Category Archives: Business

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend: Aug. 7–8

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites you!

Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend

Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend!

Get ready for 2 days of shopping, savings, and local fun during Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend!

August 7–8th
⏰ Per store hours @ participating locations Downtown & Around Fort Scott

Friday & Saturday, participating Fort Scott businesses will pay the 9.65% sales tax for shoppers. It is a great opportunity to pick up back-to-school clothing, books, gifts, furniture, food, home items, and a few special finds while supporting businesses in our community.

Participating stores include:

  •  110 South Main Mercantile – 110 S. Main St.
  •  Barbed Wire & Roses – 18 N. Main St.
  • ✨ Be The Light Boutique – 12 N. Main St.
  • Better In Bourbon – 2 Old Fort Blvd.
  •  Blissful Meadows Boutique – 1 N. Main St.
  •  Eternal Grace Boutique – 13 N. Main St.
  • Hedgehog Books – 16 S. Main St.
  • Laree + Co. – 3 S. National Ave.
  •  Midwest Runway – 6 N. Main St., Suite A
  •  Papa Don’s Pizza – 10 N. Main St.
  • Ruddick’s Furniture – 117 S. National Ave.
  •  Shirt Shack – 11 E. 18th St.
  • ☀️ Sunshine Boutique – 18 E. Wall St.
  • The Market at 23 Main – 23 S. Main St.

Shop for a Chance to Win $50 Chamber Bucks!

Pick up an event rack card at a participating business, then:

  • ⭐ Spend at least $5 at three participating stores
  • ⭐ Have your card marked at each location
  • ⭐ Turn in your completed card at your third store
  • ⭐ You will be entered into the drawing for $50 Chamber Bucks

Gather your shopping crew, make your list, and enjoy two days of shopping close to home. Every purchase helps support the local businesses that make Fort Scott a wonderful place to live, work, and shop!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce an opportunity for shoppers to save money while supporting local businesses. Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th, select retailers will participate in the Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend by offering shoppers a 9.65% discount while continuing to collect and remit all applicable sales tax.

Participating merchants include 110 South Main Mercantile, Barbed Wire & Roses, Be The Light Boutique, Better In Bourbon, Blissful Meadows Boutique, Eternal Grace Boutique, Hedgehog Books, Laree + Co., Midwest Runway, Papa Don’s Pizza, Ruddick’s Furniture, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and The Market at 23 Main. Special considerations include that the discount at Ruddick’s Furniture applies to the first $500 of a purchase, while the discount at The Market at 23 Main applies to apparel only.

Shoppers may also enter to win $50 in Chamber Bucks. To qualify, shoppers must spend at least $5 at three participating businesses and have their event rack card marked at each location. Completed cards should be turned in at the third participating business visited to be entered into the drawing.

Participating businesses offer a wide variety of merchandise, including apparel, home décor, new and repurposed furniture, school supplies, pizza, and much more. With most participating businesses located in Fort Scott’s Downtown Historic District, shoppers can enjoy a convenient weekend of shopping while supporting local businesses throughout the community.

Save money. Shop local. Shop Fort Scott.

The Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend is organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Click HERE to visit the Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend Facebook Event Page!

Click HERE for more information on the Chamber website!

Business, Fort Scott

Businesses Are Offering 9.65% Sales-Tax Discount in Fort Scott This Weekend

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Submitted graphics.

 

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has 14 businesses involved in this year’s Shop Fort Scott Sales- Tax Holiday event this weekend, August 7-8.

Lindsay Madison is the executive director of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Submitted photo.

Lindsay Madison, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce  Executive Director, said the annual event began in 2011, when a few stores approached the Chamber with the idea.

The neighboring states of Missouri and Oklahoma have tax holidays before the fall season each year. Kansas has none.

So, to keep the community and their dollars in Fort Scott, some local businesses are providing the opportunity to save money, while supporting local businesses with an almost 10 percent reduction in their total receipts.

Some retailers will participate in the Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend by offering shoppers a 9.65% discount while continuing to collect and remit all applicable sales tax.

