Hays Post
Downtown Hays is experiencing a building shuffle. Two businesses have moved into new locations and two more are moving later this summer.
Blue Heron moved from its location at 1013 Main St. to the former Philip Hardware building at 719 Main St. A2Z moved from 2703 Hall St. in Eagle Plaza to 115 W. Eighth St. The owners of Refine bought the former Kuhn’s jewelry store building at 109 Main St. and will be moving from its current location at 115 W. 10th St. in July. Regeena’s Flowers is moving from 117 W. 11th to 1013 Main St., the former Blue Heron Building.
All of the business owners said there is a growing synergy downtown for retail, entertainment and dining that make the Bricks a perfect place to locate a business.
Sister owners of the Blue Heron, Anissa Pfeifer and Sonia Larcom were delighted to be able to relocate into the historic Philip Hardware Building on Main Street.
The building was constructed by Hill P. Wilson in 1874 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.The Philip family ran the hardware store in that location from 1896 to 1996. It also has been a newspaper office and a land office.
“We have always loved this building,” Pfeifer said. “It just has so much charm and history and character. It is amazing to be a part of the history.”
Larcom said, “Everyone knows Philip Hardware. I love it when people come in here and say they remember (Mr.) Philip here with his dog. They remember all the history behind it. It is rich in history.”
The new tenants are still working on signage. Because of the historical status of the building, they can not add signage to the front of the building. They plan to hang a sign from flanges on the side of the building and add more signage in the windows.
“It has this nice feeling to be downtown and on the Bricks,” Pfeifer said. “To see the downtown come alive … It is like a city within a city.”
The Blue Heron is in a smaller space, but the sisters said they have learned to better maximize their space and are even carrying a couple of new local lines.
“We still carry the same amount of inventory,” Pfeifer said. “It gives us a nice feel to really utilize all our space and be creative in how we are putting outfits together.”
One of the new local lines is Glam+Co. , a company out of Victoria that sells gift sets and handmade cards for occasions such as bridal, baby showers and graduations. Blue Heron is also carrying hand-cut leather earrings from Fancy That Designs, which is also based in Victoria.
“I think it is important to give back to our local community,” Pfeifer said, “and I think they have such great artistic ability, and a lot of the lines fit in well with what we are doing here.”
In the fall, Blue Heron will roll out its own Fort Hays apparel, including T-shirts and sweatshirts.
The sisters, who are still in their mid-20s, continue to expand and hope to open a fulfillment center in Hill City for its online business and open more brick-and-mortar locations.
Blue Herons hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
A2Z Escape opened last year across town on Hall Street, but owners Janet Giersch, Judy Brummer, Jerry Braun and Emily Nuttle said they wanted to move downtown to gain more exposure for their business.
Braun said locating downtown places the business closer to complimentary businesses, such as bars and restaurants.
“I think one of the things I like about being downtown is people can make an evening of it,” he said. “They can go to eat at Gutch’s and walk over here or vice versa. There are other things they can do in the general vicinity, so they can weave it into an evening downtown, just to get away.”
The business moved to its new locale at 115 W. Eight St. in March and already has participated in several downtown events, including Brews on the Bricks, Shop Hop and the Spring Art Walk.
The business has added a Sink or Swim room that allows two groups of people to compete head to head to see who can escape from the room first.
“I would describe an escape room as being inside a puzzle,” Braun said. “There is a story that unfolds and you are a character in that story. You are solving the puzzle as the story unfolds.”
The escape rooms challenge visitors to a series of puzzles that have to be solved to unlock locks. Participants are not locked in the rooms and can leave whenever they wish, but time does not stop if participants exit the room during the challenge.
A2Z creates new escape scenarios every four to six months and right now has a gambling-themed High Limit Hostage room in addition to the nautical-themed Sink or Swim rooms.
Cost for up to an hour of play is $20 per person. Easier challenges are available for children’s birthday parties.
Regular hours are 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fridays, 12:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturdays and 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays. Other times may be available upon request. Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 785-432-2958 or online.
Refine owners Brianne Sultzer and her mother Tonya Staab have purchased the former Kuhn’s Jewelry building at 109 Main St.
Sultzer and her mother had been renting the building on 10th Street and decided now was the right time to purchase a downtown property. Refine has been in its present location three and a half years, but Tonya Staab has been in clothing retail for 30 years.
The building will require extensive remodeling. Sultzer said she hopes to be open in the new space in July.
Refine is a ladies boutique, carrying apparel and accessories. They carry Kendra Scott jewelry and some gift and candle lines.
“I personally was really excited about owning a piece of historical property in downtown Hays,” Sultzer said. “You don’t see it come up for sale very often. That was part of the reason. I also wanted to be in the mix with all of the other stores downtown. I am right around the corner, but I feel it promotes all of us for all of us to be around each other.”
Other nearby businesses include Simply Charmed, Salon Ten O Seven, Paisley Pair, Bluetique and Something Blue.
“I definitely feel that downtown is the destination for shopping in Hays,” Sultzer said. “It continues and continues to grow. All of the events that we have downtown, the ability to walk from boutiques and restaurants and eateries … I think it all makes for a good family, couple, friend zone. It is definitely the place I would want to be. I don’t see myself ever leaving downtown. We all have a good camaraderie here and like to branch off of each other in terms of business tactics and customer base.”
The layout will be a different, but Refine will be in about the same square footage.
Sultzer said they will be weeding out some lines that have been poor performers and will be bringing in new lines when the store opens in its new location. Those products will be announced at a later date.
Regeena’s Flowers will open in the former Blue Heron Building, 1013 Main St. Further information may be released on that move and change in ownership later this week.
Also coming to downtown Hays soon is Southwind Crossfit, the Economic Development Coalition’s Gateway co-working space on 10th Street and an optometrist/dentist office at 13th and Main streets.
Other business that have recently moved downtown are Das Essen Hutte, which relocated from Big Creek Crossing, the Hays Community Theatre, which is now in the renovated Elks Lodge, and Bluetique/Something Blue, which opened a new bridal store at 1008 Main St.
See related stories: Das Essen Hutte opens in new location with expanded menu
Something Blue expands wedding lines, opens second store, Bluetique
Hays Community Theatre remodels new venue, to host murder mystery
“With change comes excitement,” Sara Bloom, Downtown Hays Development Corp., said. “We are excited about moves and expansions in every business in downtown Hays.”