Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, is the city's vibrant heart, with Massachusetts Street (Mass Street) at its iconic core. However, the importance of downtown Lawrence extends beyond the confines of Mass Street, being essential to the city's identity, economic vitality, and, whether you like it or not, Lawrence's growth. While Mass Street remains central to Lawrence's character, the downtown area has expanded, incorporating new developments, diverse businesses, and more residential housing that contribute to its dynamic atmosphere.
Mass Street, with its historic charm and unique blend of local businesses, serves as Lawrence's cultural and social hub, where residents and visitors come together to immerse themselves in the city's special mix of creativity, history, and community spirit. The preservation of its historic buildings and the presence of independent shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues on Mass Street provide a sense of continuity with a link to Lawrence's past and a path to its future. However, downtown Lawrence is more than Mass Street. The area has expanded, with new developments and businesses sprouting up in the surrounding blocks, contributing to the growth and diversification of the downtown economy. This expansion reflects the city's adaptability and commitment to fostering a vibrant urban environment. Areas like the Warehouse Arts District and other nearby neighborhoods are now integral parts of the downtown landscape, offering new opportunities for business, culture, and community activity.
Downtown Lawrence is a destination place, somewhere to meet up or go on a walk. Wander through the eclectic shops on Mass Street. Learn Lawrence's storied past and historical role at the Watkins Historical Museum. Visit the Lawrence Public Library (16th place in the top 50 libraries in America). Stroll down the brick-lined streets of Old West Lawrence and marvel at the beautifully preserved historic homes. Nature and outdoor activities are accessible right in the heart of downtown Lawrence, where you can walk along the streets, bike or hike the trails along the Kaw River and Lawrence Loop, or, during the summer, enjoy a swim at the Outdoor Aquatic Center. Visit art galleries from Mass St to the East Lawrence Warehouse Arts district, where public art is showcased everywhere.
The vitality of the entire downtown area is not just a matter of aesthetics but a key driver of Lawrence's economic growth. As downtown expands, it attracts a broader range of businesses, visitors and residents, increasing foot traffic and boosting local commerce. The growth of downtown Lawrence supports traditional retail and dining, creative industries, technology firms, and other innovative enterprises. This diversification strengthens the city's economy, making it more resilient and competitive.
As we all have a stake in the local economy, it's important to remember that each of our advertisers is a part of our local economy. We encourage you to consider them first before looking elsewhere for your needs. Whenever possible, choose to shop locally and resist the temptation to order online. If you find something online, see if one of our local businesses has it. We know they would appreciate the business - our local businesses are the heart of our community.
When we Shop Local - Shop Baldwin, Eudora, Lecompton, and Lawrence (and use Local Services) - we are supporting those businesses, giving back to our community, and building a future together.
Sincerely,
Ann Frame Hertzog Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Chief Photographer/Publisher
Lawrence
ON THE COVER
Copy
Contributing
Contributing
Emily
Photos by Steven Hertzog
LAWRENCE & DOUGLAS CO IN PERSPECTIVE [ ]
Rolling Out The Red Carpet
The Lawrence community in 1940 welcomed with open arms legends like John Wayne and Gene Autry at the world premiere of their movie based on Quantrill’s Raid.
by
Pat Michaelis, Ph.D., Historical Research & Archival Consulting photos provided by Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum of History
“Hollywood Comes to Lawrence” was the title in the Lawrence Journal World advertisements promoting the world premiere of “Dark Command,” a movie loosely based on Quantrill’s Raid on Lawrence in 1863. The stars of the film, John Wayne, Walter Pidgeon, Gene Autry and others arrived in Lawrence on April 3, 1940, via the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. It was estimated they were greeted by 15,000 fans at the railroad station, then moving to Massachusetts Street and taking over downtown. The Lawrence Journal World described the arrival as follows:
A gang of Hollywood celebrities, armed with only smiles and personality, raided Lawrence today, a far cry from the day 77 years ago when Quantrill and his mob swooped down on the city with their guns roaring. Instead of rifle and pistol shots, a Hollywood-staged aerial bombardment heralded the arrival of the five-car special train at the Santa Fe station. There were several differences in today’s raid from that of Quantrill—today’s was noisier, but not so bloody. In fact, the reddest thing about today’s raid were the lips and cheeks of the movie pretties who came for the world premiere of “Dark Command.”
Obviously, the author of this article enjoyed the opportunity to write in a more expressive style rather than the more matter-of-fact journalistic style. Lawrence schoolchildren were dismissed from school so they could participate in welcoming the movie stars. The Lawrence High School band was on a special platform, but their music was almost drowned out by the cheers of the fans. A Hollywood special effects man produced an aerial bombardment to add to the fanfare.
Gene Autry was the first to climb to the temporary stage. He waved his white cowboy hat. The newspaper described his outfit as “a heavy wool jacket with white, red and yellow stripes; a white shirt with two carnations embroidered on it; rust-colored trousers; and a pair of boots inlaid with various colors.” Each of the actors was introduced. Walter Pidgeon, wearing a blue chalk-striped suit, told the crowd: “Just because I played the part of Quantrill in the picture, I didn’t burn your city, so don’t handle me too roughly.” He was a favorite of the women in the crowd.
Gabby Hayes, bewhiskered as always, commented: “This is more people than I ever saw before in one place and I’s sort of scared.” John Wayne, who played the part of the town marshal, was a fan favorite, and he signed autographs on hats, algebra books and pieces of paper. He even signed his name to a baby’s white shoe that had been handed to him by the baby’s mother.
“Dark Command” premiere at Dickinson Theater on Mass St. April 3, 1940
The celebrities were greeted by the mayor of Lawrence and the president of the Chamber of Commerce. They spoke to the crowd over a public address system, and their comments were broadcast over WREN, a Topeka radio station. The actors were then transported to the Eldridge Hotel to wait until the parade. A list from the Eldridge House gave the room numbers for each of the celebrities, though the room numbers may have changed since 1940. The director of the movie, Raoul Walsh, was in Room 335. Gene Autry and his wife were in Rooms 322 and 324; and John Wayne was in Room 234. Walter Pidgeon, the best known of the actors, was in room 323.
A parade was scheduled for at 2 p.m. April 4 and started at Eleventh and Massachusetts streets. It was estimated that the parade would last for two hours. Gene Autry was the grand marshal, and his horse was decked out in a $2500 saddle, bridle and breast collar. Parade participants included 23 vehicles from the Cavalcade of American Transportation Museum at Fort Leavenworth, marching bands from The University of Kansas (KU), Haskell University and Lawrence senior and junior high schools. The 2-mile-long parade included 75 vehicles, 400 horses and approximately 750 people in period costumes. KU Chancellor D. W. Malott and Lawrence mayor C. B. Russell represented local officials. Walter Pidgeon was escorted by two KU coeds. Numerous styles of horse-drawn wagons, including a Conestoga pulled by a six-mule team, were featured in the parade, which concluded with 200 horses in lines of two and miniature Santa Fe and Union Pacific trains.
Following the parade, the burning of a replica of the Eldridge House occurred at South Park. More than 15,000 people viewed the blaze, created by Hollywood “Blondie” Anderson. Beams from large searchlights
few minutes. Many in the audience were startled by the intensity of the fire, which was over in 15 minutes. William Saal, a special representative of Republic Studios, which created “Dark Command,” introduced the stars of the movie from the balcony of the replica Eldridge House. A pageant was part of the festivities, and a narrator described the events of the raid. He told of a small band of defenders camped at the edge of Lawrence and of the arrival of the raiders galloping from the east. After a shot was fired, the raiders entered the park. As the reenactor playing Quantrill rode up to the Eldridge House, he ordered the stripping of jewels and other valuables from the guests. The “guerrillas” set fire to the hotel, and the heat from the fire caused some of the “dead” defenders to move away from the scene. The crowd then headed to The Granada and Dickinson Theatres to view the premiere of the film, the reason for all of the excitement in Lawrence that day.
In an additional effort to promote the film and Republic Studios, Gene Autry visited the junior and senior high schools. About 300 junior high students filled the auditorium to hear Autry sing, and one of their own students served as his accompanist. The same occurred at the high school where Autry sang, accompanied by a local student.
“The Duke” John Wayne riding in the parade for The Dark Command parade Vintage poster for The Dark Command”
Autry described the process of making musical westerns to the students. He wore his iconic white cowboy hat, blue trousers and brightly colored boots and jacket. He told his young audiences that the men riding horseback in these movies was not fake. Roads or a track on the movie set were graded, and oil or water was used to keep down the dust. He explained that a camera car followed beside the riders and filmed the action. He said his horse had been clocked at 40 to 45 miles per hour.
Autry stayed in Lawrence an extra day to promote his latest movie, “Rancho Grande,” and met with fans on The Granada stage during the Friday matinee and the evening showing. Autry placed an ad in the Lawrence Journal World stating he “would like to meet each and everyone of you while I’m at The Granada, and I hope that you will bring the kiddies.”
Lawrence reacted to the world premiere of “Dark Command” with enthusiasm. Thousands met the special Santa Fe train that brought the actors to Lawrence. Autograph seekers filled the streets. The city rolled out the “red carpet” with a two-hour parade in its honor. This world premiere was one of the community highlights of 1940. p
Lawrence welcomes Hollywood stars for “The Dark Command” premiere
What is your organization’s most important priority?
eXplore Lawrence represents the travel and tourism industry for Lawrence and Douglas County. We are dedicated to creating economic development opportunities to benefit the local economy by attracting diverse visitors, groups and events to the city. Our organization is proud to partner with the many incredible community attractions, hotels, venues and others that make Lawrence vibrant.
eXplore Lawrence’s values are to be friendly and inclusive, authentic and diverse, and proactive and collaborative. As an organization, eXplore Lawrence strives to increase hotel occupancy and visitor spending, increase visitation to Lawrence and market to other communities such as Chicago, Denver or Wichita to get new and returning visitors to our community. We strive to support and collaborate with community partners to increase tourism.
photo by Steven Hertzog
What have been some of the most important aspects of your success?