Participating merchants include 110 South Main Mercantile, Barbed Wire & Roses, Be The Light Boutique, Better In Bourbon, Blissful Meadows Boutique, Eternal Grace Boutique, Hedgehog Books, Laree + Co., Midwest Runway, Papa Don’s Pizza, Ruddick’s Furniture, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and The Market at 23 Main.

Special considerations include that the discount at Ruddick’s Furniture applies to the first $500 of a purchase, while the discount at The Market at 23 Main applies to apparel only, according to a Chamber press release.

Shoppers may also enter to win $50 in Chamber Bucks.

To qualify for the Chamber Bucks, shoppers must spend at least $5 at three participating businesses and have their event rack card marked at each location. Completed cards should be turned in at the third participating business visited to be entered into the drawing.

Participating businesses offer a wide variety of merchandise, including apparel, home décor, new and repurposed furniture, school supplies, pizza, and much more.

With most participating businesses located in Fort Scott’s Downtown Historic District, shoppers can enjoy a convenient weekend of shopping while supporting local businesses throughout the community, according to the press release.

For more information, contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Leslie Godden from her email signature

“We are always looking for new ideas and ways to change things up so the event stays fresh and people continue to get excited about shopping locally,” said Leslie Godden, Chamber Communications and Events Planner.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend – Aug. 7–8

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July 30, 2026

Submitted by:
Lindsay Madison, President & CEO, lindsay.madison@fortscott.com
Leslie Godden, Communications & Events Coordinator, communications@fortscott.com

Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend Returns August 7–8

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce an opportunity for shoppers to save money while supporting local businesses. Friday, August 7th and Saturday, August 8th, select retailers will participate in the Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend by offering shoppers a 9.65% discount while continuing to collect and remit all applicable sales tax.

Participating merchants include 110 South Main Mercantile, Barbed Wire & Roses, Be The Light Boutique, Better In Bourbon, Blissful Meadows Boutique, Eternal Grace Boutique, Hedgehog Books, Laree + Co., Midwest Runway, Papa Don’s Pizza, Ruddick’s Furniture, Shirt Shack, Sunshine Boutique, and The Market at 23 Main. Special considerations include that the discount at Ruddick’s Furniture applies to the first $500 of a purchase, while the discount at The Market at 23 Main applies to apparel only.

Shoppers may also enter to win $50 in Chamber Bucks. To qualify, shoppers must spend at least $5 at three participating businesses and have their event rack card marked at each location. Completed cards should be turned in at the third participating business visited to be entered into the drawing.

Participating businesses offer a wide variety of merchandise, including apparel, home décor, new and repurposed furniture, school supplies, pizza, and much more. With most participating businesses located in Fort Scott’s Downtown Historic District, shoppers can enjoy a convenient weekend of shopping while supporting local businesses throughout the community.

Save money. Shop local. Shop Fort Scott.

The Shop Fort Scott Sales Tax Holiday Weekend is organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Chamber at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend Flyer – August 7–8, 2026

Shop Fort Scott Tax-Free Weekend – Participating Stores

Business, Fort Scott, Government

City manager: rail spur into the industrial park ‘sounds very possible’

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Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin told city commissioners on Tuesday, July 21, that he has finally found someone at the railroad willing to talk about running a rail spur into the city’s industrial park — and that the railroad is willing to bring one in.

Nothing has been agreed to, and nobody has voted on anything. But the report was the most concrete public word yet on infrastructure that would shape what kind of employers Fort Scott can try to attract.

“I finally found somebody from the railroad that wants to talk, and it happens to be an economic development person for the railroad,” Matkin said. After a meeting the previous Friday, he said, “they are willing to bring a spur up right now up to the south of Timken, actually south of Valu.”

“It sounds very possible that we will be getting a railroad spur out to Industrial Park,” he said. “And manufacturing background can tell you how big that is.” He called it “huge for economic development in the future, because not that many industries have spurs going behind them.”

Satellite view of the Fort Scott Industrial Park with the BNSF railroad running north to south along the east edge
The BNSF main line runs north–south just east of the former Timken Belts plant on Campbell Drive. Matkin says the railroad is willing to bring a spur up to the south of the building. Satellite imagery ©2026 Google; annotation by FortScott.biz.

