When Mark and Phoebe Davenport were in Hutchinson about a year ago looking at the Plaza Towers and Leon Apartments buildings, which they eventually purchased, they also took a tour of the historic Hoke Building a block to the south.
Most of the four-story building, erected in 1910 as a downtown office building, has been vacant for more than 50 years and it shows, with crumbling plaster ceilings, grime-coated floors and deteriorating plywood in the windows.
“Mark stumbled across the listing,” Phoebe said. “At the time, we felt like it was more than we could bite off.”
But building owner and Realtor Jim Davis, who bought the building in 2004 as an investment property and got it listed in 2011 on both the state and national register of historic places, circled back.
Business briefs
Business Strategy Webinar set for Reno County Businesses
A live webinar for business owners in Reno County in March will help position independent businesses for accelerated success as the nation continues to deal with the global coronavirus pandemic.
“Covid-19 Business Strategy: Making Your Business a Consumer Destination,” conducted by internationally known business consultant Jon Schallert will be broadcast from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 23.
Registered participants can submit questions to Schallert during the event.
“There are very specific steps that independent businesses must take right now to start recouping sales, generating additional revenue, and positioning themselves for a successful 2021, while still being safe,” Schallert says. “These steps can help businesses make up lost ground and position their businesses to thrive during this year, regardless of what the pandemic throws at us.”
There, patrons create decorative vintage-style signs during brief workshops, often with a little liquid encouragement.
The idea of opening a franchise lingered in her mind and following a recent change in employment – and with the help of a pair of state and local grants – the Hutchinson-native is pursuing the vision.
Nowlan, a licensed cosmetologist since 2003, will keep her day job as an independent hairstylist, but operate the new business at 115 S. Main, just south of Avenue A Park, on evenings and weekends.
A grand opening is set for 2 to 4 p.m., March 13, as a come-and-go event.
“I grew up in Hutchinson,” Nowlan said. “We lived in Virginia for seven years, where my husband served in mortuary affairs for the U.S. Army. I owned a salon there, but I thought, as our kids started to get older, that we needed to move home.”
CKC, HCF and StartUp Hutch report grant news
By The News staff
Grant to help complete Meadowlark Trail
The Central Kansas Conservancy announced it has received a grant through the Gannett Foundation’s “A Community Thrives Challenge” to help complete the Meadowlark Trail between McPherson and Lindsborg.
To receive the grant, the organization had to demonstrate community support through donations through a four-week fundraiser campaign that started in September and ended in the second week of October.
Being a competitive grant, the organization had to compete in a tier of 350 other organizations. The CKC’s goal was $7,000; however, they surpassed that goal by $9,300, bringing the total amount raised to $16,300.