by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — “The Rock” Steakhouse and Clubhouse 3 Nightclub closed their doors for good this week, ending a 14 month business venture in Wellington which reopened the old “Wellington Steakhouse” facility temporarily.

Tudy McCreary said a lack of business was the main reason for the closure. She will continue to operate “Neives” Mexican Restaurant on E. Ninth in Winfield. 

The Wellington Steakhouse and Steakhouse Motel business closed abruptly in the summer of 2010 after approximately 15 years of business on the location of Western Sizzlin which burned in 1993.

Hasu Bhakta of Wichita bought the facility and Wellington civic leaders scrambled to find some tenants.

McCreary, who once owned a restaurant called “Cornejo’s” in downtown Wellington, told Newscow.net in the summer of 2011 that community leaders in Wellington approached her about opening the restaurant at the motel- which has long been home of a popular banquet hall, steakhouse and a bar once called the Roundup Room.

She along with her nephew, former Detroit Tigers pitcher Nate Cornejo, opened the facility in September of 2011 after renovating the building.

The new restaurant featured upscale American food. McCreary said she didn’t want to go with Mexican food as it would be competition to her other restaurant in Winfield.

Despite her success with the two previous restaurants, this restaurant struggled to catch hold she said. In November, she launched a new menu for Fridays and Saturdays with “The Chefs of Sysco”

However on Dec. 22 she officially announced the closing of both businesses.

“We’ll sell off the equipment,” McCreary said.