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When we started the concept of (3YUM6) we were honestly a little unsure how it would truly be structured. I had several ideas bouncing through my mind for several days while my wife scowled at me for wanting to start yet another thing as we were getting close to expecting our second baby. So far, it has been one podcast per baby, so if she gets the same size of family she grew up in - be prepared for six podcasts at some point in the near future! But in all seriousness, the world seemed to be our oyster as we embarked on this new adventure and I wanted to make sure we did it right. 

As you have been (hopefully) combing through this new platform of about a month, you are probably gleaning what our mission is all about on (3YUM6) - a different take on the local restaurants in the (316). My goal was (and still is) to bring several voices together to praise what our great city is known for - a variety and abundance of delicious restaurants and other food and beverage related services. But for my own personal goals, I wanted to share something that I think is missing from the Wichita scene completely - the stories of the people behind the scenes. And I want to bring these stories to life via a podcast (and corresponding blog). There are so many interesting people with sometimes wild backgrounds and I want to put the spotlight on these locals because of how inspiring they are. 

And that, my friends, is the perfect word to describe the guys behind Odd Fellow Hall - inspiring. We sat down with Jimmy Vo and Cody Lonergan, two of the owners at Odd Fellow Hall, a newish event venue and business space for any and all creators in the Wichita area located at 930 W Douglas Ave, Suite I. We wanted to not only hear the history of Odd Fellow Hall but also their stories about how they got to where they are today.

The hall was originally built in 1911 by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows - a fraternal group that began in England. At one point in time, there were on average eight halls in every state. It looks like today they are still worldwide from the United States to Canada to Europe to South America and others. According to their website, there are at least three still in Kansas with locations in Saint John, Great Bend, and Eudora. The Odd Fellows were apparently known very well for being a little weird/crazy, but also extremely friendly and welcoming to all. They were the first fraternal organization to include all races and also women. Their symbol is three rings tied together which stand for Friendship, Love, and Truth. And so Jimmy and Cody, along with the other owners of Odd Fellow Hall, thought that would be the perfect name to name their gathering hall - a place where all are welcome to share and create. Odd Fellow Hall is in the heart of Delano, and as Wichita Podcast fans will know, it was a lawless town before being incorporated by Wichita.

When you walk into Odd Fellow Hall, you are transported to a different time - one where there are somehow twenty foot vaulted ceilings on the second story of the 7th oldest building in Wichita. They have renovated the original hall in a few ways, with an entire kitchen and bar area ready for any event, but have kept all of the original structures and character intact. The hall has been used over the years for a variety of events - theater, ballroom gatherings, fine dining but also for immigration stations and baseball practices. The room screams Wichita history and if you are ever fortunate enough to attend an event there, you will be in for a serious treat.

But beyond the history of the building are the guys behind the hall. Jimmy Vo has been a dedicated farmer for over ten years. He is incredibly well-known around the Wichita food scene and is very well connected. He provides home grown products to several restaurants in town or at farmers’ markets with his company Kan-Grow. After graduating college he traveled the world but eventually, like many of us, found his way back to Wichita. You will be hard pressed to find someone who supports the local community in Wichita more than Jimmy and he is bringing that through the events they hold at Odd Fellow Hall. He also gave me some of his spicy dill pickles and let me tell you - maybe the best pickles I have ever eaten in my entire life.

Cody Lonergan is an artist and has found he can best express his creativity through the designing of cocktails and mixed drinks. He helps design and compliment local chefs’ creations with his drinks, pairing the styles and flavors to match not only the food palate but also matching the style of local musicians serenading the event goers. We got way more into the details of who they are on the podcast so check that out!

Odd Fellow Hall has a special place in my own heart and personal history, too. It is a place my ancestors gathered to further their own community involvement. If you walk into the correct part of the building today, you will find the below photo blown up on a wall from the 1930s. While I am not certain who is who in this photo, I have been told by several people that my own ancestors are in the photo and would frequent the hall for meetings. To think I can gather in a place today where my forefathers before me spent time is an incredible feeling and why I love Wichita so much.

You can hear the full episode, found on all your favorite podcast streaming platforms, but the main mission of Odd Fellow Hall is to open their doors to anybody in the local community who want to create. Odd Fellow Hall is open for weddings and other events for the public to book, but they also hold their own events for the public to come enjoy local talent through eating, drinking, and music. You can check out all their events here.  Just like the group of individuals who originally built the hall, Odd Fellow is open to all those who support friendship, love, and truth - and of course, Wichita.