WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

From coffee to cats, this new downtown shop bets it can warm you up; Espurresso becomes city's first 'cat cafe'

At the new downtown Lawrence coffee shop Espurresso, the java is popular, and, of course, is served in a cup. But it has a hard time competing with the shop’s most unique product, Syd, which often times is served in your lap. As the name suggests, Espurresso is not your ordinary coffee shop. It is a “cat cafe,” and Syd is the resident cat. She draws plenty of customers on her own, and she doesn’t ...

New boutique in downtown Lawrence gets creative with both jewelry, furniture

My idea of furniture and jewelry coming together is finding an earring in the couch cushions. However, my banker and I also know of someone whose ideas trend more toward a new gemstone — or maybe a string of them — to complement the couch’s upholstery. Whatever your idea is, there is a new store in downtown Lawrence that indeed combines furniture and jewelry. The Village Boutique opened earlier this ...

Longtime art studio in East Lawrence closing; downtown restaurant set to get historic facelift

An art studio that has had a nearly 30-year history in East Lawrence is down to its final days. Dave Loewenstein is shuttering his longtime studio at 411 E. Ninth St. shortly after hosting a farewell party and “free sale” from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. But, no, the noted muralist and artist who often has been a leader both in the Lawrence arts world and for a number of causes related to his East ...

Four longtime leaders chosen for 2024 induction into Lawrence Business Hall of Fame

Bob Schumm started his restaurant business on the steps of Lawrence fraternity and sorority houses. Deanell Tacha had a legal career that took her one step away from a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Mike McGrew has sold thousands of front steps and every other part of Lawrence and Douglas County homes. But Peggy Johnson might lay claim to the sweetest career step. Her doughnuts and coffee at Jennings ...

County's $70M judicial center project would add 70,000 square feet of space, one courtroom

When it comes to a possible expansion of the county’s Judicial and Law Enforcement Center in downtown Lawrence, 70s are wild. First, the estimated project cost for the renovation and expansion of the building near the county courthouse at 11th and Massachusetts is $70 million Second, the amount of new space that would be added to the building is 70,000 square feet. Third, the project, when completed, ...

Inflation could add $50M to $60M to county's judicial center plans, if proposed timeline holds

If you are one of those people who nearly cracked over the rising price of eggs the last couple of years, you may want to get out your bubble-wrap suit. Douglas County commissioners — and by extension county taxpayers — may soon find out there is an even more painful form of inflation. Building-construction inflation adds up in a hurry, and Douglas County leaders may experience $50 million to $60 million ...