The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-07
Topeka Getting Away From
"Main Drag" Period.
Improvements on Avenue Force
Dat Many Firms.
THIS is A YEAR OF ACTIVITY
Spring Will Find Hundreds En-
pIoyed ON Buildings.
Lower Kansas Avenue Shows
Many Changes.

S I'm So
An era OF building and development
OF the side streets Of the down town
district OF Topeka is predicted by
many prominent Topeka business men.
Already it is apparent that the pre-
diction is becoming a truth
Frontage on Kansas avenue is be-
coming scarcer and more difficult to
obtain each year. Large industries
have obtained space on Kansas ave-
nue. and as their business grew and
developed they found it necessary to
acquire more space.
At present there are a number OF
lots on Kansas avenue that are soon
to be acquired by firms. In each case
this will mean the consolidation of
several frontage spaces into a big
front for the larger firm 1t will mean
that a number Of establishments now
located on Kansas avenue Will be
crowded out and will be forced to
seek other locations. They may do
this by buying out still smaller estab-
Iishments to whom a location on the
to justify the expenditure, or they VIII
seek locations on side streets
The theater building to be built by
G.. L Hooper will include the three
numbers now occupied between
Eighth and Ninth Architectural ar
rangement of the building may ac-
commodate some OF these concerns.
Some will be forced to other locations.
Crane & Company has closed a deal
whereby it will take possession of the
building occupied by the Bates &
Caps restaurant at s12 Kansas ave-
nue. The three floors of the building
will be used by the Crane company
in taking care OF a growing business
They have long desired a good loca-
ton on Kansas avenue.
Crawford Plans.
The Crawford theatrical interests
have taken an option on three build
ings on the southeast corner OF Sixth
and Kansas avenue, with the intention
of erecting a large theater building
The Avenue, stories of the building
will be used for a hotel and probably
will go ten stories. In this instance
also. completion OF the plans would
crowd several establishments out and
would force the search for other loca-
tons
The walk-Over Boot shop. now To-
Gated at 7O3 Kansas avenue. will move
to 731 Kansas avenue as soon as re-
modelling now in progress is COM
pleted. The Voiland Clothing company
viii acau,- the building left vacant
and will 4rge its store to include
the fronta.s afforded by utilizing both
structures.
When the buildings were torn down
on the site where the Hotel Kansan
is to be erected, at Ninth and Kansas
evenue, a number Of establishments
were forced to other locations. Most
of these found it necessary to find To-
cations on side streets near the center
OF the business district
The City Hand laundry is leaving
the location it has occupied for num-
= 80 n . i
is moving to the Armory building on
Jackson street in order to gain larger
accommodations. The vacation OF
this location is to be Immediately uti1
lied by the Hays Auto company, which
will combine this frontage with the
building it now occupies next door.
It is not beyond possibilities that
there may be two hotels in Topeka.
A location has been purchased at
Tenth and Kansas avenue where 1t Is
expected to erect the Renker hotel
The largest second hand store business
in Topeka went out of business coinci-
dent with the purchase Of the lots
To Side Streets.
These changes are known. There
may be others contemplated In fol-
lowing out the prediction that the
trend OF business homes will be the
occupation OF sites on the side streets.
a number OF changes have already &C.
CURED that are potently Indicative
Desiring to acquire more room, the
Woods Motors company purchased the
southeast corner of Sixth and Van
Buren, streets and are now erecting a
large motor building reaching from the
corner to the alley. 1t is believed ar
engagements have already been made
by another motor car firm TO occupy
the present Woods building as soon as
vacated.
The Trefry Motor company will soon
leave its present location at 1914 kan
sas avenue. Trefry will soon begin the
erection OF a much larger building to
house his motor car business at Tenth
and Quincy, also on the southeast
corner.
Improvements on Lower Avenue.
The changes that have taken place
on lower Kansas avenue, toward the
river, are a story in themselves This
section OF the city is rapidly growing
IS a wholesale and factory district
Greater railroad facilities have tended
to foster a growth. OF this kind. A
large number OF warehouse buildings
have recently been erected there.
II is TO be noted that the concerns
leaving the exact center of the bust
ness district seeking locations on
which to erect their business homes,
may be taken as the pioneers. They
are blazing the trail They are the
vanguard OF business. It is practically