Barbecue restaurant opens downtown

Lawrence residents Yale Baker and Shad Woodworth recently opened Vermont Street BBQ, 805 Vt.

Baker said the duo began the carry-out and delivery-only restaurant to tap into the downtown lunch crowd and to give Lawrence residents an easy way to pick up Kansas City-style barbecue.

Baker is a former Lawrence pizza delivery driver, and Woodworth is a graduate of a Portland, Ore., culinary school. That combination, Baker said, should serve the business well.

“I know the delivery business, and Shad knows how to cook,” Baker said. “We hope to be able to carve out a nice niche by being able to deliver.”

The business, which has 12 employees, offers beef, turkey, pork and sausage menu items. Prices range from about $5 to $12. Hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. The site previously was home to Mojo’s, which relocated to 714 Vt. about 14 months ago.

Wichita: Airbus to double jobs

European aircraft maker Airbus plans to expand its engineering facility in Wichita, more than doubling its staff during the next few months from 65 to more than 140.

The Wichita engineering staff works on the wing design for the 555-passenger Airbus A380, as well as some work on the A340.

“We’ve been doing a good job for them,” said Bill Greer, vice president for Airbus North American Engineering.

Airbus, the main competitor of Chicago-based Boeing Co. in the world market for major commercial aircraft, opened its Wichita office in March.

Wall Street: Earnings of area interest

Kansas City Mo.-based H&R Block on Tuesday reported a loss of 5 cents per share in the first quarter compared to a loss of 17 cents per share during the same period a year ago. Company officials credited an increase in mortgage business for the stronger-than-expected results.

Atchison-based Midwest Grain declared an annual dividend of 15 cents per share payable Nov. 5.