The most critical part of our mission is increasing the economic impact of visitors for Douglas County. That includes transient guest tax collections from visitors staying in our hotels and earning new business through sporting tournaments and meetings, as well as leisure travelers who come for the day or spend the night but positively impact sales tax and food and beverage tax collections. We work on behalf of all tourism businesses in the county, including but not limited to hotels, restaurants, retail stores and museums. Our work is funded by visitors to Lawrence and is used to recruit more visitors to Lawrence.
How many people does eXplore Lawrence employ? Serve, interact with on a daily basis and are responsible to?
eXplore Lawrence has nine employees who are all tourism champions and experts in their field. We have three employees at our Visitors Center, 812 Massachusetts St., welcoming over 8,000 annual visitors into the space to share local information and recommendations, provide visitor resources and be a friendly, welcoming space for all in Downtown Lawrence.
How do you and your organization make a positive impact on the Lawrence community?
I think our annual report showcases so many of the things we do for this community. Those highlights include visitor spending increasing 13% from 2021 to 2022 and visitor activity supporting 30.5 million in state and local tax revenues in 2022. We also have seen significant growth on our website through our marketing campaigns. Our users and page views have almost doubled from 2022 to 2023, we have earned almost 13.5 million digital impressions annually, and we continue to increase awareness about our community and all of the tourism assets it offers. Our sales team has booked over 41 leads in the last year, which has led to over $1.4 million in economic impact.
What do you see as your personal responsibility and your organization’s responsibility to the community?
eXplore Lawrence takes pride in assisting in setting Douglas County up for long-term financial success. Our work increases the amount of visitor spending in the county, which leads to supporting our residents, local businesses and the success of our community. The success of the tourism economy affects every industry. Personally, I take the responsibility of strategically reinvesting visitor dollars in marketing and sales efforts to support our diverse small businesses that comprise the visitor economy very seriously. Tourism in Lawrence relies on our small business community. I think of this work as the serious business of economic development disguised as fun.
What is the role and what is eXplore Lawrence doing to focus on Downtown Lawrence? What is the role of Downtown Lawrence to Lawrence in its entirety?
eXplore Lawrence and Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI) have a collaborative relationship. I serve in an ex officio role on the DLI Board of Directors, and DLI has an ex offisio seat on our board. That ensures we are both working together and amplifying each other’s work.
Downtown’s role as the heart of the city is apparent in our marketing and sales efforts. We market Downtown Lawrence as a premier shopping, dining and events destination. We bring travel writers to Downtown Lawrence to increase the reach and showcase downtown to more visitors. We highlight Downtown Lawrence as a destination for events in our visitors guide, on our website at explorelawrence.com and to meeting planners looking to host events or give attendees free time to explore the community. We market downtown as a “can’t miss” experience if you are in Lawrence. p
The Lawrence Restaurant Association:
The Lawrence Restaurant Association (LRA) is an assembly of commercial restaurant owners, executive chefs and hospitality industry professionals dedicated to the prosperity of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas. This collaborative effort aims to uplift hospitality industry workers, our community, the local economy and the environment through various funds, grants and community support programs. The LRA’s story is one of grassroots organization and impactful community service, making it a vital component of the local business landscape.
Origins and Mission
The LRA began as an informal gathering of like-minded individuals in 2017. Recognizing the need for a unified voice and coordinated efforts within the hospitality sector, these meetings gradually evolved into a more structured organization by 2020. The formation of the LRA was driven by a shared vision: to create a supportive network that champions the interests of small businesses and hospitality workers while fostering a thriving, sustainable community.
At its core, the LRA is committed to advocacy, information-sharing and programming that benefits all stakeholders in the hospitality industry. By promoting best practices, offering professional development opportunities and facilitating networking among members, the LRA aims to strengthen the industry’s foundation in Douglas County.
by Laura Klein, photos by Steven Hertzog and Emily Johnson
Laura Klein, owner-Mass
Street Fish House Hospitality workers working their magic at Mass St Fish House
Supporting Our Community and Industry
Pandemic Response and Ongoing Support
One of the LRA’s most notable achievements is its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic struck, the LRA quickly organized a school lunch program in collaboration with local businesses. This initiative was a testament to the community’s resilience and willingness to support one another during challenging times. The program operated seven days a week, delivering 2,500 meals per day and totaling more than 96,000 meals served. This effort not only addressed immediate food insecurity but also showcased the power of collective action.
In addition to the school lunch program, the LRA established the Hospitality Workers Relief Fund (HWRF) in 2020. This fund was created to provide direct aid to unemployed and underemployed service industry workers affected by the pandemic. Since its inception, the HWRF has distributed over $260,000 to more than 720 hospitality workers, assisting with essential expenses such as groceries, gas, utilities and housing. The fund’s impact extends beyond financial support; it has provided stability and hope to many during uncertain times.
Sustaining the Hospitality Workers Relief Fund
The LRA is committed to maintaining the HWRF beyond the resolution of the pandemic. Recognizing that financial hardships can arise unexpectedly, the fund will continue to offer emergency aid to hospitality workers facing unforeseen challenges. This ongoing commitment ensures that the fund remains a vital safety net for the industry.
In addition to direct financial assistance, the HWRF supports other community causes, such as hunger relief and food waste reduction. The LRA’s dedication to these initiatives reflects its broader mission to enhancing the well-being of Douglas County residents.
Community Partnerships
The LRA’s success is bolstered by strong partnerships with local organizations that provide critical services to hospitality workers. Current partners include the Ballard Center, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Centro Hispano Resource Center and Heartland Community Health Center. These organizations receive HWRF grant funds to directly support hospitality workers with child care, health care, counseling and utility and rent assistance. By collaborating with these partners, the LRA ensures that workers have access to comprehensive support services, addressing their diverse needs and promoting overall well-being.
Annual Programs and Fundraisers
To promote member restaurants and raise funds for the Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, the LRA organizes two key annual events: Lawrence Restaurant Week and the Lawrence Cocktail Trail.
Lawrence Restaurant Week is a highly anticipated event that showcases the culinary talents of our member restaurants. This weeklong celebration provides an opportunity for residents and visitors to enjoy special menus and unique dining experiences, highlighting the diverse and vibrant food scene in Lawrence. The event not only boosts business for participating restaurants but also serves as a significant fundraiser for the HWRF, helping to support hospitality workers in need.
The Lawrence Cocktail Trail is another popular program that encourages community members to explore the creative cocktail offerings of local bars and restaurants. Participants can enjoy exclusive drinks crafted by our talented local bartenders while supporting a great cause. Proceeds from the Cocktail Trail contribute directly to the HWRF, ensuring that the fund can continue to provide vital assistance to hospitality workers facing financial hardships.
Future Goals and Vision
Looking ahead, the LRA is focused on expanding its reach and impact within the community. Future goals include increasing membership, enhancing advocacy efforts and developing new programs that address emerging challenges in the hospitality industry. The LRA plans to continue fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose among its members, encouraging collaboration and innovation.
Additionally, the LRA is committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship. By promoting practices that reduce food waste and support local agriculture, the association aims to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable community. These efforts align with the LRA’s broader vision of creating a thriving hospitality sector that benefits everyone in Douglas County.
Advocating for a Diverse Industry
The hospitality industry is the second largest employer in Douglas County, yet it comprises a diverse patchwork of individually owned businesses. The LRA seeks to represent this diverse collective by engaging with city and county officials, providing avenues for our membership to connect and share information, and advocating for our industry and its workforce. By ensuring that the unique needs and perspectives of small businesses are heard, the LRA plays a crucial role in shaping policies that support the growth and sustainability of the local hospitality sector.
The Lawrence Restaurant Association is more than just a professional organization; it aims to be a beacon of support and solidarity for the hospitality industry in Lawrence and Douglas County. From its humble beginnings to its current role as a community leader, the LRA exemplifies the power of collaboration and community spirit. By continuing to advocate for small businesses, support hospitality workers and invest in the local economy and environment, the LRA is helping to shape a brighter future for all. p
“Problem
Karen Willey, PhD is a geographer, entrepreneur, volunteer firefighter, community board member, and mom, running for re-election to Douglas County Commission District 3.
An Expanding Landscape
Businesses in and around Downtown Lawrence have different views about what its boundaries are and should be, but they will continue contributing to its success long into the future.
by
Where is one place in every city or town community members can go to eat, play, shop and just hang out? The place one might consider the social and economic fabric of a community, its heartbeat. In Lawrence, that would be downtown. From shopping to eating to getting coffee to hitting the clubs, community members here feel a sense of pride when spending time on Massachusetts Street.
The heart of Downtown Lawrence, Mass. Street (as locals call it) and the streets flanking it are home to more than 400 businesses—including shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, galleries, museums—many of them locally owned. The National Trust for Historic Preservation ranked Lawrence among its “Dozen Most Distinctive Destinations,” calling it one of the best-preserved and most unique communities in America, according to the Unmistakably Lawrence website. Parade magazine named it “the most popular tourist destination in Kansas.” Travel + Leisure included The Bourgeois Pig, 6 E. Ninth St., on its list of the “10 Greatest College Town Coffee Shops in America.” Four locally owned downtown restaurants were named in the Top 10 Restaurants in Kansas by culturetrip.com. Since its founding in 1854, Downtown Lawrence has remained a flourishing, diverse, historic Midwest staple. Most thriving downtowns like this have several things in common: successful businesses, engaged citizens, cultural and community events, a vibrant nightlife, historical attractions. Having a designated downtown contributes to the quality of life of its community members by bringing in revenue and keeping it in town, supporting local families and businesses, and engaging in community projects. It offers the community a sense of place, of pride.
Tara Trenary, photos by Steven Hertzog
Kristin Eldridge, with friends at Bon Bon!
Andrew Holt (DLI) with Reanna and Chad Slagl-owners of Jody’s Market
The Town Hub
“Your downtown is still the business center and gathering center for the community,” explains Andrew Holt, executive director at Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI). “With its historical buildings, it is the link to the city’s history and identity. Now more than ever, downtowns serve as the front porch for cities and communities.”
The preservation of contiguous historic buildings with active storefronts is not common these days in downtowns, he continues. “We are so fortunate to have streets and streets of activity taking place in a historic environment that shows off our history and identity. And it is a healthy mix of retail, dining and entertainment, and growing residential: the magical combo.”