Matkin said they were meeting again that Friday and would “continue meeting until we get this thing ironed out.” He said the railroad “has been listening. They’ve been cooperative. They want the business, of course.”

The railroad wants to tie the spur into a Columbus, Kansas, line rather than a Springfield, Missouri, line, Matkin said, adding that he could not explain the reasoning. Public rail maps show two BNSF lines meeting just south of the industrial park — one running southeast toward Springfield, the other southwest through Columbus.

Two-panel map showing the BNSF Fort Scott Subdivision and Afton Subdivision meeting just south of the Fort Scott Industrial Park
Two BNSF lines meet just south of the Fort Scott Industrial Park — one running southeast toward Springfield, Mo., the other southwest through Columbus, Kan. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Matkin’s own ask is that the track not stop short. Running it behind the Timken building, he said, would let more than one company use it: that “would give a runway through their parking lot that you could bring from other companies to that spur.”

That is the case for rail access. A spur ties a plant to the main line, and for a manufacturer that ships heavy or bulk freight, having or sharing one is often what decides whether a site gets a serious look. The company buying the Timken building has raised it with him directly, Matkin said: “They’ve been talking to me about the railroad spur. That’s very important to them.”

The Timken building is why the timing matters. Timken announced in November 2023 that it would wind down its belts plant at 4505 Campbell Road and close it in 2025; about 155 people worked there. On the city’s radio show on July 16, Matkin said “the Timken building is sold. The contract is signed and everything,” with the buyer’s name and line of business expected “later in the month or first of August,” pending paperwork and financing. He has not named the buyer.

Next door, Diversey, the cleaning-products company that said in May it would put a blending plant and warehouse in the former Valu Merchandisers building, is already at work on its building, Matkin said, coordinating with the city’s fire department and engineer on code. Both buildings had been sitting empty. “These are big companies that are coming in,” he said.

A second rail item came up the same night on a different project: Commissioner Matthew Wells asked about the study the city is running with Fontana and Spring Hill through the firm Wilson & Company. That one is about crossings rather than spurs. Fort Scott, Spring Hill and Fontana share a $2.15 million BNSF planning grant, of which $800,000 covers the Fort Scott end of the work; the city put up $40,000 to match it. The study is meant to determine whether Fort Scott needs an overpass, Jayhawk Road is the hoped-for location, and which existing crossing BNSF would want closed in exchange. Matkin said it is underway, with the city’s business development director, Mary Wyatt, leading it.

Matkin’s report on the spur begins about 1:43:40 into the city’s video of the July 21 meeting.

Business, Fort Scott

Men’s Grooming Services Shop To Open at 14 E. Wall in August

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Parker Stapp and his wife Shawna at the Kentucky Derby. Submitted photo. Stapp wears many hats, the latest is as the owner of the Bourbon Buzz, a new barber shop.

Parker Stapp has always wanted to own a barber shop.

“I’ve been coming to a barber shop since a little boy,” he said. “There is nothing better than walking in, enjoying good conversation, and walking out feeling better; that’s the goal of this new one.”

“We want to be the reason people stay in Fort Scott to get their grooming.”

The Bourbon Buzz is located at 14 E. Wall in historic downtown Fort Scott.

The Bourbon Buzz Men’s Grooming Shop is located at 14 E. Wall, next door to the Common Ground Coffee shop.

“We are offering grooming services: nose and ear waxing, eyebrow shaping (for men),” he said, in addition to haircuts for men.

One of the stations to get a haircut in the Bourbon Buzz barber shop.

He has hired two cosmetologists, Kayla Schwartz and Mac Burton, both of whom grew up here and just moved back. Stapp also recently moved here.

“Fort Scott feels like home,” he said.

Kayla Schwartz. From the business Facebook page.

Kayla has been a licensed cosmetologist for 16 years,  specializing in men’s cuts, trends, and perfecting beards, with a specialty in skin fades, tapering, and razor cuts. 

