Michael and I at our final editorial meeting at Crow & Co. on Jan. 18, 2025 CREDIT A KIND STRANGER
By Gina Long
Today was bittersweet as Crow & Co. closed its doors.
The Hutchinson Tribune would not exist without the downtown bookstore. Michael and I first met in the philosophy book club, and the monthly discussions were a personal favorite event on my usually full personal calendar.
I met an extraordinary high school student who read the material, asked thoughtful questions and applied the material to his personal experiences, current events, and world news.
We talked about the news, and he floated a thought experiment that, 18 months later, has blossomed into The Hutchinson Tribune.
We met on Saturday at Crow & Co., our final editorial meeting in that space. We asked someone to snap a photo, as seen above.
I bought a couple of graphic novels, some bookmarks and a set of “existential pencils” for Michael.
Michael headed off to Wichita, and I wandered through downtown in the biting wind to clear my mind and engage in one of my favorite pastimes — reflecting on each building and block’s history.
I have seen a fantastic downtown transformation since moving back to Hutchinson in 2011. I am old enough to remember buying shoes at Buster Brown’s and clothes at Wiley’s, and I watched venerable stores like Anthony’s struggle and close when the mall opened in the mid-80s.
The retail landscape has changed, and downtown is now a cradle of vibrant storefronts, extensive renovations of commercial and residential units, and various relocations and ownership changes. The Downtown Master Plan envisions a future in which the city’s center becomes a destination experience, with dining and entertainment within comfortable walking distance and lodging for those who wish to spend the night.
Hutchinson is getting close to that dream. Downtown has several restaurants, the Fox Theater hosts a movie or concert nearly every weekend, Memorial Hall offers top-rank amateur boxing and conventions, and Salt City Brewery features trivia nights and live music.
The Hoke Hotel renovation has hit a roadblock. Still, the historic Landmark building is undergoing multimillion-dollar rehabilitation and plans to offer downtown apartments, hotel space, and retail space on the ground floor.
Hutchinson’s downtown is not stagnant; it constantly evolves. Nonetheless, sometimes it hurts to lose something personally meaningful.
Thank you to Lara and Sara Crow and all the amazing people who worked, collaborated and visited the bookstore. Your goal of creating a community space brought people together, to laugh, cry, dream, and in at least one case, create a local newspaper.
I look forward to seeing who takes a chance and builds something extraordinary downtown next.
Ivan Huston / January 19, 2025
I migrated to Hutchinson in 1950 from Abilene to attend HUTCH JUCO. Worked parttime for the NEWS Herald running advertising proofs to businesses. I can still recall a lot of them. I remember the Stamey Hotel when in its glory, now the Landmark is being restored. That building is a work of history. I am in frequent touch with Steve Harman about old stores in Hutchinson. I remember the Bisonite in its glory, especially going there when the American Legion was there. We were there for it closing.
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Keith Richardson / January 19, 2025
Ivan, we need to hear more of your memories! Maybe Gina and Mike can provide an avenue?
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