1922

Modern Cleaners

Larkspur Restaurant

No. 904-906 E. Douglas

1903-1922

The building located on East Douglas housed a series of businesses; first, James C. Smyth Hide Co., then Beacon Tire, and, in 1922, Modern Cleaners.

Dye Chile

No. 120 N. Mosley

For almost seven decades, William A. Dye was known as the "Chili King of the West." He built his international business on imported spices and peppers with Wichita as his headquarters.

During WWI, he gave American soldiers in Europe free samples and a spicy reminder of home. Such marketing techniques created a need for expansion. In 1923, Dye moved his Dye's Chile Mixture and Jobber of Mexican Chile manufacturing business to 120 N. Mosley.

W.A. Dye - Wichita's Chile King was a grocer who became a fast-food entrepreneur with his chili.

"Juan the Chili Kid" was Dye's company trademark. Dye created many of his company's sales slogans.

Marker is on Mosley near 1st Street, on the left when traveling north.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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