In an effort to drive more business to the downtown area, Guthrie Center Main Street is in the process of purchasing a building.

Program Director Dana Buster talks about buying the largest building in the downtown area at 405 State Street.

“It was built in 1903. It housed Guthrie’s hospital on the second floor in its first inception. It has three commercial spaces in it. Currently Eye Care Associates is located in one of the spaces and then we have plans for the other two spaces. We are going to refinish them and get them ready to have some more businesses for our downtown in them.”

She points out that all other spaces in the downtown area are filled, so they wanted to renovate the Williams Building to allow the business district to expand.

“Starting with our downstair spaces to get those out and get some more retail space because actually here in Guthrie (Center) we are full in our downtown area. Then the upper floors in the years to come we hope to make into apartments or living area to add to Guthrie Center’s downtown.”

Buster hopes to start renovating and repairing the over a century old building in the fall.