Downtown Guessing Game
Caitlin Dean
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
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Todd Kuhns, Truman Web master, city councilmember and now business owner, won't reveal anything more than this about the new enterprise on the Square, Pickler's Famous. Although Kuhns will be the sole owner of the business, he shares ownership of the building with family practitioner Justin Puckett. Kuhns said he has considered such an enterprise for a couple of years, but he only recently learned of Puckett's parallel interest in revitalizing the downtown area. The two closed on the building Aug. 14 and began demolition with the help of friends and volunteers Aug. 15, Kuhns said. Currently, contractors and those helping with the renovations know what eventually will occupy the building, but guesses are flying around town as to what the new business will be.
"We think that Kirksville could use a little excitement, some positive energy, that we're trying to spur from this," Kuhns said. "It's fun to have people guessing. It's also neat to hear ideas of what people think it should be. We just thought it was more fun this way."
For those who can't stand the suspense, the new business owners offer an Inner Circle on their Web site, picklersfamous.org. Kuhns said more than 300 members belong to the Inner Circle, which receives e-mailed Web clues designed by Kuhns. Those following the Web riddles will have a good idea of what Pickler's Famous will be prior to the target opening date of Dec. 1, 2008, he said.
Picker's Famous first opened in 1880, and although many different businesses have occupied the building since then, the partners intend to return the building to both its original look and name. They have engaged in collecting and verifying stories about the history of the building and doing historical research, and they also will contact relatives of Samuel Pickler who still live in town, Kuhns said.
"I really think that we have a lot of great history downtown, a lot of heritage," he said. "Part of the DREAM Initiative and some of these downtown revitalization efforts are focused on bringing back more of that historical character of downtown."
Brad Selby, Kirksville codes and planning director, said city officials know what type of business will inhabit Pickler's Famous, but will leave it to the owners to make the announcement. Selby said he is pleased with the decision to return the building to its historic appearance.
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