 

Macalaster Burton. From the business Facebook page.

Macalaster said she loves helping people leave the chair looking sharp and feeling their best. “Whether you’re coming in for a fresh cut, a beard trim, or just some good conversation, I’d love to have you in my chair.”

Stapp said the owners of the building, Kinede Jennings and her husband, and the city of Fort Scott personnel have helped start the new venture.

Currently, he is waiting on a cosmetology license from the State of Kansas to open the shop, and is putting the finishing touches on the building interior renovation in the historic downtown Fort Scott area.

He hopes to open the shop by August 8.

Hours of operation will be Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the business is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Contact information https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566719832318

Both appointments and walk-in customers are welcome, he said.

The lounge area of the Bourbon Buzz.

Stapp is also a business owner for a taxidermy service and leases about 10,000 acres to do outfitting for deer hunters.

He is delivering white-tail deer mounts this week around the East Coast, he said.

 

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Bam Bam Brewing Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Friday

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites Chamber members, guests, and the community to celebrate the Grand Opening of Bam Bam Brewing!

Friday, July 24th
5:15 – 6:30 p.m.

Remarks & Ribbon Cutting
5:30 p.m.

ὌD Bam Bam Brewing Company
120 East Wall St.

Event Admission: $2/person
(This enters guests in both the Chamber’s 50/50 drawing & Bam Bam’s door prize drawing!)

Doors remain open until 10 p.m.!

Grand Opening Special
$3 off all beer flights!

Opening weekend continues
Saturday, July 25, 12:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Bam Bam Brewing Grand Opening event flyer

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members, guests, and the community to attend a Chamber After-Hours, Grand Opening Celebration, and Ribbon Cutting for Bam Bam Brewing on Friday, July 24, from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. at 120 E. Wall St. in the Downtown Historic District.

The celebration will feature remarks and a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m. welcoming owners John and Kristine Gemsky to the Fort Scott business community. The Chamber will collect a $2 event admission, which enters guests in both the Chamber’s 50/50 drawing and Bam Bam Brewing’s door prize drawing.

John and Kristine fell in love with Fort Scott after visiting family in the area. Kristine’s brother and sister-in-law, Trent and Kate Freeman, own The Artificers Gallery & Studio in downtown Fort Scott, and her parents also call nearby Bronson home. After spending time in the community, the Gemskys chose to invest in a historic downtown building and relocate their microbrewery to Fort Scott.

Bam Bam Brewing will offer a welcoming atmosphere featuring a variety of locally brewed craft beers, wine, and cocktails. As a Grand Opening special, guests can enjoy $3 off a beer flight throughout the evening.

On Friday, July 24, the Chamber celebration will take place from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., after which Bam Bam Brewing will remain open to the public until 10:00 p.m. Opening weekend continues on Saturday, July 25, from 12:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Following the Grand Opening weekend, Bam Bam Brewing’s regular hours will be Thursdays and Fridays from 3:00 to 10:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 to 10:00 p.m.

In addition to serving customers at their new downtown location, Bam Bam Brewing’s locally brewed beers can also be found at other establishments in Fort Scott and throughout the region.

“We’re incredibly thankful to everyone who has supported us along the way,” said the Gemskys. “We’re excited to officially open our doors, become part of the Fort Scott community, and share our passion for craft brewing with both residents and visitors.”

The Chamber encourages members, guests, and the community to attend the celebration, meet John and Kristine, tour the new business, and help welcome Bam Bam Brewing as one of Fort Scott’s newest downtown businesses. Supporting new small businesses strengthens the local economy and continues the positive momentum in Downtown Fort Scott and Bourbon County.

For more information about Chamber events, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

Enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes as Bam Bam Brewing gets ready to welcome the community!

Bam Bam Brewing behind the scenes
Bam Bam Brewing behind the scenes
Bam Bam Brewing behind the scenes

Bam Bam Brewing behind the scenes
Bam Bam Brewing behind the scenes
Bam Bam Brewing behind the scenes

Visit Bam Bam Brewing on Facebook!

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Coffee at City State Bank – July 23, 8 a.m.

