In 1996, the Spinas purchased a downtown building for their photography studio. Fast forward 27 years, and they now call that building home. This week, we sit down with Charles Spina to find out what it is like to live in downtown Larned. Tune in to hear more about the renovation process, and Charles’ 10 year city council experience.

This week we interview Katherine Roth with Off Broadway Boutique. Katherine is a full time entrepreneur, full time employee, and a full time mom. With both a physical and online presence, Katherine’s business contributes to our downtown in a vital way. Tune in to hear about the current challenges with commercial real estate in the shopping center of our town.

The Tabler family owned and operated a furniture store in downtown Larned for over fifty years. With first hand experience, Buddy compares today’s entrepreneurial environment to that of the past. In this episode, we discuss practical ways to spark local entrepreneurship for the future of our community. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/larneddowntown...

On April 25, 2023, downtown Larned was awarded a $750,000 grant on behalf of the Kansas Department of Commerce. With a minimum match of $250,000 from the city, our downtown has the opportunity to see a million dollar improvement by 2025. Tune in to learn more about the grant award and what it means for the (near) future of downtown.

What would you like to leave behind for future generations? Make your mark by completing the survey in the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/larneddowntown?fbclid=IwAR2FvXc1FHjQ0uoO0mOte8r4szQr8tC4mJ2AASptW0SkjuZMQV61eH4K4q4

This week we had the pleasure of hosting Mrs. Erway’s 4th grade students on the podcast. How does a 4th grader view Downtown? Are they proud of where they are from? Are our students excited to move back to Larned? These kids gladly provide their unfiltered opinions for the community to hear. If we are shooting for a brighter future, it would only make sense to aim from our youth’s point of view.

Since we deprived you of an episode last week, we have decided to release one of our favorite recordings to date. Tune in this week to hear both Carlton Burt and Heather Helvie discuss the biggest project in town - The tri-level restoration of 414 Broadway. It is a project that is bursting with character as several balconies already beginning to take shape. With such a big project coming together, we take time to discuss the original intention behind the space, and what the future could look like at “The Back Door.” We have no doubt that you will be encouraged by Carlton and Heather’s optimism for our up and coming downtown.  – Enjoy!

Every downtown has its staple businesses, and Office Products Incorporated is just that for downtown Larned. No matter the economic outlook, you can always count on Office Products Incorporated (OPI) to service your office supplies needs. This week, we interview Duane Fogo, a 24 year employee of OPI, to get his insight into our downtown and OPI’s history. From underground car dealerships, to multiple loft apartments, OPI’s location is one of the most historically diverse buildings in all of downtown.  Tune in to learn more about one of the longest operating businesses on broadway today. 

After graduating from Larned High, Megan found her calling as CEO of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. In the last two years, Great Bend has accelerated their efforts towards the improvement of their downtown. With various organizations and governments working together, downtown Great Bend is seeing incredible success. Murals, facade programs, and downtown events have quickly changed their downtown’s culture. Why would an average person from Great Bend take a weekend trip over to Larned? Tune in to find out!