Holt believes the presence of an established, thriving major university on downtown’s doorstep, with students and families easily walking down into the core of downtown and all framed by beautiful parks and neighborhoods, is key. “In addition, there are so many vital businesses and groups that are consistently putting on fun events and promotions. In other downtowns, the downtown association is tasked with developing massive events to try to drive people downtown. Here, the organizations, businesses and others are already doing that.”
With the national workforce leaning more toward being remote, he says people can now decide where they want to work based on where they want to live, not where companies are headquartered. “So they choose a place where they can find the best quality of life. Downtowns historically were the public meeting space, the town square, and downtowns still most effectively serve that purpose today.”
Codi Bates, owner of Bon Bon!, 804 Pennsylvania St., Cider Gallery, 810 Pennsylvania St., and The Burger Stand at the Casbah, 803 Massachusetts St., agrees. “A downtown serves as the heart of a community, offering a central location where people gather, shop, dine and socialize,” she explains. “It is often the cultural and economic hub that reflects the town’s identity and history.”
She says downtown areas bring people together and foster a sense of community and belonging, while also attracting tourism and investment, and driving local economic growth.
“Having a downtown in a community is important because it brings people and businesses together, especially with all of the events that happen downtown, such as farmers markets, concerts, etc.,” says Kristin Spacek, owner of Owens Flower Shop, 846 Indiana St. “ The majority of downtown is made up of locally owned businesses, too, which is amazing. A downtown provides an inclusive place for individuals and families to gather and grow.”
Kristin Spacek-Owen’s Flowers
Lawrence Beer Company in East Lawrence
Downtown Districts
There are several distinct areas in and around Downtown Lawrence, but which areas are actually considered a part of downtown may well depend on who you talk to.
Massachusetts Street, along with New Hampshire and Vermont streets bordering it on each side, are what most people recognize as the official streets of Downtown Lawrence. The 600 to 1200 blocks of Mass. Street are listed on the National Register of Historical Places under Lawrence’s Historical District. Most of the buildings along the route were built between 1856 and 1953. The diversity of shopping, dining and entertainment in this area makes it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Unique shops, local boutiques, restaurants, live music venues, historic buildings and parks add to the charm of this section of downtown.
The Warehouse Arts District, east of Mass. Street, emerged from the revitalization of old industrial warehouses that were repurposed to house studios, galleries, restaurants, a brewery, small businesses and residential spaces, Bates explains. The transformation has preserved the historic character of the buildings while infusing them with new life and purpose. “Its proximity to Downtown Lawrence, with Ninth Street serving as a connecting point, makes it such a great bonus area for folks to explore while out and about downtown.”
She says the district is a testament to Lawrence’s commitment to supporting the arts and fostering a creative community. “Its blend of historic charm, artistic expression and modern living makes it a unique and cherished part of the city, drawing both locals and visitors to experience its vibrant atmosphere.”
Ninth Street, a direct line from west to east landing directly in Downtown Lawrence, has local businesses scattered along its north and south sides, and butts right up to the University of Kansas (KU). Businesses like these—locally owned that prioritize community and cater to the eclectic vibe of Lawrence—are essential to a downtown setting, Spacek explains. “We’ve had success over the years by providing quality service and product with a positive customer-service approach. Our location is ideal because it adds to our friendly, local, smallbusiness energy.”
Maximo & Angela Cruz-Burrito King
Lawrence Public Library
SIgnage for North Lawrence Flowers, fountain and band stand in South Park
Blurred Boundaries
The official borders of Downtown Lawrence, according to Downtown Lawrence Inc., are Kentucky Street on the west, the Kansas River on the north, Rhode Island Street on the east and South Park on the south. Also included are Ninth Street from Mississippi Street on the west and Delaware Street on the east; Seventh Street from Kentucky Street on the west and New Jersey Street on the east; Massachusetts Street including the bridge on the north to 19th Street on the south; and North Second Street from the bridge to Lyon Street on the north.
But not everyone sees downtown in this way.
“Some may view downtown as the core commercial area along Massachusetts Street, while others include the surrounding neighborhoods and cultural districts,” Bon Bon!’s Bates explains. “Officially, downtown may have specific boundaries defined by city planning, but the community’s view can be more expansive, encompassing areas that contribute to the downtown atmosphere.”
Holt says DLI likes to take a broader view of what it constitutes the boundaries of Downtown Lawrence are today. “Certainly Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, from 14th Street north to that beginning section of North Second is identified by everyone. But we also consider the Warehouse Arts District as part of downtown and also heading west on Ninth Street to Maine Street,” he explains. “There is some growth still needed in viewing the Warehouse District and the further reaches of Ninth Street, but both are heavily traveled by both groups via walking and car.”
However, some businesses in parts of those “unofficial” downtown areas don’t always feel included.
“The downtown boundaries should officially include Massachusetts Street and the surrounding areas within a comfortable walking distance,” Owens’ Spacek says. “Doing so would give surrounding businesses a better chance at being included in event advertising and general visibility, which would help the Lawrence economy.”
She says she personally considers Owens and businesses around her on Ninth Street a part of the downtown community because they are so close to the main section of downtown. “Since we are located in Old West Lawrence, it is within walking distance to downtown.”
And she believes downtown is larger than simply Mass. Street. “Massachusetts Street is definitely the hub of Lawrence downtown, and then everything within walking distance from Mass. is included.”
Bates believes the Warehouse Arts District is an essential part of downtown, because “together, our businesses enhance Downtown Lawrence’s appeal by offering diverse dining and cultural experiences, supporting local talent and fostering a sense of community.”
Angelina Cruz, owner of Burrito King, 900 Illinois St., and the upcoming Ninth Street Café, 602 W. Ninth St., says Ninth Street could play a big part in downtown if it were included in local events. “It’s growing. Little businesses are trying to pop up here. I’d like for that to be recognized.”
She believes people in Lawrence love mom ‘n’ pop shops like hers because they have the best food. “Burrito King is legendary. I love that there’s old-school and new-school coming into Ninth. There’s really good food here. There are a lot of self-owned businesses.”
What she doesn’t like is not being included when local events such as parades and street sales are held downtown. “Anything that goes on downtown, we don’t get notified. We are not asked to contribute. Ninth Street is a major portal to downtown, even more so than Sixth. But we don’t get recognized. It would be cool if we got our street lit up with lights.”
Cruz believes community members include Vermont and New Hampshire streets in downtown, but not Ninth Street. “When I tell people my location, I don’t say downtown, I say Ninth. If you say downtown, they’re going downtown.”
She also believes bringing the KU area, in which Burrito King is located, and downtown closer together could help bridge a gap between students and downtown businesses. “Burrito King has the advantage of being close to the students. They eat morning, noon and night, and then some,” she says.
Living the Dream
Coming from other communities, Holt says, and talking with his colleagues across the country, he cannot emphasize enough what a treasure the community has here in Lawrence. “Other downtowns, gutted by the urban sprawl and mall mania of the ’80s and ’90s, could only hope to dream of what we have in Lawrence.”
He points out that Lawrence is incredibly fortunate to not only have KU and Haskell, but to have KU right on the doorstep of downtown. “I have done this type of work in cities that do not have a four-year university. There is a marked difference.”
He also believes there’s tremendous potential for growth here. “Inherently, downtowns foster a sense of community, they enhance our connection with our fellow residents, they create a sense of who we are. Some downtowns have lost their sense of place and are struggling mightily to reclaim it or create anew. Lawrence happily does not have that problem. When you are in Downtown Lawrence, you get a definite sense of what Lawrence is all about and who we are as a community.” p
Destination Downtown
The economic, cultural and social benefits of the many events held in Downtown Lawrence can’t be understated.
by Mike Anderson, photos by Jeff Burkhead, Steven Hertzog, Peaty Romero and Ann Dean
JenniferMcKnight-ownerofArizonaTradingCo.
Codi Bates-Owner (with Simon) of Bon Bon!, The Burger Stand, and the Cider Gallery
director-Downtown Lawrence, Inc
From parades and concerts to jugglers and fiddlers, Downtown Lawrence has a wide array of events held throughout the year. These diverse events aim to bring people together, foster connections and create a sense of belonging. What groups like Main Street America and International Downtown Association (among countless municipalities) are trying to figure out is the impact these downtown events have on our community. What is the magic number of events to have? Is it better to have annual events or one-off events?
One positive impact of downtown events is the increased foot traffic. Andrew Holt, executive director of Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI), understands the value of downtown businesses getting exposure from different downtown events. “People who come downtown for the events are saying to themselves, ‘You know, I always wanted to go in there,’ or ‘Let’s come back,’ ” Holt says. “Best practices say when you have a mass density of people downtown— walking, enjoying—it’s a positive thing. It’s a ripple effect.”
Several downtown business owners echo this sentiment. Restaurant and business owner Codi Bates, of Bates Co. (The Burger Stand, Bon Bon! and Cider Gallery), says, “Events like Final Fridays, the Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade and Live on Mass not only boost foot traffic to our businesses but also create a ripple effect throughout the local economy. These events draw crowds who dine, shop and explore, providing essential support to downtown retailors and restaurants.”
Jennifer McKnight, owner of Arizona Trading Co. and vice president of the DLI board, also cites the importance of the foot traffic these events bring to her business. “So many people come in, and they will just wander in my store. They are curious, and they are here.”
Andrew Holt-executive
2024 Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships by Jeff Burkhead
2024 Busker festival by Peaty Romano
A Plan To Prosper
It’s more than just the economic impact these events create. They also build a sense of community and promote the cultural identity of Lawrence. A meta-analysis from studies done at the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin and Oregon State University (along with the Brookings Institute) have found seven benefits to downtown events in American cities: 1) Tourism: These events attract out-of-town guests; 2) Local spending: These events encourage locals to travel downtown and spend money; 3) Jobs: More events can create more successful business, which means more jobs created and more jobs retained; 4) Property Values: A stronger downtown helps raise the value of properties; 5) Community Identity: Downtown events help build a positive identity and also help develop a cultural significance for the area; 6) Social Cohesion: Downtown events bring people together and create a happier community; and 7) Attracts the Creative Class: Downtown events help attract a highly educated and creative workforce that might want to call Lawrence home.