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Join us for Chamber Coffee hosted by City State Bank

Thursday, July 23rd
8 a.m.
@ City State Bank – South Branch location
1012 Highway 69
(Just south of Walmart’s entrance)

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to attend this week’s Chamber Coffee hosted by City State Bank on Thursday, July 23, at 8 a.m. The event will take place at the bank’s South Branch, located at 1012 Highway 69 in Fort Scott. Coffee, juice and light refreshments will be served, along with a door prize drawing.

City State Bank has proudly served the community since 1920 and is celebrating 106 years of trusted hometown banking. The bank operates two convenient full-service locations: its Downtown Branch at 202 Scott Ave. and South Branch at 1012 Highway 69.

City State Bank provides personalized financial services while supporting the individuals, families and businesses that make the community strong. The bank also offers the modern conveniences customers rely on each day, including mobile and online banking, free ATM and debit cards, and experienced local loan officers dedicated to helping customers reach their financial goals.

Chamber members and guests are encouraged to attend, learn more about City State Bank and make connections with fellow attendees.

For more information about Chamber Coffees or other Chamber events, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.

City State Bank Facebook Page
City State Bank Website

Chamber Coffee event details

Business, Clothing, Fort Scott

New Women’s Clothing Boutique Opens August 1: Midwest Runway

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Maria Morris. Submitted photo.

Maria Morris grew up on the Kansas/Missouri border in Deerfield, MO.

“I bar tended at Sharkey’s Pub for eleven years,” Morris said. “A year ago, I decided to start a different career. I always loved fashion, so I decided to follow my dream and own a clothing store.”

She started her venture in Nevada, MO in 2025.

“I was talking to Dean Striler (co-owner of the new space she is leasing in Fort Scott), and he presented the opportunity to open in Fort Scott. I always loved the community of Fort Scott and wanted to be a part of bringing customers to the area.”

The new space is 6 North Main, the former Tribune storefront.

The name of her new venture is Midwest Runway.

“I am really excited to be a part of the community,” she said. “I believe clothing is more than what we wear, but is also a unique part of who God created us to be.”

 

The next two weeks are the last weeks at her location at 14182 E. U.S. 54 Hwy, Nevada, and also starting the move to the new location in downtown Fort Scott.

 

Once she gets moved in, there will be a grand opening on Saturday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Normal hours will follow: Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The business is closed on Sundays.

 

Morris said she likes to “make women feel empowered and beautiful on the outside and the inside.”

 

The selection ranges from lounge wear to special-occasion clothing.

“Outfits you can take from day to night,” she said.

Sammie Barner is the manager of Midwest Runway. Submitted photo.

Sammie Barner will be the store manager, and there are some part-time employees as well.

The business can be contacted on its Facebook and Instagram pages or at midwestrunwayboutique@gmail.com.

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting: The Library Speakeasy, July 9

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites Chamber members and their guests to attend a Chamber After-Hours, Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting celebrating The Library, Fort Scott’s newest speakeasy, on Thursday, July 9, from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at 523 S. Main Street, with the entrance located on the south side of the building beneath Lu’s Ice Cream Shop.

Chamber members and their guests are invited to tour The Library Speakeasy, enjoy refreshments, network with fellow Chamber members, and celebrate this exciting new business. Chamber remarks and the official ribbon cutting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.

The Library is the vision of local businessman Al Niece and will be managed by Flo Tanner. Tucked away in the basement below Lu’s Ice Cream Shop, the venue offers a unique 1920s speakeasy-inspired atmosphere featuring specialty cocktails and a select beer menu. The Chamber After-Hours will serve as an exclusive preview celebration ahead of the business’s public Grand Opening on Friday, July 10.

Chamber After-Hours events provide an excellent opportunity for Chamber members to network, build relationships, make new business connections, and celebrate new businesses, expansions, and investments that strengthen our community. As a Chamber After-Hours tradition, a $2 admission will be collected at the door and includes entry into the Chamber’s popular 50/50 drawing, with one lucky attendee taking home half of the proceeds.

