Jan and Dick Hedges are not ones to sit back in retirement.

A new project they are taking on: Hedgehog, INK!, a bookstore coming to 16 S. Main in historic downtown Fort Scott.

“When I was a little girl, I wanted to open a bookstore,” Jan Hedges said. “Dick and I are loyal to the community. We looked downtown and kept hoping someone would open some retail store. We decided ‘why couldn’t we’?”

“It’s our community service project,” she said with a laugh.

The name of the store, Hedgehog, INK! came from a nickname of her husband, Dick Hedges.

“Dick has often been called Hedgehog. They are cute and whimsical and that is what the store will be,” she said.

“The INK is because it’s also for writers, we want to encourage people to write,” Jan said.

There will be a table in the bookstore where people can meet for reading or writing groups.

A small area in the store will have a typewriter for poetic inspiration, she said.

There will be a designated children’s corner, as well.

Accepting books now

Hedges is accepting “gently used” books currently.

“We will come and pick up books…I can come to look at them to see if they are books suitable to the store,” she said. Contact her at 620-728-9001.

Some people are donating books, “Which is awesome,” she said.

When the store opens, store credit will be given for books.

They will be setting up the store starting in mid-September, following the completion of the renovation of the building they are renting from Jared Leek.

People can wait to bring books in and get store credit when they are setting up.

“The opening will hopefully be mid-October,” she said.

Jared Leek saw some downtown buildings that were vacant and decided to make a difference. He is already the owner of the Liberty Theater and Crooner’s Lounge in historic, downtown Fort Scott.

Most recently, he purchased the building whose storefronts are 14 and 16 S. Main.

“I purchased because I saw an opportunity to take a  building vacant for several years and grow the downtown,” he said. “And grow my real estate business.”

His Front Door Real Estate office will be located at 14 S. Main.

Crystal Mason and Lisa Ward are working with Leek at the realty.

Leek has been renovating the building for a month and is working on the finishing touches and internet service currently.

The Front Door Real Estate business contains three offices and a conference room along with a lobby.

“In the very back there is an old dance studio,” Leek said. “That space will be available to rent.”

It would be suitable for a yoga or dance studio, he said. “And we will build to suit.”

The landline number to Front Door Real Estate is 620-224-9787, which connects with Leek, Mason and Ward’s cell phones.

He is anticipating an early September opening.

Leek received a downtown revitalization grant from the City of Fort Scott to help with the renovation of the old building which was once Dr. Charles Parson’s Chiropractic Office.

“It’s (the grant) for downtown business owners,” Leek said. “You can apply for it every year for heating, cooling, windows, doors…anything with the structure, to help preserve the buildings”

In addition to his businesses, Leek is the manager of the River Room Event center, just above the old Buffalo Grill on National Avenue.

“That space is available for rent for up to 750 people,” Leek said.

The River Room Event Center has a full bar, caterer’s kitchen, dance floor, bridal suite, handicapped-accessible restrooms, and an elevator, he said.

The Buffalo Grill, which is on the first floor, beneath the River Room, has been shown to several interested parties for possible restaurants, “But nothing is in stone yet,” Leek said.

Another building long vacant, the old Kress Building, is for sale across from Front Door Real Estate and is listed by the real estate business.

At 16 S. Main, Jan and Dick Hedges will be opening a bookstore, called Hedgehog Ink in October, Leek said.

An empty downtown building is being gutted in preparation of renovation into apartments.

The Union Block Building at 18, 20, and 22 S. Main is the current project of Skitch’s Inc. which is doing the interior demolition of the building.

“It will probably be a week-and-a-half to get it down to the bare bones,” Kevin “Skitch” Allen, said. Demolition started on August 20.

Kent Hardesty is the electrical, heating and air conditioning contractor, according to Kevin Klassen, an employee of Skitch’s Inc.

In the demolition they are finding old theater seats, old stubs from the Charles Parsons Chiropractic Office, among other items, Allen said.

“They are ruined with pigeon poop,” he said.

The dilapidated building is being developed into Fort Scott Loft Apartments, whose developer is Flint Hill Holdings, Lawrence.

“Tony Krsnich is the owner,” Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott Economic Director, said. “They did the Western Senior Living Apartments.”

The Western Senior Living building is across the street south of the Union Block Building.

The Fort Scott Lofts will allow 40 additional residents to live downtown, Pruitt said.

“One of the city’s problems to solve is parking,” Pruitt said. “But we are working on that.”

Memorabilia is coming out of storage and at least one piece has inspired a new beer.

“We will be unveiling the Fort Scott Indian Princess, Friday, August 24 at 4 p.m.,” according to an email from Barbara Ritter, owner of The Boiler Room Brewhaus.  “We will also be featuring a namesake beer that has locally sourced peaches.”

“It’s a cream ale, conditioned with peaches beer,” said Bryan Ritter, the brewer.

The wooden Indian is on loan from the Historic Preservation Association, along with other memorabilia, such as old Fort Scott High School and railroad items, for the public to view.

The microbrewery is located at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street, at 10 S. National.

According to information provided to the Brewhaus from the HPA below, the Indian maiden was in front of a tobacco store on North Main Street in Fort Scott, circa 1869. The store was owned by Frank Boyle, who was the city’s mayor from 1871-72.

Hours for the microbrewery are 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.

For additional information on the business, click on the links below:

Boiler Room Brewhaus Expands Into Historic Downtowner Hotel

Liquor By The Drink: On The November Ballot in Bourbon County

For those of you waiting for Arby’s Restaurant completion, it is coming.

“Although I can’t provide you with an exact date for our Grand Opening in Fort Scott, I’m told that we are indeed on track for a mid-September opening,” said Fred Fleischner, Vice President, Corporate Communications, United States Beef Corporation.

“We have hired a General Manager,” Fleischner said. “Her name is Cassandra Bosley from Fort Scott.”

“We still have openings we’re looking to fill,” he said.

The restaurant is located on South Main in what was the former Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant.

Arby’s is holding interviews every Tuesday afternoon, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the Sleep Inn & Suites conference room at 302 E. Wall Street in Fort Scott.

“We’ll be there for at least the next 2-4 weeks until our restaurant is closer to completion,” Fleischner said. “Those wishing to apply for work at this new Arby’s restaurant can also do so online at www.work4arbys.com.”

The contractor for the project is Coast to Coast Builders, Wichita.

Personal grocery shopping is coming to Fort Scott Walmart, but not anytime soon. Although communications from Walmart indicate otherwise.

Perhaps you were one who received a flyer recently from Walmart or saw the advertisement on TV, or received an email like below that said: “Free Grocery Pickup save you time and money.”

The following is the response from Walmart headquarters:

“Fort Scott will be getting Grocery Pickup, but not for some time,” Molly Blakeman, Walmart Media Relations Corporate Communications said. “The store closest to Fort Scott that currently offers the service is store number 5791 in Pittsburg KS, 30 miles away.”