Holt knows it isn’t always about creating more events but strategically adding or advancing events, and getting creative with them. One of the goals of Holt’s team at DLI is to get more entities involved in downtown events. For example, the Lawrence Sidewalk Sale has now grown and morphed into a bigger (and not as sweaty) event. Now called Midsummer Night on Mass, the evening event has grown to include restaurants and entertainment, with the goal of making it a community event. This year’s event also included street entertainment, pop-up vendors and nonprofits. The Big Pig, Bourgeois Pig’s annual block party, coincided with this event, as well. “It became much more of a community event than the sidewalk sale,” Holt says. “Build that sense of community. What we hear is more.”
A major role of DLI is to assist businesses in growing their events. It helps with marketing, getting the word out, marketing research, logistics for events and communication with DLI members, as well as being a liaison with the city. DLI is also looking to add its own events, including two more to its calendar (one in August and one in September). “We are going to strategically add or advance events. The more it incorporates the entire downtown the better. As we continue to build these events, we want to make sure that all parts of downtown are prospering,” Holt explains.
Prosper is the key word in the equation. An often-touted advantage of downtown events is the economic benefit to the city and to downtown businesses. According to data collected by eXplore Lawrence, Downtown Lawrence in 2023 saw about 1 million visitors totaling around 6.5 million visits in 2023. This number represents a 3% growth over 2022.
One of the downtown events that has seen this growth firsthand is the Lawrence Busker Festival. Now in its 16th year, organizer and founder Richard Renner jokes the event has gained a level of maturity where it can go out on its own. Buskerfest, as it’s known locally, is a circus in the streets. It’s a festival that brings in buskers from all around the world to perform downtown. “This is a street performer festival, so you really have to have it on a street. The best street is downtown,” Renner says. With help from DLI, he has grown the festival to include more cultural elements and visual artists. Recently, he’s added more environmental acts, more vendors, more transgender and LGBTQ performers, and he’s tried out different locations.
“I do my damnedest to make it different every year,” Renner explains. “It’s a celebration. Lawrence identifies itself as being unique and different. These performers we brought in are also unique and different. It struck a chord.”
Buskerfest works closely with DLI and eXplore Lawrence to feed into the unique culture of Lawrence and also bring in outside dollars. The event, itself, brings in $250,000 to the city, he says. And it’s becoming popular with people from outside of Lawrence, as well. Renner hears stories about whole families who schedule their reunions around Buskerfest. “People can afford Buskerfest. You just show up,” he explains. And buskers from all over the world apply to perform. “I get people applying from South America, Italy, even Russia. It’s tough to say no.”
Renner is also looking to add another downtown event, possibly a comedy festival during the month of February. He wants to give people a good reason to laugh during the depths of winter. “I’m trying to hit that same nerve that Buskerfest hit,” he says.
Music to My Ears
The number of concert events downtown has grown in the last decade. And no one is more responsible for that growth than Mike Logan, a downtown venue owner and current board president of DLI. Logan noticed the festival and touring culture had changed here in the past 10 years, meaning less of a touring cycle for bands during the summer months. This created a backward amusement park feel, where the summer months were actually a slower time for his industry. His idea was to hold more concert events downtown during the slower time of the summer to bring in more people.
“Let’s ‘Field of Dreams’ it here. If we build it, they will come,” Logan explains. With this mentality, events such as Live on Mass were born. He and his team bring in outside dollars by marketing events up to a 120-mile radius.
Logan sees these concerts as a way to bring in a variety of individuals. “It’s a vertical effect. It could be background mu -
Alvin Brooks greeting guests and signing books by Ann Dean
Makaya McCraven trio at Liberty Hall: Marquis Hill - trumpet (left), Junius Paul - bass (center), Makaya McCraven - drums (right) by Ann Dean
Blood of a Poet film, dance and music experience at Lawrence Arts Center: Gwentessa Alfie (left), John Jasso (center), Tristian Griffin (right) by Ann Dean
The Heroic True Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks film screening and Q&A: Moderator Kaye McIntyre (left), ActivistAlvin Brooks (center), Director Kevin Willmott (right) byAnn Dean
Lighting Brings Peace of Mind
sic for some or others a chance to lose oneself, to dance all night. It’s a great release,” he explains. “We have so many stories of people driving or flying in for a show, and stories of people meeting a future spouse at a show. There’s always a net benefit for these downtown events. Sometimes that net benefit won’t be realized the day of the event, but DLI helped have a trail of communication to increase repeat business.”
Besides Live on Mass, Logan is interested in smaller downtown concerts, as well—smaller places celebrating large. He particularly enjoys what the Sandbar is doing with its block party. “Sandbar holds 49 people and is hosting a block party that brings in 2,000 people. I love that energy. I’m trying to prime other businesses to think about this,” he says.
Logan is also looking for other events that can be little balls of energy during the summer months. This is the fourth year of the Kaw River Roots Festival, which includes two indoor stages and one outdoor stage at Abe & Jake’s Landing. There is also the Starlight Stage, a mobile stage that starts at The Granada parking lot and moves around town to places like Clinton Lake, local parks or for concerts at Lawrence Beer Co.
He is looking forward to the Rock Chalk Block Party on Sept. 27. With the University of Kansas football team not playing home games in Lawrence this fall, he knows he and his team are going to need to come up with events on game days to both bring people to Lawrence and keep people in Lawrence. In 2023, the highest spikes of visitors in Lawrence were on Saturday home games for the KU football team. According to eXplore Lawrence, the game on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, saw more than 54,000 visitors to Lawrence (this game coincided with KU Family Weekend). The interstate rivalry game with Kansas State University on Nov. 18, 2023, brought in more than 45,000 visitors.
The Free State Festival is another way to see live concerts downtown. 7,500 to 10,000 people have come to witness concerts by George Clinton and Public Enemy. Marlo Angell directs the festival, which is produced by the Lawrence Arts Center and includes films, concerts, comedy and art in various locations downtown. Angell explains, “Downtown events like Free State Festival give folks a reason to gather and connect over art experiences. Not only do our festival guests explore the planned activities we program, but they explore the town and make new connections.”
Besides the economic impact of the festival, she touts the cultural and social impact of having this downtown event. “It’s the cultural impact of the festival that tells the real story. It’s having two of our festival volunteers (Sav and Riley Rodgers) coming back this year for a screening of their film ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’ that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. It’s the commissioning of an original filmdance-music-art experience like ‘Blood of a Poet’ to push our local artists to try new things. It’s screening a film about returning buffalo to the Blackfeet tribe and hearing the audience collectively gasp when they see the animals released to their native land. And it’s being in the room when civil rights leader Alvin Brooks and Oscar winner Kevin Willmott receive a standing ovation. It’s those special moments that have ripple effects. They inspire new stories, generate ideas and make positive change in our community.”
The Sand Bar Block Party by Peaty Romano
Live on Mass 2023 – Billy Strings by Carter Gaskin
The Sand Bar Block Party by Peaty Romano
The Sand Bar Block Party by Peaty Romano
A Community Vibe
When talking to business owners downtown, it is the cultural impact of the downtown events that are talked about the most. TK Peterson, of Merchants Pub & Plate, says, “Lawrence’s downtown events have great variety and reach. Each one targets different interests and demographics, which is what keeps Lawrence inclusive and promotes culture.”
Arizona Trading Co.’s McKnight sees these downtown events as a “continuation of 150-plus years of Downtown Lawrence being the center of its cultural identity. These events continue to be the legacy of our cultural identity.” She believes these events are a wonderful opportunity for people not familiar with downtown or who don’t go downtown to get that feeling of community. “People getting out and being together in a space is always going to promote a sense of community. We all have memories of downtown,” McKnight explains.
Besides strengthening community bonds and cultural enrichment, Bates Co.’s Bates sees downtown events as enhancing the overall downtown experience. “As a business owner, I’ve seen firsthand how downtown events enhance the overall experience for visitors and residents alike. They add an exciting layer to our everyday offerings, making Downtown Lawrence a lively, dynamic place to be.”
Whether you are looking for live music, shopping deals, culture or even a future spouse, event organizers in Lawrence all share the same message: Come on down. p
Art in The Park
Old Fashion Day Parade and Budweiser Clydesdales in front of The Historic Eldridge Hotel
B I G C I T Y A B I L I T Y
w i t h h o m e t o w n v a l u e s
A Changing of the Times
Historical buildings in Downtown Lawrence have continually been transformed through the years, morphed into whatever the community deemed necessary at that point in time.
by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog and from Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum of History
Throughout Downtown Lawrence’s nearly 170-year evolution, decades-old buildings have been transformed and revamped—many several times over—to house whatever businesses have seen fit to be tenants at the time. The latest in those repurposed buildings promises big changes to downtown’s north end.
Where townspeople and visitors walking the block around Massachusetts and New Hampshire streets between Sixth and Seventh might, over the course of 60 years or so, have caught whiffs of the stench of news ink and heard the roaring of presses from the local newspaper being printed and shipped, they might in the near future enjoy the sweet smells of barbecue.
Q39, a popular Kansas City barbecue restaurant, has signed on as an anchor tenant in a large redevelopment of the former Lawrence Journal-World building that, up until 2014, filled much of the space. The Lawrence location will be the franchise’s third, adding to the original restaurant on 39th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, and a south location near Antioch Road and College Boulevard, in Overland Park, Kansas. It will be the major piece
of a 70,000-square-foot development that includes office space and a 20,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard for events like concerts and game-day celebrations.
“The building is owned by a developer that owns entertainment spaces in Kansas City,” says Katherine Weik, planner II for the City of Lawrence. “That area can definitely be a gateway area of downtown. It has great possibilities.”
Q39 was founded in 2014 by Rob Magee, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef who loved competing in barbecue competitions around the Kansas City area. It is one of the more popular barbecue joints in a city referred to in some circles as the “Barbecue Capital of the World.”
The Q39 space will cover 8,000 square feet, owner Kelly Magee explains.
“Our family has been longtime fans of Lawrence and the vibrancy and energy that thrives on Mass. Street,” Magee says. “We won’t be on Mass. but close enough.