“We’re excited to celebrate another outstanding investment in Fort Scott,” said Lindsay Madison, President & CEO of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. “The Library is a wonderful example of how historic spaces can be thoughtfully reimagined while preserving the character and historic charm that make Fort Scott so special. We appreciate Al Niece’s continued investment in our community and look forward to welcoming Chamber members to this special preview event.”

Following the Chamber celebration, The Library will celebrate its public Grand Opening on Friday, July 10, and will be open Thursday through Saturday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

For more information about the Chamber After-Hours, contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at 620-223-3566, stop by 231 E. Wall Street, or visit FortScott.com.

Visit The Library Facebook Page

Visit The Library Facebook Event Page

The Library Speakeasy logo

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Let’s Flamingle Shopping Event July 10–11 in Fort Scott

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The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Let’s Flamingle Shopping Event Downtown & Around Fort Scott, KS!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Let’s Flamingle shopping event will be held this Friday and Saturday, July 10th–11th, Downtown and around.

Businesses in the Downtown Historic District and additional locations will be participating by hiding flamingos inside the stores that can be found for discounts and giveaways. Shoppers may also pick up a card from any participating store and get it stamped by spending $5 or more in at least three retailers for a chance to win $50 in Chamber Bucks gift certificates.

Let's Flamingle Shopping Event – Friday & Saturday, July 10th & 11th

Participating Stores

Participating Stores list

  • 110 South Main Mercantile – 110 S. Main St.
  • Barbed Wire & Roses Vintage Market – 18 N. Main St.
  • Be The Light Boutique – 12 N. Main St.
  • Better In Bourbon – 2 Old Fort Blvd.
  • Common Ground Coffee Co. – 12 E. Wall St.
  • Eternal Grace Boutique – 13 N. Main St.
  • Hedgehog Books – 16 S. Main St.
  • Laree & Co. – 3 S. National Ave.
  • The Market at 23 Main – 23 S. Main St.
  • Shirt Shack – 11 E. 18th St.
  • Sunshine Boutique – 18 E. Wall St.

Grab your “flock” and get ready to shop local this weekend for the Let’s Flamingle event, Downtown and around in Fort Scott. Organized by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 620-223-3566, fortscott.com.

Click HERE for the Facebook Event Page!

Business, Food, Fort Scott

Lu’s Ice Cream Begins New Hours Today

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Lu Niece stands at the entrance to her new business Lu’s Ice Cream Shop at 6th and Main in Fort Scott in this December 2025 photo.

 

Starting today, July 1, Lu’s Ice Cream shop, at the corner of 6th and Main Street in Fort Scott, will have a new menu and new hours.

The business owners, Al and Luanna Niece, recently purchased fudge equipment from Perry’s Pork Rinds (Bronson) and will be making fresh fudge and, in addition, will offer ballpark-inspired food: loaded hot dogs, nachos, paninis, and salads.

New hours are Mondays: closed. Tuesday through Thursday: 3-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday: 2-7 p.m. They will be closed July 4.

One novel aspect of this business venture is that they employ individuals of all abilities and are committed to creating a workspace where every team member is valued, supported, and empowered to succeed, said Nicole Regan, manager of Lu’s Ice Cream.

Regan is a former special education teacher.

Nichole Regan stands behind the counter at Lu’s Ice Cream shop at 6th and Main Street.

They sell Blue Bell Ice Cream, whose headquarters are in Texas, where the owners, the Nieces, are from.

“The Blue Bell delivery driver said we are the second largest delivery account in this region, second only to Branson, MO,” Regan said.

The response from the community so far has been “incredible”, she said. “The ice cream sales have exceeded our expectations. We are grateful to our customers and community for making this achievement possible.”

The building at 6th and Main was dilapidated until a few years ago, when the Nieces took it on as a project.

Al and Luanna Niece in 2023, outside their new purchase, the building at 6th and Main Street, Fort Scott.

It is ideally located directly across from the ballpark that is used consistently throughout the summer.

The Nieces own  Niece Equipment in the city’s industrial park and is a leading manufacturer of custom-built water trucks and fuel lube trucks.