie, who will serve as head chef. “But not like a Sunday meal, where you had to go take a nap after. A little bit fresher, with some of the same flavors, because we don’t eat the same way we did back then.”
The dishes won’t necessarily be “upscale, upscale,” she adds, but they’ll be unique.
“You won’t feel like you’re eating something you could make at home. You’ll feel like you’re having an experience — on your plate and in the room.”
Judie’s Culinary Roots
Judie says her passion for cooking started in the kitchen at Mama Love’s.
She learned in the kitchen alongside her grandmother and aunts and quickly determined it was something she liked.
After Mama Love’s Kitchen closed, she went to culinary school and, after cooking a while at Chef Anthony Carr’s Restaurant 155 and Spoons, she joined the cooking team in Wichita State University’s international dorm.
Hired initially as a baker, she worked her way up to facility manager. She stayed until the dorms closed in 2017, learning under two experienced chefs, who showed her the ropes.
Taste Testing the Menu
As part of the ramp up to their opening, Love & Co. is previewing dishes through a series of exclusive events.
They held the first testing on Aug. 1. Next up are two ticketed events:
- Sat., Aug. 9: A 1990s/2000s R&B Brunch Taste Testing Party
- Sun., Aug. 10: A Wine Tasting Pre-Launch Event
These events are part of Judie’s strategy to test and refine the menu before launch.
Highlights from the Aug. 1 tasting included sample sizes of:
- Chicken lollipops on coleslaw, served with collard green–artichoke dip and cornbread chips
- Oven-roasted potato wedges and fried okra, paired with a spicy mayo-based sauce
- A take on beef Wellington: meatloaf in puff pastry, served with tomato-beef sauce
- A version of her mom’s ice cream pie, made with vanilla ice cream, an Oreo crumble crust, salted peanuts, and chocolate
Specialty Drinks & Sweet Sips
Adrian and a son have been developing a line of specialty lemonades, which will come in both regular and spiked varieties. These will be available through the restaurant’s drive-thru window, along with a curated selection of exotic teas and coffee.
The Location & the Vibe
The restaurant will be located at 1720 E. Douglas — just east of Hydraulic and across from Tanya’s Soup Kitchen. Still can’t find it? Look for the historic red rooster on the roof. Love has affectionately named him Lil’ Red.
The building, formerly home to The Donut Whole, features two distinct spaces:
- The front area, which they’ve transformed into a sultry red space with chandeliers and exotic lighting, offers an intimate dining vibe. Seating is limited to 73, so expect seats to be in high demand.
- The back area houses the bar and will also serve as a coffee and tea shop during the day. They’ll offer homemade baked goods for breakfast and lunch will also be available in this area. This side is brighter and more casual during the day, but for those who just want a cocktail, it offers an intimate space to mix and meet.
Family, Vision & Drive
While Judie handles the kitchen, Love is the out-front man. He’ll handle the front of the house, operations, the ambiance and the crowd. Judie, the older sibling by nine years, recognizes her brother’s added value.
“His mind is like a race car,” she says. “He’s always thinking of new ideas and finding the right people to bring them to life.”
Judie, who spent several years in and out of Wichita, began spending more time in town when mom Shirley Love became ill. After she passed in February, he committed to staying — and building something meaningful in her honor.
“The main thing is, we both want this so bad,” Judie said.
They both miss her immensely, but the added value in doing this together is they know she’d be proud.
What to Expect
Love & Co. may open in phases:
- They hope to begin drive-thru service for coffee, teas, and spiked lemonades around Labor Day
- They’re projecting a soft opening around Sept. 15
Planned Hours:
- Sunday through Thursday: 5 a.m. – midnight
- Fridays & Saturdays: Full kitchen open until 2 a.m.
- Saturday Brunch: As a weekly event
Pricing:
Main dishes will range from $15 to $55