“The space is unique,” she continues. “We’ll have seating inside and then outside counter service for the spring and fall, along with a bar that services that area.”
Magee says the kitchen at the new location will be as large as the one in Overland Park, which will allow Q39 to offer its popular catering service throughout Lawrence and Topeka.
“We feel we can pick up in that area quite a bit,” she says.
The building that will house Q39 was an old warehouse, so plumbing will have to be completely built out, as well as electrical. The front portion of the building is four feet lower than the rear, and Magee says she plans on compensating with multiple levels and stairs.
She says she’s hoping for a January grand opening.
Lawrence Journal World Q39 rendering of proposed new restaurant in the LJW building
Longtime Community Staple
It’s hard to imagine anything being produced out of that building other than newspapers. The Lawrence Journal-World, formed with the merger of two local papers in 1911, moved to 609 New Hampshire St. in 1955 after its original home at 722 Massachusetts St. burned to the ground in a fire that took out the Bowersock Opera House. The Journal-World expanded its building in 1984 to become a regional printing site for USA Today and expanded again in 1995 to accommodate the switch from an afternoon to a morning publication.
In 2001, The World Company joined its newspaper, cable TV and online resources to form a converged news operation and moved into the restored post office building at 645 New Hampshire St., giving the paper nearly the entire block. But by 2010, facing challenging changes in the communications business, the company began divesting its various holdings and moved out of its home of nearly 60 years. The 645 New Hampshire building is now emblazoned with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas which now houses one of its offices.
The Journal-World complex is just the most recent—and one of the most prominent—downtown buildings to be repurposed during Lawrence’s history. Banks have been converted into restaurants, museums, even City Hall. Movie theaters have been updated to live concert venues or clothing stores. Car dealerships have become breweries/restaurants or architectural headquarters. It’s all part of the evolution of a city, a changing of the times.
Here is a look at some of the other more visible building repurposing that’s occurred downtown over the years and decades.
2024 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas in old Lawrence Journal World offices
Lawrence Journal World - circa 1950's
Filling a Need
One could say there was a bit of serendipity involved in Jeff Sigler acquiring the Capitol Federal (Cap Fed) Bank building at 1046 Vermont St. and converting it to the newest Sigler Pharmacy location. He actually approached the bank about buying the building five or six years ago but was turned away. Lines of communication remained open, however, and in 2021, Sigler learned that the bank was looking to put a location at a parcel of land he owned on Sixth Street.
At the same time, a hospital across the street from that Sixth Street locale gave Sigler more room in which to operate a pharmacy. A year later, he traded the land for the building on Vermont Street.
“The intention was to put a pharmacy downtown,” Sigler says. “Years ago, there seemed to be a pharmacy on just about every corner up and down Mass. Street, but they all closed. There was a bit of a pharmacy desert downtown.”
Around the same time, Sigler took over Medical Arts Pharmacy, at Fourth and Maine streets, and decided that business needed a better location. So he folded that into Sigler Pharmacy’s new downtown spot.
“It made sense to move,” Sigler says. “At first, I thought the space might be too big for a pharmacy. We thought of putting in a drive-up coffee shop, but city code wouldn’t allow it.”
Sigler decided to go with the building anyway, and it has turned out great for the company. Built around 1955, that Cap. Fed. Bank location was one of the first banks in the Midwest with a drive-through window, which made for an easy conversion to a window for pharmacy pickup.
“I didn’t want (a location on) Mass. Street, because there was no parking,” Sigler says. “The drive-through suited our purposes, and there was designated parking.
“It clicked all the boxes,” he adds.
Sigler Pharmacy at Vermont even carries some nonfood grocery items to serve the needs of shoppers who otherwise would have to travel a mile south to the Dillon’s on Mass.
“It’s really nice to get back downtown and try to continue (the tradition of downtown pharmacies),” Sigler says.
Jeff Sigler, owner of Sigler Pharmacy in new downtown location
The old Capitol Federal Savings building at 1046 Vermont Street
The new Sigler Pharmacy building at 1046 Vermont Street
The Granada 2024
The Granada 1950'a
Mass St looking north with the Granada on the left. Notice on the marquee “Elvis Presley”
Performances of a Different Kind
The genesis of The Granada Theater actually rose from the success of another theater down the street at the time. Stanley Earl Schwahn, the four-year manager of The Patee Theater and riding the highs of its success, hit up fellow residents along Mass. Street in 1928 to raise money to build a new vaudeville theater at 1020 Mass.
Six years later, The Granada, known for its large marquee and vertical “Granada” signage, was renovated as a movie theater. It opened on Sept. 1, 1934, and the first movie shown was Robert Montgomery’s comedy “The Hideout.” The movie theater survived the next 55 years before the advent of suburban metroplexes provided too much competition and made it difficult for traditional downtown theaters to profit. It closed on Nov. 16, 1989.
The building again was renovated in 1993 and repurposed as a comedy club/concert venue, and remains so to this day. It has hosted some of the most famous rock, pop, country and metal bands in the world, including The Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Folds, The Flaming Lips, The Strokes and Weezer.
In 2005, one of the best-known bands from the area, The Get Up Kids, recorded Live! @ The Granada Theater.
Know It When You See It
It’s built into the DNA of architects to form a vision of any building space that comes into his or her purview. So when the team of architects at Treanor set eyes on the large expanse of the building at 1040 Vermont St. back in 2010, it immediately saw great possibilities. The building, originally con structed in 1955 to house Jayhawk Auto, later played host to Dale Willey Auto, Wild Oats Market and a Scott Rice Office Supply outlet.
“The original auto building was to the east and full of wide-open spaces,” says Joy Coleman, principal at Treanor. “It had a wood truss system and roof joisting that we stripped and left visible. We added interior storm windows.”
Most notably, the old, small retail front of the building was removed, and a mezzanine area was added to the north side. It included restrooms, a kitchen, a meeting room, storage spaces and other features suitable for a world-class architecture space.
“We built the addition to be two stories tall,” says Coleman, who was with the company when it moved into the building in September 2012. “That gave us the opportunity for more office space upstairs with architectural studios in the first level.”
The original building space was filled with open studios, she says.
“With the large open volume of the original building, it’s exactly what an architectural business wants,” she says. “It’s a great space for sharing ideas, seeing what everyone is working on.”
The repurposing of the building also included the addition of a small parking area along the north side, Coleman adds.
While Treanor, which was started by Michael Treanor as a two-man operation in 1981 in Lawrence, has its headquarters at 1040 Vermont St., the company today has branches nationwide, including Kansas City and Topeka, as well as Atlanta, Boise, Idaho, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dallas, Denver, Lexington, Kentucky, Phoenix and San Francisco.
The old Jayhawk Motors at 1040 Vermont St
Treanor Architects at 1040 Vermont St
Other Comings and Goings
Of course, these are just a few prime examples of buildings that were or are being repurposed.
The Granada Theater’s ages-old neighbor across the street, Varsity Theater, actually opened before its neighbor way back on Oct. 26, 1926, and was equipped with a Reuter organ. But like The Granada, suburban multiplexes hurt the downtown movie business, and The Varsity showed its last movie, John Woo’s “Face/Off,” on Sept. 1, 1997. Today, it’s an Urban Outfitters clothing store.
One of the most well-known and trafficked old buildings downtown sits at 746 Massachusetts St., where Merchants Pub & Plate has been the last several years. The building, which originally was half the width of the current 50 feet, was built by architect Verner F. Smith in the 1880s and housed Merchants National Bank. In the early 1900s, the space was occupied by a barber shop, a paint store, a wallpaper store, a restaurant and a real estate establishment. First National Bank took over the building in 1972, and it became Tellers restaurant in 1988. A unique feature of the space is that its restrooms are located inside the
Abe & Jake’s Landing, across the street from the new Sixth and New Hampshire streets development site and, coincidentally, owned by Mike Logan, who owns The Granada, was once Consolidated Barbed Wire Co. The building now occupied by Free State Brewing Co. once was a car barn for the interurban railways. The coffee shop next door was the train station for the Kaw Valley Railway. The location where Black Stag Brewing now sits once was a car dealership, and it’s believed that there remain some of the ramps used for cars to drive up to what was the second-floor showroom.
And perhaps the most prominent of the repurposed buildings in Lawrence sits at 11th and Mass. streets—the Watkins Museum of History. Originally built in 1888 to house Watkins Land Mortgage Co. and Watkins Bank became, in 1929, City Hall for the next 41 years. The city offices were moved in 1970, and the building was renovated and reopened in 1975 as a community museum. Vestiges of the building’s original use are still evident, from teller windows to the words “BANK” and “MORTGAGE” designed into the mosaic flooring, to the original stained-glass windows.
“It’s still pretty clear that it was a bank,” says Steve Nowak, execu tive director of the museum. “But it’s also a building with all kinds of his tory that’s worth preserving.”
The same can be said for all of these buildings that, while serving as hosts to various different companies and purposes through the years, also serve to remind us all where down town Lawrence has been and is go p
The old Merchant Bank at 8th and Mass
The Merchants Pub & Plate 2024
The Watkins Museum 2024 and as it once was with a trolley running down Mass St
Abe & Jakes entrance and view of the back from across the river
for the
What Lies Ahead
The potential to expand and enhance Downtown Lawrence is there, but the ideas and decision-makers must come together to make it happen.
by Emily Mulligan, photos by Steven Hertzog and from Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum of History
We can so easily talk about the downtown of the past, longing for that meaningful place or experience. But what about the future? Where, metaphorically, is downtown headed? What could or should it become? The answers to that are as varied as the storefronts downtown, and the only limits are imagination (well, and possibly money and consensus, and some other small details).
Steve Nowak, Jane Huesemann, Brandon Graham and Kirsten Flory are but a few of the people for whom downtown has been a workplace and/or residence. Their vocations and experiences position them to be able to speak to what they see as the future of Downtown Lawrence.
Nowak has been executive director of the Watkins Museum of History for 13 years. Huesemann has been a principal of Clark Huesemann, architecture and design firm, for 12 years and came to Lawrence in 1988. Graham has owned Jefferson’s restaurant for 13 years and grew up in Lawrence. Flory has worked in commercial real estate in Lawrence for 11 years and started her firm, Foundations Commercial Real Estate, in 2021.
