The timing may be a coincidence, with several Iola businesses opening (or reopening) within weeks of each other.
But that activity also brings a palpable sense of enthusiasm, notes Jonathan Goering of Thrive Allen County.
Goering serves as Thrive’s economic development director for Iola, Allen County and Humboldt, and has watched — and occasionally assisted — as several businesses have opened this summer.
The fun started when the owners of Yates Center’s Vaqueros Mexican Restaurant decided to open a second location, Vaqueros II, in the building formerly occupied by the Greenery and Inn Club.
That was followed in late May with Westco — which had been shuttered since last September after a torrential rain caused the furniture store’s building to collapse.
Rather than rebuild, Westco officials decided to relocate, to the old Country Mart and TG&Y spot along the same block.
Fast forward a few weeks to the opening of Iola’s newest cellular phone outlet, T-Mobile at 2100 N. State St., and the Corner Cafe, in the space formerly held by B&B Cafe.
More big plans are in the works. Crews are in the midst of remodeling the old Ken’s Pizza (and later Dudley’s Done Right BBQ) eatery so that Rookie’s Bar & Grill can relocate to North State as well.
Couple that with last week’s announcement that Jock’s Nitch will open a sports apparel store in downtown Iola, and the pending opening of Sharky’s, another restaurant for downtown Iola, and you can forgive Goering if he sounds a bit excited.
“There’s a real energy in the community,” he said. “But the thing that excites me is the influx of talent, and the variety of businesses. We’ve had a number of huge wins.”
WESTCO MAKES LEMONADE OUT OF A LEMON
There was a real danger Westco Home Furnishings was going to close up shop for good after a driving rain storm, and insufficient roof drainage, caused the store’s roof to collapse onto the showroom floor last fall.
Company officials weren’t certain that the owner of the shopping plaza in the 700 block of North State Street was going to rebuild.
Salesman Brek Ulrich was among the employees relocated to work out of Chanute until company officials decided what to do.
After several months of unsuccessfully finding a new location, Westco reached an agreement to move to another, larger section of the shopping plaza.
