Old Town in Wichita in Sedgwick County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Modern Cleaners / Dye Chile
1922
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
1. Modern Cleaners / Dye Chile Marker
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.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 37° 41.239′ N, 97° 19.663′ W. Marker is in Wichita, Kansas, in Sedgwick County. It is in Old Town. Marker is on Mosley near 1st Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is on the plaza immediately
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Oldtown Marketplace (here, next to this marker); Warehouse District (here, next to this marker); Riding the Rails (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company (here, next to this marker); Simmons Hardware Company / Hockaday Paint Company (here, next to this marker); Coleman Company (here, next to this marker); Union Station and the Santa Fe (here, next to this marker); Johnson-Frazier Building / Cox Produce Company (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita.
Also see . . . Oldtown Wichita History. (Submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
2. Modern Cleaners Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
3. Dye Chile Marker
Photographed By Dye Chile Co., undated
4. Ad Card on Dye Chile Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
5. Oldtown Markers at Museum of World Treasures Plaza
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
6. Dye Chile Co. Bldg Frontispiece
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
7. Dye Chile Company Building
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 627 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on June 17, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 6, 7. submitted on June 19, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