Collectively, they see the potential for expanding event spaces downtown, increasing pedestrian areas and pathways, connecting downtown with The KU Gateway District and widening conversations and regulations to promote more community collaborations.
Steve Nowak-executive director
Watkins Museum of History
Jane Huesemann-Principal architect at Clark/Huesemann
Long-Term Future
The variety of ideas about Downtown Lawrence and the range of people who have them can be both a blessing and a curse, it appears. The community as a whole values downtown, but streamlining the voices and ideas into tangible action seems to cause overall momentum to fizzle.
“Our biggest challenge about downtown is getting people to talk face-to-face. We all love that area. We want to keep its attributes; we just have to do it together,” Flory explains.
There is no shortage of data or information about downtown’s characteristics, Huesemann says. It’s collecting that data and harnessing it intentionally for planning purposes that presents challenges.
“A more cohesive effort would give the city a framework to approve projects. It ought to be more a design effort than just a bunch of regulations, and those projects would get backing on them. There are lists of needs already established by many groups for so many years. If we collaborate, we can put all the data into a compelling report that links together the needs, leading to the potential for grants and other resources for amenities and improvements downtown,” Huesemann says.
From city rules and regulations to relationships with the two universities in town, all would like to see open communication and novel collaborations come into being.
Brandon Graham-President/Jefferson’s Franchise Systems
Kirsten Flory-President & CEO Foundations Commercial
Rework What’s Already There
So what should change downtown in the medium- to long-term?
Though its streets, sidewalks and parking lots have long doubled as event spaces for parades, celebrations, concerts and fundraisers, establishing a dedicated space and infrastructure for gatherings would serve the area well, all four agree.
Nowak envisions changing a space such as the parking lot at Eighth and Vermont streets, plus closing off the block of Eighth Street between Massachusetts and Vermont streets to create an open pedestrian and event area. The library parking garage on Vermont Street faces that space, and “you’ll feel like you’re already downtown when you park in that garage,” Nowak says. Other spaces farther south near South Park could fulfill the same function.
“Downtown is at its best when you walk. You need to leave the car and experience it on foot so you can see the store windows and encounter people on the street,” he continues. By creating an open space near existing parking, Nowak says people will perceive it as being simpler to park and walk around. Flory says that having traffic-free spaces brings about a collaborative, community feel to the surrounding areas.
Huesemann also likes the idea of creating an event space and even suggests combining it with a permanent covered pavilion and public restrooms. The farmers market could take place in the pavilion on designated days, and the rest of the time, the space could be reserved by community groups—and even the University of Kansas (KU)—for events.
The City of Lawrence has established RFPs (requests for proposal) for the surface parking lots on New Hampshire and Vermont streets, and Flory says she hopes the city will be open to the creative possibilities of some of the proposals. Often, the city is too hung up on historical standards that don’t make sense, and that sometimes hinders development, she adds.
Huesemann agrees. “We make it so hard for developers to make a successful project that we end up with empty lots,” she says.
The old front of Jefferson’s at 743 Mass St
The original building at 743 Mass St-inside the red box
Rendering of Jefferson’s by Paul Werner Architects
Renovation begins
TIRE D? GAINING WE IGHT? LOSING LIBIDO? FOCUS AND DRIVE L ACKING? Come experience the movement we are creating to help you get back to the top of your game!
Connect Downtown and KU
The KU Gateway District, being constructed around KU’s Memorial Stadium, presents opportunity for a westward connection emanating from downtown to the University and points beyond. Graham says downtown ideally should continue to be home to a majority of locally owned small businesses, with a constant evolution of merchandise shops, restaurants and activity-based storefronts. KU students and workers, as well as tourists, are the core of downtown business’ success, so luring them from The Gateway District east on Ninth Street is critically important.
“Downtown appeals to and attracts a giant melting pot of people. That’s the nature of the diversity of experiences down here,” Graham says.
Nowak suggests creating a west-facing entrance to clearly show visitors how close they are to downtown when they are in the area directly west of Mass. Street. Having clearer signage about parking and access points will also help out-of-towners better navigate the area, Huesemann continues. Further, enticing people downtown likely will also lead them to the Warehouse Arts District and other points of interest to the north and east of downtown, Flory says.
Huesemann notes that establishing downtown’s presence on its west side also could help the city cultivate its relationship with the University in new and unique ways, while bolstering neighborhoods and businesses in between.
Many Lawrencians worry that Downtown Lawrence will evolve into solely a bar district, where stores and shops might get squeezed out by increasing rents. Storefronts that offer activities and experiences, such as breakout rooms and ax-throwing venues, build a bridge that keeps the area active at all times of the day and appeals both to locals and visitors of all ages, Graham emphasizes. Downtown also serves as the center of the city’s intellectual life, Nowak says, with the Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence Arts Center and Watkins Museum.
“Ideally, downtown is one thing at night and another thing in the day. It should be a place to explore new ideas, celebrate and meet your friends, and it should keep growing in those roles but be more diverse in them,” Nowak says.
Creative Change
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the city’s hand on formalizing new types of outdoor spaces with the creation of parklets—those areas in front of downtown restaurants and bars that each took over a couple of Mass. Street parking spots. All four are in favor of keeping the parklets, and they all mentioned taking that idea further, either with more elaborate design elements as Huesemann suggests or by doing a trial shutdown of a block or two of Mass. Street, as Graham proposes and Flory supports.
Graham points out that the parklets were initially temporary, and the community responded positively, both when they were in a trial period and when they were approved permanently. That process established a new possibility for exploring ideas downtown, he continues, by doing shorter-term trials and then gauging response and viability.
Proposed developments for long-empty properties at Sixth and New Hampshire streets are an “exciting” prospect for what has been a quieter portion of downtown, Flory says. She hopes those projects will lead to rethinking the entire riverfront, including the Riverfront Plaza and even the area along the river by Johnny’s Tavern, in North Lawrence.
“The lower floors of the Riverfront Outlet Mall are kind of a hidden gem, because that space overlooks the river,” she says.
Huesemann agrees and would like to see the riverfront develop even farther east, beyond the mall building. The river should be a focus of recreation, allowing access to the water for boating and other activities, she suggests. Near the Amtrak station at Seventh and New Jersey streets, the river is at road level without the steep banks elsewhere.
“Enhance the edge of the river so that there are places you can get to. I picture stores and a coffee shop right there by the bike path near the train station. Right now, you don’t know the river is there unless you purposely seek it out,” Huesemann says.
Outside the Cider Gallery in the Warehouse Arts District Outdoor dining at the Mass Street Fish House & 715
Make Old Space New
While looking to cast the proverbial net wider for downtown, equally important is to scrutinize the existing spaces and storefronts in the 150-year-old buildings in and around downtown, Flory says. Clark Huesemann chose to locate their offices downtown, but they are architects, so they had the ability to customize their space in the 900 block of Mass. Street.
So many companies would like to have their offices and headquarters in Downtown Lawrence, Flory says, but they are unable to do so because of the types of spaces in downtown buildings. A typical storefront is 25 feet wide by 100 feet deep, which is 2,500 square feet. Most businesses want about 1,500 square feet of space, Flory says, so downtown spaces aren’t functional for them.
“The challenge is: How do you divide the space? The price per square foot is lower in downtown, but you combine it with the bigger footprint, and it’s more expensive,” Flory says. There are many 1,500-square-foot spaces available in western Lawrence, but then the businesses and employees miss out on all that downtown has to offer. Flory says businesses often choose instead to locate in Kansas City, where there is more to do and younger people, than in western Lawrence.
Attracting more residents to downtown and continuing to develop more residences in and near downtown is critical to its future success, as well.
“More housing and more density, and trying to motivate and encourage that kind of development is healthy for the business district,” Graham says. “I would love to have 2,000 more potential customers within walking distance.”
More people living downtown would create change downtown, making daily life there more convenient and allowing more people to experience it without having to drive, Nowak says. Without a grocery store and some other conveniences, he says downtown isn’t as easy of a place to live as it could be.
When downtown exists as both a business center and a home for people, that ensures its long-term relevance and viability.
Downtown has had three purposes since it was designed and built in the 1850s, Nowak says: a mercantile center, a place for people to relax and socialize, and a community celebration location.
“Past, present and future live together very well,” he says. “How we use downtown may change over time, but the fact that it’s central to our identity will never change.” p
The warehouses of old Lawrence on the Kaw River
The southside of the Kaw River, known as the Riverside Mall, has much potential for growth
Closeup: the southside of the Kaw River, known as the Riverside Mall, has much potential for growth
Building a Future on the Foundation of History
These historic buildings are rich in history and tradition, each having its own unique tale of the path that led it to where it is today.
They’re some of the oldest and most historic structures in Lawrence, downtown or anywhere in the area. But there’s so much more to them than mere brick-andmortar, fancy European architecture or adorned interiors. What lies within these structures are some of the city’s oldest, most-respected and venerated businesses, companies which have gone a long way toward defining Downtown Lawrence itself.
A hotel that stands as the most historic and iconic in Kansas—and certainly among the most famous in the entire central part of the country— has been featured in movies and hosted legends of screen and politics. A concert, movie hall and meeting place has etched its place in history by hosting early talkies, civil war confabs and world-famous musicians and bands.
A department store has survived as a unicorn—one of the few standalone department stores to outlast the age of malls and chain stores. A jewelry store, passed down through generations of family that has rid -
den good, old-fashioned honest customer service to become one of the longest-running continuous family businesses in the country.
And every community needs that reliable, go-to watering hole where generations have met after work or on weekends to drink, eat and commiserate with each other. They all are icons of the Downtown Lawrence area and of the city as a whole—all vital pieces of history.
“Historic buildings are a tangible reminder of our community’s heritage,” says Steve Nowak, executive director for the Watkins Museum of History, which itself is housed in a historic structure in Downtown Lawrence. “They inspire us to imagine what life might have been like in times past and to remember those who came before us. In Lawrence, where many old buildings still fulfill their original purpose or house the businesses that built them, those structures also remind us that the present is linked with the past, and that we today shape the community we pass to future generations.”
