Ed Townley, Olathe, has purchased the former Books and Grannies store at 11 N. Main, in Fort Scott’s Historic Downtown.

“I bought it with ideas in mind, but that is ever-changing,” Townley said. “At the current moment, I may finish remodeling and rent it out for a few years.”

Local realtor, Barb Albright with H and H Agency, handled the sale of the building to the family.

“I bought rental houses and recently sold those and I always wanted a business downtown,” he said.

“I have lifelong friends from Fort Scott,” he said. “Jerome Mitzner and Brian Love, along with Al Metcalf.”

He and his wife, Susan, own an independent insurance adjuster business, he said.

“We have a side business of antiques in Johnson County,” Townley said.

They are looking forward to moving to Fort Scott, although at this point it won’t be until his youngest daughter graduates, and she is currently in the eighth grade, he said.

The overwhelming amount of books in the former bookstore were consolidated and sold to a company.

“The fastest and easiest way to liquidate the books was to have a company do it,” he said.

Then he had a clean slate to see what he purchased.

What he purchased at 11 N. Main was 1700 square feet with doors to both Main Street and Skubitiz Plaza.

“The front and back doors are appealing,” he said.

Townley has repainted the original ceiling tiles, is working on new flooring and a restroom will be added.

The family worked on a Christmas display on November 6 to spruce up the storefront for the upcoming annual holiday shopping event on November 11-13, sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and businesses.

“We did a vintage Christmas display, to give (the storefront) a little personality,” Townley said.

Following the completion of work on the first floor, the family has the upstairs to renovate.

There is an apartment on the second floor that is the whole length of the store and the family has a goal of making that into a living space, he said.

Once an anchor store in Fort Scott Historic Downtown, Country Cupboard staff is opening the store at 12 N. Main on Saturdays only until the end of the year in a liquidation sale, according to employees.

Home decor, jewelry, clothing, cards, old fashion candy were among the offerings of the store, as well as Kansas State University accessories.

“Judy (Renard, the owner) was a true K-State fan,” a 20-year employee Sheila Blubaugh, said.

“We had the latest trends in merchandise,” Blubaugh, said. “Judy had a good ability to pick out something that was going to be popular. People came from lots of places, to shop here.”

“Judy was good at, if somebody wanted something we didn’t have, she would try to get it for them,” Marie Wiley, an almost 30-year employee, said. “She was a good boss, as well.”

Judy’s husband, John, had a shoe repair business inside the shop.

John died in December 2019, and Judy died this year in September.

In the last few years, the shop has been opened only rarely, as Judy had been ill.

Since the Good Ol Days Event this year in June, the shop has been open on Saturdays, Wiley said.

Now until the end of the year,  from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, shoppers can purchase antiques,  store displays, former consignment items, and store merchandise that is for sale.

All are included in the liquidation sale.

“We have boxes of old consignment items,” Wiley said. “Some are being given away.”

The Renard family has listed the business property with real estate agent, Crystal Mason, Blubaugh said.

The family is comprised of Renard’s four children, Jim, Dallas, TX; Ron, Marshall, MO; David, Mapleton, and Dee Anne Miller, Fort Scott.

The building has two stories and a basement, Wiley said.

History of the business

Judy Renard started her business as the Calico Cottage, in a different building on Main Street, Blubaugh said.

“The shop featured handmade items, sold on consignment,” Blubaugh said.

Then Judy and John purchased the current location at 12 N. Main, about 40 years ago, Wiley said.

The building was originally a men’s clothing store, then A & P Grocery Store and then a men’s Western shop-when the Renard’s bought it, Wiley said.