Boiler Room Brewhaus is expanding. The microbrewery is moving from 102 S. National Avenue to 10 S. National Avenue, the historic Downtowner Hotel.

“We ran out of space,” Ritter said. “Bryan (her husband and the brewer for the business)…didn’t have enough space. (He) couldn’t make it in advance to not run out.”

There are additional advantages to the location at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street, “Two of the busiest streets in Fort Scott,” she said.

“It’s all on one level, more patrons will have easier access, it has handicapped accessible restrooms, visibility is pretty significant and there is a lot more room for cold storage, like a bigger refrigerator. We will now have a refrigerated room to put kegs in…trucks can come up to deliver grain, and more storage,” Ritter said.

“We’ll be able to make more of our own stuff,” she said. “We’ll have the ability to serve from four more taps. Although, it will take us a while to catch up, because of the move.”

Future plans also include an outside patio area for customers, under the carport on the south portion of the building.

The Ritters,  she and her sister-in-law Peggy Ritters are the owners, will have a “soft” opening at the new location Friday, June 1 at 4 p.m. “to celebrate with people and say thanks for all your help and support,” she said.

Ritter also wanted to thank Bobby and Denise Duncan for letting them start their business in their building,  Ritter said.

Josh Jones, the owner of the Downtowner building has been repairing and updating the new site for them.

“He’s done all the painting, replaced glass, changed locks, plumbing and took up all the carpet and sanded the floor,” Ritter said.

Saturday, June 2 is the public ribbon cutting at 1:45 p.m. just before they open at 2.

Hours for the microbrewery remain Thursday-Friday from 4-10 p.m.

Saturdays from 2 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m.

Contact them at 620-644-5032.

The Ritters lobbied for a change in local law, so they won’t have to have 30 percent of their profit in food sales at the microbrewery.

As of January 2017, 66 counties (shaded in medium pink above) in Kansas require there be 30 percent of profits in food sales on the premises to be able to sell liquor, 33 (light pink) counties don’t have that requirement and six counties (dark pink) are “dry” counties, and have no liquor by the drink.

Currently, Bourbon County requires 30 percent food sales in a business that sells liquor.

“It has been approved to put it on the November 2018 ballot to say you do not need to have 30 percent food sales to sell alcohol,” Ritter said.

Fort Scott Pharmacy, located in the northeast corner of Price Chopper Grocery Store at 2322 S. Main, Suite B, is open for business as of today, May 29. The phone number is 620-644-9444.

Hours of the pharmacy: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Closed on Sunday.

Julie Pellett, one of two pharmacists, worked as the inpatient pharmacist for Mercy Hospital for 16 years.

Taylor Cation, a 2012 graduate of Fort Scott High School and most recently from Kansas University with a degree in pharmacy in 2018, is the second pharmacist.

“Taylor shadowed us at Mercy,” Pellet said. “She was one of my favorite students to do that.”

“I’ll do my boards this summer, by the middle of July I’ll know my results,” Cation said.

Ashley Shelton is the pharmacy technician, with eight years experience working for the former Woods Supermarket pharmacy as a technician.

The pharmacy is located inside the grocery store and has a drive-through window on the north.

“We offer personalized care, more flexibility, competitive pricing and friendly service,” Pellet said.

“We offer compounding more than other chain stores,”  she said.

Other services:

• daily medicine packs, to organize medicine for patients
• synchronization of all meds to be due and filled at the same time, to avoid several trips
• auto refilling of prescriptions
• free delivery

“Stop by to input new patient information, transfer prescriptions or just meet the staff,” Pellett said.

The pharmacy doesn’t sell over the counter medicines, but can assist and advise the public on purchasing the right product, she said.

“However we don’t sell them through the pharmacy,” Pellett said.

The Iola Pharmacy Group is the owner of the pharmacy.

“They’ve been a retail pharmacy for over 40 years,” she said. “We are the only independent pharmacy in Bourbon County.”

The pharmacy has a lease agreement with Price Chopper, she said.

“We are excited to launch our business, “Pellett said. “We’ll be in the Good Ol’Days parade (to let people know they are in business).