Following are five such businesses that have been instrumental in making Lawrence a great place to live and work through the years, and a brief history of each.
by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog and from Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum of History
The Historic Eldridge Hotel
Though most infamous for being sacked and burned during Quantrill’s Raid in 1863, the building on the original site of the Eldridge Hotel suffered a similar fate nearly 10 years earlier.
The original building on the site was the Free State Hotel, built in 1855 by settlers from the New England Emigrant Aid Society. It was intended to serve as quarters for settlers who came from Boston and other areas while their homes were being built, and is named so to make clear the intent that Kansas would enter the union as a free state.
Eldridge again promptly rebuilt the hotel and this time gave it his name. The Eldridge Hotel stood until 1925 as one of the finest hotels west of the Mississippi River. But by that time, the hotel was beginning to show its age. A group of Lawrence business leaders was organized by Billy Hutson to tear down and rebuild The Eldridge, and restore it to its former place of grace and dignity.
A year after it was built, the hotel was attacked and burned to the ground by proslavery Douglas County Sheriff Samuel Jones. Col. Shalor Eldridge rebuilt the hotel and added an additional floor, vowing to do the same every time the building was destroyed. The next time would be in 1863, when William Quantrill and his raiders rode into Lawrence, killed more than 150 people and burned and destroyed much of the city.
Because of changing trends, The Eldridge closed in 1970 and was converted into apartments. It remained that way until 1985, when another group of local investors organized to once again refurbish the old building and return it to its original use—that of an elegant, upscale hotel. It underwent yet another renovation in 2004–2005 and once again assumed its role as Lawrence’s premier hotel.
The Eldridge Hotel 2024
The Eldridge on the bottom right, looking south
Sidewalk café with The Eldridge in the background
Originally, Liberty Hall was the Bowersock Opera House
Liberty Hall
Like its close neighbor across the street, the building that today stands as Liberty Hall arose from the literal ashes of an early tragedy. The Herald of Freedom, Kansas’ first abolitionist newspaper, occupied the building at the corner of Seventh and Massachusetts streets in the years leading up to the Civil War. But Jones, the same man who burned the Free State Hotel to the ground, set fire to the building during the First Sack of Lawrence, destroying it in 1856.
The space didn’t stay dormant for long, however, as Samuel Edwin Poole rebuilt the structure the same year, creating Liberty Hall, a community space to host debates, town meetings and political speeches.
In 1882, local businessman J.D. Bowersock purchased and renovated the building, adding a floor and turning the space—renamed Bowersock Opera House—into a theatrically themed opera house and well-known entertainment destination. Unfortunately, in the early 1900s, a fire started by poor electrical wiring again destroyed the building. The opera house was completely rebuilt in the beaux-arts style with imperial roman facade that exists today as an events venue hosting local and touring acts.
In 1924, Liberty Hall became the first theater in Kansas to show a “sound” movie, showing “The Canary Murder Case.”
The old building, which contains many of the original chandeliers, tiled floors and marble staircases to this day, underwent several other changes through the years—the Jayhawker Theatre, the Red Dog Inn nightclub, Bugsy’s disco club and the Lawrence Opera House—before being purchased in 1986 and reopening into what it is today: a video store, coffee shop, independent cinema and community gathering spot.
On Jan. 20, 2012, Liberty Hall celebrated 100 years on the corner of Seventh and Mass.
Liberty Hall as it stands today
Weaver’s Department (courtesy of Weaver’s)
Weaver’s 2024
Weaver’s
Another Lawrence business with origins predating the Civil War, Weaver’s department store’s history began when Lathrop Bullene opened a dry goods store at 723 Massachusetts St. in 1857, one year before R.H. Macy opened his famous first store in Manhattan, New York. It traded in groceries, tools, cloth and other staples of everyday life.
A.D. Weaver, who married Bullene’s daughter, Gertrude, joined the business in 1883. The couple bought the store three years later and renamed it Weaver’s. A.D.’s son, Art Weaver, began working there in 1915. In 1929, the business moved two blocks down the street, to 901 Mass., taking over the building of the Innes, Bullene & Hackman Department Store. This happened just days before the infamous stock market crash that brought about the Great Depression.
The store survived that and World War II, while at the same time facing pressures from the new trend of chain stores—JCPenney, Sears, Woolworths—opening around the country. In fact, between the years of 1929 and 1954, 60 percent of independently owned department stores closed or merged, from 2,166 stores to 905.
Still, Weaver’s survived. Art Weaver recruited Larry Flannery to the business in 1950. When Weaver retired 12 years later, Flannery, friend Jack Eckles and a group of Kansas investors bought the store. That incorporated group owns Weaver’s to this day.
After acquiring a men’s clothing store next door, Weaver’s now has 20,000 square feet of selling space and 10,000 more square feet for offices, storage and other operations.
A downtown improvement program provided funds for a new front facade of the building in 1971. In 1987, Larry Flannery’s son, Joe Flannery, became Weaver’s president and general manager, only the fifth in the company’s history. The company further secured its future when it purchased the building in 2000.
To this day, Weaver’s has prided itself on customer service, providing tailoring, free home delivery, shipping, special orders, free gift-wrapping year-round and a wedding registry. While it now offers online ordering, the crux of its operations will always focus on the in-store experience.
Johnny’s as it looks today
Johnny’s, was originally a pharmacy
Johnny’s Tavern
The two-story brick building at 401 N. Second St. that houses the original Johnny’s Tavern dates back almost as long as Lawrence itself. In 1910, Charles Robinson, the founder of Lawrence and first governor of Kansas, purchased land from the Delaware Native Americans along the Kansas River where the tavern sits today. Bowersock, the businessman who renovated Liberty Hall and owned the mill across the river, built the building and originally made it into a grocery store and hotel.
Over the next 20 years, the site evolved from grocery to pool hall and back to grocery, then into a gin joint. In the 1940s, Slim Wilson, “Johnny’s” father, became proprietor of a tractor and farm implement store, with the pouring of cold beer and gambling as a sideline.
In 1953, Slim Wilson’s son, John Wilson, took over the business and created Johnny’s Tavern. It was a haven for the working man, with plenty of cold beer and country-western music on the jukebox. It was the beginning of the longestrunning tap in town. The original red arrow sign still hangs outside the establishment to this day.
In 1978, two rugby players and bartenders, Rick Renfro and Doug Hassig, took over the establishment, added a grill and began serving up Johnny’s world-famous burgers. The bar was well-known for its 7:30 a.m. opening time, which allowed shift workers to whet their whistles after work.
In 1982, the old hotel rooms above the bar were renovated into a private club, called the “Up & Under.” It remained private until 1987, when Kansas adopted liquor-by-the-drink laws. Six years later, “Betty’s,” named for a woman whose gravestone washed down the river during a flood, was added to the north end of the bar.
The dawn of the 21st century brought great expansion for the Johnny’s Tavern brand, as franchises opened in West Lawrence, Topeka and the Kansas City area. Today, there are 13 Johnny’s locations serving customers great spirits, food and cheer.
Mark’s Jewelers in the 1950’s
Mark’s Jewelers as it looks today
Marks Jewelers
Marks Jewelers has been a mainstay on Mass. Street for nearly 150 years. The rich history of the business actually dates back nearly 170 years, to 1855, when Sol Marks was born in Albany, New York. He moved west searching for new adventures in 1869 and landed in Lawrence, joining a brother in his jewelry business, which then was located at 633 Mass St. They ran that business together for 14 years, even surviving Quantrill’s Raid and the strife of the Civil War.
Sol Marks founded Marks Jewelers in 1880, led by a strong belief system that included being polite and honest. He voraciously instilled these attributes in all of the employees and associates who would work behind the counter in the ensuing years.
Sol’s son, Julius Marks, assumed ownership of the business in 1934 following the death of Sol at his Lawrence home at the age of 78. Julius operated Marks for the next 27 years before retiring because of health reasons. He sold the business to Delbert Eisele, a watchmaker who worked for both Sol and Julius. When the store was sold to Eisele, Marks Jewelers was believed to be the oldest family-owned jewelry store in Kansas.
In 1982, Eisele entrusted the business to Lawrence natives Brad Parsons and Rich Yeakel, and to this day, they continue to strive for the best in customer service, quality and integrity, the same qualities Sol Marks passed down for generations.
Marks Jewelers is the 14th-oldest jewelry store in the United States. p
Loving Life Downtown
Living downtown has obvious perks—local shops and restaurants, music venues, art, culture—but those who reside there chose the area for a myriad of reasons.
by
In her 1964 hit song, singer Petula Clark asked the question, “Where do you want to go?” The answer, of course, is the name of that song: “Downtown.” While most of us enjoy going downtown, do we really want to live there? For a growing number of the population, the answer is a resounding yes.
This burgeoning demographic includes a wide variety of ages, as well as having social and economic influences. The migration from smaller towns into urban areas is many times caused by the pursuit of employment. There are a growing number of baby boomers who are looking to downsize from their suburban homes into a space that allows them time to explore rather than take care of a house with a yard as they age and retire. College-aged students who want to live near a university campus but also enjoy the benefits of living amid the city’s entertainment and activities often want to live in a downtown area. Many professionals are looking for a place in the heart of the city that allows them to have downtime built into their busy lifestyles with little commute. Families with or without children wholeheartedly want to embrace the community living of the city, being within walking distance of the library, museums, community centers, the courthouse, restaurants, shops, the public pool, the river and the beautiful surrounding neighborhoods. These people value proximity, walkability, community, quality of life and experience over material excess.
Whatever the reason, there are several possibilities, including renting apartments above downtown shops and restaurants, for those who choose to live in downtown. One professional who has wholeheartedly embraced living in the Downtown Lawrence community is Daniel Smith. Smith left the metropolis of San Francisco as a child when his family moved to Lawrence, and he has lived here for 35 years. After living in different areas of Lawrence, including North Lawrence, he moved into the downtown area a few years ago and found the community for which he’d been looking. Community was a driving factor for him moving downtown and to an urban environment.
