The Bricks in Downtown Hays

06/05/2026

🧱 Friday Feature 🧱 Board & Volunteer Appreciation

As we wrap up the week, we want to recognize some of the volunteers who help make The Bricks successful. Members of our Board of Directors (pictured left to right: Bryan VonFeldt, Patrick McGinnis, Julie Keller, Chelsey Ladd, Andrew Taylor, Janie Louden), along with Karen Dreiling and Don Scheibler, joined Lee Ann June (Executive Director, pictured on the far right) for our recent presentation to the Mayor and City Commissioners, demonstrating their commitment to Downtown Hays and the work we do.

Our board members volunteer their time, share their expertise, and help guide the organization behind the scenes. Whether they're attending meetings, supporting events, advocating for downtown, or showing up when it matters, their dedication helps move our mission forward.

🙏 Thank you to our entire board and all of our volunteers for investing in Downtown Hays. We couldn't do it without you! (Board members not in attendance but very much appreciated include: Schamra Detherage, Kiley Rupp, Jackie Smith, Shae Veach, and Mindy Werth)

06/05/2026

Thursday nights in June just make sense. 🍹✨

Sipped a Maui Mule, checked Father’s Day gifts off the list, and grabbed a hydration drink for balance. 😎💧

Shop. Sip. Stroll. Repeat.

See you Thursday nights downtown!

06/03/2026

☀️ Summer evenings are better on The Bricks. ☀️

Participating retailers in Downtown Hays will be staying open until 7 PM on Thursdays in June as part of The Bricks’ 25th Birthday Month celebration.

Make an evening of it:
🛍 Shop local
🍽 Grab dinner downtown
🥤 Enjoy a Bricks Birthday beverage from a participating business
🎶 Stick around for music, art, and community fun

🎉 Let’s celebrate 25 years on The Bricks by supporting the businesses that make downtown feel full of life.

👉 See updates at www.DowntownHays.com/25 and this event: 25 Years on The Bricks

06/02/2026

✨ The latest from The Bricks is here!

🧱 Our June newsletter is officially live, and it’s packed with all things Downtown Hays — upcoming events, local business news, community updates, and ways to get involved in the heart of our district.

📬 Read the newsletter now and stay in the know: https://canva.link/uqsh1bd8t0x0zp5

06/01/2026

🎉 We’re celebrating 25 Years on The Bricks all month long!

🧱 June is The Bricks’ 25th Birthday Month, and Downtown Hays businesses are coming together to celebrate with late shopping, music, art, Bricks Birthday beverages, a ribbon cutting, and a birthday brunch at the Downtown Hays Market.

🧱 Throughout the month, you’ll find special promotions and activities downtown, with a focus on Thursday evenings on The Bricks.

🧱 Come shop, sip, stroll, listen, create, celebrate, and help us honor 25 years of downtown vibrancy in Hays.

🔗 More details and participating business updates will be added throughout the month at www.DowntownHays.com/25.

05/31/2026

🧱 From hardware to theatres, offices to restaurants, downtown buildings have always adapted with the community.

That is one of the best parts of historic preservation: it does not freeze downtown in time. It helps historic places stay useful, active, and full of life.

The businesses may change, but the buildings continue to anchor the block — giving Downtown Hays its familiar character and charm.

05/29/2026

🚨Last call to be included on our 2026 Partnership Banner‼️

👉 We are finalizing the banner that will be displayed at events throughout the year, and we would love to include your name or business.

👉 Your partnership supports the year-round work of The Bricks in Downtown Hays, from events and beautification to business support and community connection.

🧱 Become a partner today: www.downtownhays.com/partner or email us at [email protected]

05/29/2026

We love seeing these ❤️ Thank you, City of Hays, Kan., for sharing!

It’s ! Today, we’re looking back at a cornerstone of Downtown Hays: 112 E. 11th Street, once home to the Hays Publishing Company and now the beating heart of the Hays Arts Council.

In 1923, John Bird began operating a publishing company out of this space. It later became the home of the Hays Daily News under Frank and Leota Motz, who printed the paper here until 1951. After a stint as Cal Markwell’s bookstore, the building found its modern calling in 1977 when it was purchased by the Hays Arts Council, the oldest community arts organization in Kansas!

Now, history is being made again. Construction is officially underway on a $3 million renovation project to connect the historic main gallery, the former Madd Matter storefront, and the Arts Center Annex on Main Street. This incredible project will create a unified, fully accessible 8,300-square-foot space, complete with expanded galleries and a brand-new educational wing.

The City of Hays is proud to see our downtown continue to evolve while honoring its past. We can't wait to see the fully renovated Hays Arts Center open its doors in early 2027!

Want to learn more about the project or contribute to the ongoing "Heart of Hays" campaign? Visit the Hays Arts Council website. 🎨🏢

05/28/2026

Downtown Hays has always been more than a collection of buildings — it has been a regional gathering place.

Banks, shops, restaurants, offices, theatres, hotels, and civic spaces helped make downtown the heart of local life. The historic district reflects how Hays grew from a western town into a regional hub for commerce, culture, and community.

That same spirit is alive today in every locally owned shop, event, meal, concert, and conversation downtown.

05/27/2026

🧱 There is still time to support The Bricks in Downtown Hays through our 2026 Partnership campaign 🧱

🧱 We are making one final push through the end of the month. Partnership support helps power the year-round work behind downtown promotion, business support, community events, beautification, and the many efforts that keep Downtown Hays active, welcoming, and vibrant.

🧱 If you have been considering a gift, now is a great time to join us. www.downtownhays.com/partner