Owners to seek $250,000 grant

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

An Olathe couple who purchased a building at 301 E. Main St. Oct. 30 will apply for a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant intended for downtown commercial rehabilitation projects.

Daryl and Megan Jones, who bought the building that formerly housed MacGregors, estimate needed renovation will cost $345,000.

The county appraiser’s website lists the value of the building as $61,150.

It needs roof replacement, new windows and doors, demolition to allow access to make structural repairs, and electric and plumbing systems brought up to code.

Megan Jones said the couple has many plans for what the business will offer, but are still working out what that will be.

“It’s going to be different,” Daryl Jones said. “It’s going to be a lot of different foods and a lot of different things.”

“Our goal is to bring some food to Marion and bring some entertainment,” Megan Jones said.

She told Marion city council members Monday that they have talked to people about having art in the building.

“We want to bring money into the city, not take money out of the city,” Daryl Jones said. “I’m excited. I think it’s a new adventure.”

Megan Jones said the couple has already started getting work bids from local contractors.

“In a perfect world, we’d like to open fall-ish,” she said.

City council members voted to request administration service proposals if the state approves the $250,000 grant.

Megan Jones is a 2004 graduate of Marion High School. Daryl Jones, grew up in Wichita.