Darin White, photos by Steven Hertzog
Cate the Great juggles at the Busker Festival in downtown Lawrence
Entrance to Daniel Smiths’ apartment above Raven Bookstore
Daniel and his partner Jaz grab an afternoon bite at the Cellar Door Café
Bob & Amy on their rooftop common area at Hobbs Taylor Lofts
The number of things going on in the downtown area at any given time allow Smith and his partner Jaz, the ability to be spontaneous, which in turn makes it easy to “pop over” to a show at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St., or go see what is happening at the Busker Fest without worrying about parking. Or they can sneak down for a cup of joe and lunch at Cellar Door, 7 West 11th St, at a moment’s notice.
One challenge with this ease of accessibility is the draw of the amazing restaurants. Smith and his partner try to cook at home as much as possible, but sometimes, it is just too tempting to grab a quick bite or enjoy a leisurely dinner out instead.
Living above the Raven Book Store, at 809 Mass. St., has its advantages, being able to simply trot downstairs and pick up a book. The space the couple shares is smaller than other places they could have chosen to live, with a large, combined kitchen and living room, a bedroom with a bathroom and a combination laundry and utility. Smith considers the Downtown Lawrence area extended living space—like a front yard for someone in a house—which really opens the space up.
While some may consider downsides of living downtown to include a lack of parking and safety, these really haven’t been an issue for Smith and his partner, who have one vehicle. She commutes to work and is gone during the day, and he rides his bike to the nearby health center for work.
The only time the couple really must contend with parking is on Saturdays, and it is easy enough for them to park a couple blocks away and walk. Even with some of the recent violence issues among the unhoused community, he has not felt unsafe at any time.
Community is very important to Smith, and the community in the downtown area is fairly small and quite connected. Community might include their neighbor living in the apartment next to them, or it could be a party living a few blocks over or the person who occupies the concrete space in front of the window area of a downtown vacant building. Living in the downtown community is something that Smith truly enjoys.
Pop out of Smith’s apartment above Raven and walk to the corner of Eighth Street, then head east to find local flavors such as Grounded Coffee, 11 E. Eighth St., and Richard’s Music, 15 E. Eighth St. Kitty-corner northeast from The Sandbar, 17 E. Eighth St., is Hobbs Taylor Lofts, 730 New Hampshire St. Hobbs Taylor Lofts are luxury lofts and one of the first condominium-living offerings in the downtown area of Lawrence. Of the five-storied building, the first two stories are businesses, with the top three floors being living spaces.
Lawrence for many years. They made the decision to downsize from their larger country estate to the downtown district for a number of reasons. One of those reasons was they were mostly living on the main level of their rural home south of Lawrence, near the southeast side of Clinton Lake. Amy Barnes says the couple wanted to simplify their lifestyle and didn’t need the extra space. They enjoyed going for walks and the quiet in their previous community, but it would take them 20 minutes or so to get downtown to shop, eat dinner, run errands or attend events. When they were looking for a change, they liked the idea of living downtown and wanted to find a place where they wouldn’t have to take care of a lawn that had property and building upkeep, and where they could enjoy the urban lifestyle and have the ability to travel, Bob Barnes explains. They found this and more at Hobbs Taylor Lofts.
The couple admits the move was a huge change. In downtown, it is never dark compared to country living, but the biggest change, Amy says, was the noise.
There are many advantages to living in Downtown Lawrence. The walkability of the area, the ability to make a last-minute decision to eat at one of the local restaurants or go to an event such as the Busk-
Flora l Desig n Classes
Bouquet of the Month
The Busker Fest fire breather performs on Mass St
erfest, the farmers market, being close to the shops. The Barnes’ condo faces west, and they say they have “loved seeing the sunsets and watching the storms come in.” They note that people downtown have been very friendly, and they’ve really enjoyed the community in the lofts.
One of the many elements of Hobbs Taylor Lofts the couple enjoys is the rooftop garden. When weather permits, they have their morning coffee in the garden overlooking East Lawrence and beyond the river. When you walk into their loft, there is a great room complete with kitchen, eating area and living room. They have a good-sized bedroom complete with a large, beautiful arched window that echoes the main loft space. The primary bathroom is attached to the bedroom. A laundry room is just off the entrance, and going through it opens into a shared office area.
The Barnes’ adult children don’t live at home. Their son will be living only two blocks away, at 10th and New Hampshire streets, soon. One of their daughters lives in Kansas City, Missouri, and another daughter lives in San Diego. The couple travels to San Diego, especially during the cold months, to visit their daughter and enjoy the weather, happily returning home to enjoy their downtown-living experience.
The Lawrence Farmers’ Market
From Rent to Own
Across Eighth Street to the south is 800 Lofts, named for its 800 New Hampshire St. address. Seven years ago, four stories were added onto the 800 Lofts building, making it five stories. The previous building was at one time an armory. The current first floor is the entrance, lobby and offices. The multistory lobby is freshly updated, including a cascading contemporary chandelier. Keller Williams Integrity realtor John Esau and business associate and realtor Carson Levine are the agents offering the property. Until recently, the lofts have been leased apartments.
After ownership changes and a new vision, the decision was made to offer all 55 units for sale rather than lease. The interior halls and public spaces have been updated. There is a terrace area on the second floor that has a grill and a lounge with barstool seating, a new hot tub, all new furniture and an updated fireplace available for the residents. A buyer can purchase the loft as is and handle their own updates, or purchase an upgrade where the building provides a refreshed build-out. The building offers a high level of security, with keypad entrances, double doors and a security team. At the time of this writing, a few of the spaces are still leased, but more than half of the building’s units (26 with eight under contract) have sold—and more are selling quickly, Esau explains. There has been an unmet demand for condominiums for retirees downsizing or looking to travel, for remote workers, for those wanting cultural changes in experience over space, KU alumni and staff looking for a location, and out-of-town visitors coming to Lawrence for reasons such as having a place when visiting their children at KU or a spot to stay when here for sports-related events, such as KU football and basketball.
He says the 800 Lofts location is ideal for anything Downtown Lawrence-related, from live music, the bar scene, shopping, salons, restaurants, other events and parades. Levine, who has lived all over the world, concurs: “I love downtown. This is what made me move to Lawrence. There is so much to do.”
Andrew Holt (exe director of DLI) chats with Jill Elmers, owner of Moon on The Meadow
A couple dancing to an accordion player at The Lawrence Farmers’ Market
Not Just Regional
The draw to Downtown Lawrence is not just regional but international. Iveta Becvarova, originally from the Czech Republic, moved to Hobbs Taylor Lofts from Basel, Switzerland. She is a professional veterinarian specialist for Hill’s Pet Nutrition and a previous academic professor who chose to live in Lawrence because of its smaller, college-town feel. Becvarova, who is recently divorced and was tired of the upkeep of having a house, was looking for a place to live downtown and meet people. “Downtown is great for singles,” Becvarova says. “I like to walk ... I would rather spend my time walking, go to WheatFields and buy fresh bread. The lifestyle in Lawrence is very much in line with my values. Everything I need is in walking distance. Everything I love.”
Downtown Lawrence Inc. (DLI) director Andrew Holt agrees. As a resident of Downtown Lawrence as well as DLI’s director, he is well-versed in promoting all things downtown. He lives in one of the busiest areas on Mass. Street, and his building opens directly onto the street. Before moving to Lawrence, Holt had already lived in many downtown environments. Upon arrival here, what struck him was how active and vibrant downtown is. No matter the week or the day or the time, “There are always people walking by from all walks of life.” While there is an occasional vacant building, Lawrence has a much higher percentage of leased buildings than any of the places he has lived or visited.
Holt likes to walk, and he says Mass. Street is a very walkable area. He enjoys exploring the fabulous adjacent neighborhoods and surrounding areas. Living and working downtown, Holt finds it “very friendly, very open. It’s a very welcoming streetscape.”
On his way by himself to get a bite to eat, he says he will run into someone, “a resident, a businessperson, a government or nonprofit person who is finishing up their day,” and that person will end up joining him for the meal. Lawrence “is very community-oriented in this way,” he adds.
Holt has noticed how downtown has a rhythm all its own as it ebbs and flows: the business community arriving for work, the early-morning breakfast crowd and later the shoppers; the lunch rush and normal city life throughout the day and into the night. He has enjoyed the convenience of just stepping out of his door and finding a wide variety of activities, such as a poetry reading or walking by live music, seeing friends and going to listen to a new band, running into others who invite him to join them for a drink. “It’s three blocks wide and five blocks long, contiguous ... It’s a different kind of lifestyle. The downtown is your street, your backyard,” he says. p
Iveta Becvarova at home in downtown Lawrence.
A Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, she also designed the interior of her condo
BALLARD CENTER GALA
photos provided by BALLARD
BALLARD CENTER KU/HOME DEPOT
photos proved by BALLARD
CHAMBER NEW MEMBER RECEPTION
PEASLEE TECH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
photos provided by Chamber
& PEOPLE ON THE MOVE NEWS [ ]MAKERS
DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PRESENTS $5K GRANT TO SPARKWHEEL SUPPORTING PRAIRIE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SparkWheel is pleased to announce it has received a $5,000 Momentum Grant from the Douglas County Community Foundation. Funding from this grant will support the students that SparkWheel is currently serving at Prairie Park Elementary School.
Momentum Grants fuel projects and programs that help people in Douglas County who face poverty build momentum as they take steps to reach their potential and positively impact the community.
SparkWheel is passionate about providing students with the tools and resources they need to succeed academically. The funding from this Momentum Grant will be directed towards program materials, a cornerstone of the group’s initiatives. Program materials encompass a wide range of resources, including textbooks, learning aids, and interactive tools that foster a love for learning and nurture academic growth. These materials play a pivotal role in creating engaging and effective learning environments for the students SparkWheel serves.
SIGLER PHARMACY OPENS DOWNTOWN BRANCH
Sigler Pharmacy opens new location in the former Capitol Federal Savings building at 1046 Vermont Street and rebranded it Sigler Medical Arts Pharmacy. This move has allowed the pharmacy to expand its OTC and medical device offerings as well as add drive-up lanes. They also moved their compounding services from their former west 18th Street location to the Vermont Street building.
"We are excited to bring a pharmacy back to downtown Lawrence after a 15 year break in downtown pharmacies", said Jeff Sigler, pharmacist and owner. From 1855 until 2009, downtown Lawrence housed at least one pharmacy and at one time was home to 6 different pharmacies.
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