Lansing Hardware Hank’s renovation journey: Restoring and revitalizing Main Street in Lansing one step at a time
Still open for business during renovation ... Although the multiple boarded-up storefronts of the five buildings that incorporate Lansing Hardware Hank on Main Street in Lansing may indicate otherwise, the long-time downtown business mainstay remains open during its regular business hours as its current renovation project moves forward. Utilizing more than $76,000 in funding assistance from the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant, owners Dave and Laurie Janzen have taken on the task of restoring their five-building business in an effort to help revitalize downtown Lansing while maintaining and restoring some of the historic character of the community. Photo by Joshua Sharpe.
by Joshua Sharpe
The historic river town of Lansing is experiencing significant enhancements as local enterprises invest in restoring Main Street. Notably, Lansing Hardware Hank, owned by Dave and Laurie Janzen, is undertaking substantial upgrades to help preserve the town’s character while further enhancing its overall appeal.
The Janzens are leading these renovation efforts, focusing on maintaining the integrity of their five-building business while modernizing its structure. Their initiatives are part of a broader movement to revitalize downtown Lansing and promote sustained growth in the region.
THE FIRST STEPS
Lansing Hardware Hank has been in operation for 12 years under the ownership of the Janzens, with a much longer history through the Bartels family. The origin of the business dates back to 1908, when the middle building of the current five-building business structure originated as a hardware store.
Recognizing the potential of the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant, the Janzens actively pursued this opportunity last summer through the Main Street Lansing program. They successfully secured more than $76,000 in funding with the assistance of Andrew Boddicker, Main Street Lansing Executive Director at the time.
“Renovating old buildings isn’t cheap,” stated Dave. “We had known about the grant for a while, and with help from Andrew, we finally put together an application and got the ball rolling.”
Under the leadership of current executive director Jackie Cooper, Main Street Lansing continues to facilitate the ongoing renovation process.
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