The S.D. Robinett Building, better known as the Centera Bank just before the May 4, 2007 tornado, will likely soon be known as more than the lone structure of Greenburg’s business district to have survived the deadly storm.
Purchased in June by Gary and Erica Goodman and submitted by the couple recently to the State’s Historical Society for consideration of placement on the National Register of Historic Places, the Goodman’s learned days ago the State Society has in fact nominated their building for national placement.
The couple is now in the process of submitting plans for historical restoration of the building, built in 1915, for consideration by the National Park Service in Washington. Once those plans are approved and the building is okayed for national recognition, the Goodman’s can proceed with restoring the 93-year-old landmark of Greensburg’s Main Street.
Gary and Erica have been living in Kinsley since the storm, having operated Fran’s Antique Mall and Snootie Seconds vintage reclaimed clothing store in Greensburg before the tornado. They plan on opening a new antique store—to be called Where’d Ya Get That?—on the main floor of Robinett, and using the second story as living quarters.
“We won’t be reopening Snootie’s and we won’t have as much room for this antique store, but we’ve got high ceilings in Robinett so we can be creative with height,” Erica said recently. Fran’s had been located in the former First Christian Church and had offered 10,000 square feet of display space.
“We’ll only have 1,500 square feet on each floor now, but we’ll make it work,” Erica said. “And that’s enough room for Gary and me to live.”
Though hopeful she and Gary will be moved into their new quarters by the second anniversary of the storm next May, Goodman said such plans are tenuous because of the uncertainty of how long it will take Washington to approve their restoration plans.
“From what I’ve heard it could take two weeks, two months, or ten months,” she said. “You’re dealing with a bureaucracy so what can I say?”
Though most recently used as a bank, the Robinett Building had served to house a clothing store, jewelry store and office space in the twentieth century. The two-story brick building with concrete trim was built on the site of the former courthouse that had been destroyed by fire.
The State Historical Society stated in a recent press release that it had nominated Robinett for “its association with the early growth and commercial development of Greensburg.” Once final approval is given in Washington, the Goodman’s could be eligible for tax credits and grants to aid in their restoration efforts.
“You’ll probably see work start on the roof in the next month,” Goodman said. “There’s not too much historical about it we could change so we’ll start there first. Hopefully we can get going on the rest of it soon.”
Greensburg, KS —
