WICHITA — Talk about your good first impressions.
Iola’s Gabe and Myra Gleason, owners of Fillmore Coffeehouse and Plant Cafe, were recognized earlier this month by the Kansas Department of Commerce with a Merit Award of Excellence.
As a nominee in the retail/service division, the Gleasons were invited to an Oct. 12 ceremony in Wichita.
“It was great. We got to finally meet David Toland,” Gabe Gleason said.
Toland, an Iola native, is both Kansas lieutenant governor and commerce secretary.
The award came barely a year after Fillmore opened its doors in the fall of 2022.
Gleason noted neither he nor Myra are from southeast Kansas, making the award even more special.
“It’s not why we do this, but it was nice to feel that acknowledgement,” he said.
Also on hand for the ceremony was Jonathon Goering, former economic development director for Iola through his work at Thrive Allen County. Goering now works in economic development in the Wichita area.
