Workers are transforming a corner intersection in historic downtown Fort Scott.

Mid-Continental Restoration Co. Inc. has done tuckpointing, exterior roof replacement, and stabilization of the walls among other projects in the restoration of the buildings that face both Wall Street and National Avenue.

The building space housing the Common Ground Coffee Co. on east Wall Street was started in November 2018 and completed just before the COVID 19 Pandemic started in the U.S. in March 2020.

To view the prior fortscott.biz story  on Common Ground click below:

https://fortscott.biz/news/laroche-buildings-restoration-begins

Kenny Felt Photography moved into space just west of the coffee shop in April 2020.

To view the prior fortscott.biz story on Kenny Felt Photography’s move to the building, click below:

https://fortscott.biz/?s=kenny+felt

Workman are continuing the restoration project at the corner building at Wall and National Avenue.

“We’ve got interior floors to finish, cleaning the interior walls and sealing them and installing the cornice around the top of the building,” Chase Halsey, MCR Project Manager said.

“We are not on-site anymore, on hold until materials arrive, probably August,” Halsey said.

Beau Casper Enterprises has workers on the site.

Josh Morlan, Trading Post, KS, was trimming out the new windows on National Avenue on June 22, he said.

For Halsey and MCR, the business has been booming in the pandemic.

“We haven’t slowed down,” he said. “We are using PPE (personal protection), we have a handwashing station,,. we provide bleach water to all the crews.”

“Everything we had on the books (jobs) to do, they said “Can you be here sooner”, Halsey said.

A new discount variety store is coming to Fort Scott, according to a press release from Dollar Tree Inc.

“Dollar Tree continues to grow and we are proud to be part of the Fort Scott community,” stated Kayleigh M. Painter, Dollar Tree’s Investor and Media Relations Manager.

Dollar Tree, Inc. is North America’s leading operator of discount variety stores, Painter said in the press release.

The 10,000 square foot store is currently scheduled to open in mid-October 2020 and will be located at 2006 S Main Street, according to the release.

The shell of the store is up and local contractors have been working for Dollar Tree.

Kevin “Skitch” Allen was working on-site at the location on June 22.

Allen’s business, Skitch’s Hauling and Excavation,Fort Scott, did all the dirt work, he said and is currently working on the parking lot. “The weather put the construction behind,” Allen said.  Spring 2020 had higher than normal rainfall.

Allen said Thomas Concrete and Construction, Fort Scott, did the concrete for the build.

Allen added that he was pleased that Dollar Tree Inc. was using local contractors for the build.

Dollar Tree stores are open seven days a week and offer great value and a broad assortment of merchandise all priced at $1 or less, according to the press release.

Customers can expect seasonal decor, household products, Hallmark greeting cards, party and craft supplies, dinnerware, food, teaching and school necessities, health and beauty essentials, toys, books and much more at the store.

The new location will also include Dollar Tree’s recently-introduced Snack Zone, an expanded offering of beverages, candy and snacks, in addition to nostalgic favorites.

A store of this size typically employs 12 to 20 associates, according to the press release.

Interested applicants can apply online at www.DollarTree.com/careers or in person at the store location closer to the opening date.

Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 15,370 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of May 2, 2020. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

A new outdoor swap meet starts this Saturday, June 27 in Fort Scott.

A swap meet is a gathering for the sale or barter of usually secondhand objects, according to merriam-webster.com.

“This is where you can possibly find the best of everything else,” Monalynn Decker, organizer of the event, said. “This is where there will be a mixture of new, used, and old, goodies to find.”

“My reason (to start this event) is… I felt that along… that this would help vendors in getting a chance to sell items that they haven’t been able to since Covid-19 has started,” Decker said. ” I’m also hoping that this event will help our event visitors in finding much-needed items at affordable prices!”

“I’m hoping that this summer event will bring our community, along with surrounding communities to come out a bit – (but safely) and have some fun,” she said.

Mo’s Swap Meet will be open from June 27 to September 19 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the parking lot of The Venue, 223 S. Margrave. The parking lot is on the east side of the building, which is at the corner of Third and Barbee Streets.

Monalynn Decker is the organizer of the event, and vendors should pre-register by phone to Decker at 417-689-9289.

Space rental is 15 by 15-foot, $15; 15 by 30-foot, $25.

The swap meet will be held rain or shine, according to Mo’s Swap Meet Facebook page, unless canceled by the organizer.