MPIRE Realty Group started eight years ago and continues to grow, handling “all things real estate,” Aaron Andrews said Thursday as the business hosted the Great Bend Chamber Coffee. There was also a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate MPIRE’s move to 1317 Main St. last December. They started mainly with rentals and now list residential and commercial real estate and also handle agricultural real estate.
“We are super-excited to be downtown,” Andrews said. “We love it down here; the vibe going on downtown – we just wanted to be a part of this.”
They also own the building next door, which is being renovated. With the old facade removed, Andrews admitted, “It’s not my favorite place to look at. ... It won’t look like that forever. Unfortunately, the outside of it looks less than perfect.”
That work was necessary for the owners to get approval for some tax credits for the property, and the credits are now official, he said. “We’re not 100% sure what we’re doing with it yet.”
As for MPIRE, Andrews office manager/partner Karen Lindberg started it with Jason Mayers on May 1, 2017. MPIRE Realty Group was the Chamber’s 2024 Business of the Year. Today, they have nine listed real estate agents: Andrews, Lindberg, Dianne Morse, Mac Holman, Jessy Kirmer, Nicole Henderson, Sergio Ramirez, Gidget Hagan and Seth Rolfs. Barton County remains their primary focus but they have grown and want to continue to grow. There are agents who work in the Claflin area, the Hoisington area, Loraine and Wilson.
The market is ever-changing but Andrews said last week there were 47 houses listed with Great Bend addresses.
Chamber members at the coffee thanked Andrews for MPIRE’s support of local nonprofits.
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and the phone number is 620-792-4133. Team members and their phone numbers can be found online at mpirerealtyks.com/team.
Chamber announcements
• Mark Mingenback with MyTown said Perk’s coffee shop took a vote asking people if they should add key lime pie or banana cream pie to their menu. Key lime pie won, 50 to 23. “A lot of comments were, ‘Whatever you do, don’t get rid of coconut cream pie.’”
• July 1 is the deadline to enter Great Bend Economic Development’s IGNITE Rural Business competition. Prize money totaling $95,000 is at stake for Barton County entrepreneurs. Visit www.igniteks.com.
• The next Friday on Forest event will be from 5-10 p.m. June 27, on Forest Ave. between Main and Williams St., sponsored by the University of Kansas Health System - Great Bend Campus. There will be live music by Whiskey South Forty. Volunteers are needed for setup and tear down each month. Sarah Arnberger with Great Bend Economic Development said they only have two volunteers signed up, and they won’t be setting up tables and chairs, umbrellas and games on Forest Avenue unless they get some volunteers. Learn more at gbedinc.com/downtownevents. If you can lift and carry up to 35 pounds and want to earn $25, they have 10-15 paid spots for setup (3:30-4:30 p.m.) and teardown (9:45-10:30 p.m.) each month. Message or email info@gbed.com.
• The first Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference will be held June 26-27 in Kingman. It is sponsored by K-State Research and Extension and several partners to promote small communities and highlight people, businesses and best practices for creating an entrepreneurial mindset. At least three Great Bend businesses have signed up.
• Executive and Leadership Coach Kimberly Becker and the Chamber host The Leader’s Lunchroom at noon on the first Tuesday of every month in the Chamber Board Room. Bring your lunch for an hour of networking and hear a Leadership Nugget – a bite-sized session designed to help community leaders refocus, gain momentum and expand their impact.
• The United Way of Central Kansas kickoff event on Aug. 2 will feature the Colorado Keys Dueling Pianos. Before that, Stuff the Bus will be July 23 and volunteers are needed for one-hour shifts at Walmart and Dillon’s. Contact Charell Owings at UWCK.
• Next week’s Chamber Coffee will be at the Barton County Fair in Expo II. It’s a business appreciation breakfast that starts at 7:30 a.m. 4-H Ambassadors will be in charge of the announcements and door prize drawings.
• The next ribbon cutting will be at noon on Friday, June 27, at T&L Fireworks Superstore, 159 North U.S. 281, three-quarters of a mile north of 24th and Main.
