New shop opening later this year

By Erin Gibbens

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Brick & Mortar, owned by Adair and Jason Reese, will be opening in downtown Grant sometime around November 2020.

The Reese family, who also own Reese Mechanical, purchased the building around two and a half years ago, and because Windesigns relocated, Adair did not want to see an empty building on main street. She and Jason made the decision to open up a retail shop in the open space.

The name, Brick & Mortar, came about when they were trying to figure out a name that wouldn’t pigeonhole the business. Boutique implies mostly women’s clothing, for example, which they wanted to avoid since the shop will be for anyone.

Brick & Mortar will sell men’s and women’s clothing, along with other small gift items sourced from small businesses, such as those owned by people she has met through Mrs. America events. 

The gift items will be of the sort one could find on the on the popular craft selling website, Etsy, such as bath bombs or baby accessories.

“We really want to try and find those fun little things from small brands, not something you’re going to find at Target or some of the major boutiques,” she said. 

“We love Grant a lot, and it’s fun to bring stuff to your town! You know, the more reasons you can keep people shopping local, the better it is for your community.”

The retail store will also look into carrying Plainsmen merchandise at some point for locals to show their support for the school.

Reese has wanted to eventually have her own retail shop after working in retail for 22 years of her life, and because the space is vacant she sees this as her chance. The building is currently undergoing serious renovations.

They started remodeling just over a week ago, and have now taken out the walls and essentially gutted the interior of the building.

She has been making sure to take lots of progress photos so they can watch the progress of the renovations over time.

In the meantime before the shop’s opening, one thing passersby may notice when walking down main street is the brightly painted piano out front of the future Brick & Mortar building with “play me!” scrawled on the case.

“I can’t play it, but I can paint on it!” she said.

She thought it would be a fun idea to place the piano there so people can play it. She’s noticed some have plunked on a few keys as they walk past, and hopes the community can play around with the instrument.

The idea is akin to the painted pianos at Denver’s 16th Street Mall. The pianos, part of the “Your Keys for the City” program, are also painted with bright and exciting designs, and it is encouraged for mallgoers to sit down and make some music whether or not they are musicians.