Levinson’s Dry Goods Store

28/10/2023

Next time you are in the drive through at Mc Donald’s and paying cash, tell the cashier to round up for the Ronald Mc Donald House. You can do this with your debit card as well.
A few things that it accomplishes:
1) Less loose change in your door handle that eventually gets vacuumed up.
2) You help a family that is in a traumatizing time of their life have a nice place to stay and eat without worrying about the additional financial burden.
We stayed at The Ronald Mc Donald House in Phoenix almost 20 years ago with Anna. We were there for a month. They provided us with an apartment and hot meals everynight with no questions asked. I cannot describe how grateful I am of this organization.

18/12/2020

Moving is almost complete. I believe they are opening December 30th.

18/12/2020

I found a place to install the original Levinson’s sign.

18/12/2020

Carpet is done.

24/11/2020

I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time now. Carpet has begun.

19/11/2020

First floor painting day has finally arrived. We are working hard to maintain somewhat of a schedule. We have all been battling Corona. First floor will be painted by the end of the weekend!!!!! Carpet install starts on Monday!!!!

15/10/2020

Been a month since I updated you. Things are finally coming together. Elevator install has begun. Tile installed in the bathroom. Trim and paint on second floor. Got the metal ceiling back up.
My Karen problem resolved itself, so that is nice.
Glass for the windows should be delivered this week.
I am planning on being complete the end of November so the new tenant can move in sometime in December.

22/08/2020

Here are some progress photos of the East entrance.

22/08/2020

I finally received all of my approvals from the Kansas Historic Society and the National Park Service two weeks ago. Now things will start moving fast. Sheetrock is almost finished. Trim work will start in the next week and the elevator has been ordered. I never thought this project would have taken this long but, when it is all done, the City of El Dorado will have a beautiful building at the center of downtown for the next 100 years.

06/07/2020

Look at this gem!! Found on the south side entryway. It was used as a floorboard.

06/07/2020

It’s been awhile since I have posted anything. We have been doing what we can. Paperwork was submitted to the National Park service in November. With the pandemic, I didn’t get approval until the end of April. Still waiting on one approval so I can build the store front windows. Other than dealing with a Karen in the neighborhood, everything is moving forward.
Below is the east side storefront. New transom window frames have been built and installed.

18/01/2020

Main Street entrance from the inside. A new entrance will be built as close to the original as possible.

17/01/2020

The stairway has been saved.

04/01/2020

New floor trusses being installed.

04/01/2020

Second floor trusses removal.

04/01/2020

The floor trusses may be bad but, we are saving the original staircase.

04/01/2020

New roof trusses during installation. A new TPO roof has been installed by Stanfield Roofing.

09/12/2019

Found some old writing on a 2x4 we tore out.

16/11/2019

Some major repair work was completed on the south side of the building last week. This wall was a little drafty.

30/10/2019

We are having a little fun in the snow today. This is the south side of the building facing Central Street.

30/10/2019

Some old nostalgia found in the cracks.

10/10/2019

The quality of construction processes back in the late 1800’s is not seen anymore. Most of the floor joists were chiseled out and connected together. Everything is nailed together with square nails.

10/10/2019

This isn’t good. Live termites.

10/10/2019

Main floor interior walls. A nice combination of brick and stone.

15/09/2019

Here is what we found behind the metal on the Main Street side.

13/09/2019

The roof structure is in bad shape. We are planning on removing all of the old trusses and installing new.

13/09/2019

Original transom windows on the south side. We will remove the green metal and restore the facade to its original glory.

13/09/2019

13/09/2019

I have had a lot of public interest on the renovation at 103 N Main so I decided to start a page for everyone to see. Things are moving, slowly, but they are moving. Enjoy the pictures and the updates as I post them.