About Us
Brad and Brent Steven opened their first restaurant and bar, Backstage Bar & Grill in Wichita, Kansas in October 2004. They were mentored by the owner of a neighboring comedy club, from whom they learned a significant amount about the business. With their first business adventure, Brad and Brent knew it would be beneficial to their success if they knew how every aspect of the business was run. Therefore, they held every position from ground-up learning the restaurant business and how they could improve to grow for future endeavors. Three years later, they purchased a rock bar, Club Indigo, in a popular bar district in Wichita. The bar was rebranded and focused on the club scene bringing in DJ's from all over the country. Club Indigo eventually went through a massive remodel including an expanded rooftop bar. The club is now called Industry Old Town. The business has been so successful which allowed them to purchase the real estate in this historic Wichita bar district hot spot. In 2010, they opened Mike’s Wine Dive and built it up to have the largest wine selection in Wichita. Mike’s Wine Dive was an instant success, gaining awards such as the Best Wine List in Wichita. It was also recognized as a Restaurant Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator. They were one of only two restaurants in Wichita to win the award. After setting themselves apart from the pack, Mike’s Wine Dive was rebranded as Wine Dive. In 2016, it was upgraded to a Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. Only around 1,000 restaurants in 75 countries around the world have this two-glass award. In 2013, Brad and Brent opened The Hill Bar and Grill. They built this restaurant to have the largest beer selection in Wichita. This restaurant has also won several awards locally, most notably Best Sports Bar and Best Bar and Grill. In August 2017, they purchased the assets of a long-standing wine bar and restaurant in Manhattan, Kansas, and opened Wine Dive + Kitchen. In their first year running the restaurant, they were awarded a Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator. Other than the two Wine Dives they own, only two restaurants in the state of Kansas have earned that distinction.
More recently, in 2018, Brad and Brent opened Vora Restaurant European in Wichita, Kansas. Their highest end operation consists of a large patio and two private dining rooms. Their European focused wine list has earned the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. They recently purchased a property in the historic Massachusetts Street district in Lawrence, Kansas to open up their third Wine Dive location. It is expected to open summer 2022.
Brad Steven started in the hospitality industry early in his career, running health clubs from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, after the opening of his first business with his brother, Brad became more interested in high-end food and beverage. He started traveling to major cities to experience and taste food at fine dining establishments. He started to study to become a sommelier. He also had some interest in opening a wine bar with his brother, Brent. In 2010, they had their chance and opened Mike’s Wine Dive in Wichita, Kansas. In May 2011, Brad passed his Introductory Sommelier Course, overseen by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Brad continued to educate himself through travel, professional mentors, and books. His first trip to France was in October 2012. With the opening of a beer establishment, Brad became a Certified Beer Server through the Cicerone Certification Program in April 2014. In August 2014, Brad was made a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers. In September 2014, Brad was made a Certified Specialist of Wine by the Society of Wine Educators. Shortly after, he traveled to Canada and Italy. After these trips, he applied what he had learned to his restaurants’ food and beverage programs. In September 2015, Brad was invited to join fellow wine professionals across the United States on the Washington State Wine Road Trip. In March 2016, Brad was made a French Wine Scholar by the Wine Scholar Guild. Another trip to France was in store, during which Brad visited several regions to learn more about the food and beverage of each. Brad is a Member of the Société Mondiale du Vin USA and a Maitre Rôtisseur Member of the La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Wichita Bailliage. These gastronomic and wine societies are excellent for networking and have given Brad’s restaurants a reputation for having quality food and beverage. Every year, Brad takes ten day trips to France. He tours large areas of the country, learning about the food and beverage in each region.
Brent Steven graduated from Illinois State University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in Speech and Political Science with an emphasis on business in communications. During his four years at Illinois State, he also accomplished a full-ride scholarship playing tennis. From Brent’s college experience, he was able to learn customer service, strategic planning, leadership, and management. After graduation, Brent had a passion for restaurants, bars and nightclubs and decided to join his brother, Brad in the hospitality industry sharing his expertise and strengths with the financial aspect of the business. Brent now serves as the Steven Hospitality Group’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) where he is responsible for controlling costs, drafting reports and acquiring loans for all their businesses. He is finding ways to streamline operations, managing strategies and has a well-rounded knowledge of all facets of the business. Over the past 17 years, Brent has perfected how the hospitality industry should operate financially. Brent continues to learn by traveling and has visited five different continents. He has a passion for enjoying the best food and drinks in the world.
Jordan Howell graduated in 2011 from The University of Kansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Communications. In 2015, she received a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Northcentral University in Arizona. Jordan served as the Director of School Operations for a small private school in Wichita for 6 years where she used her strong organizational and leadership skills. Jordan decided to further her business career serving as the Business Development Director of Steven Hospitality Group owned by her two brothers, Brad and Brent Steven. In her free time, she loves traveling and experiencing food and drink staples from different cultures all over the world and spending time with her husband, Nicholas and son, Nico.