Last week, we gathered for the Grow Ellsworth County annual meeting and banquet. Dr. Tim Steffensmeier from K-State spoke about the importance of looking within for solutions for our community.

A few days later, Paden’s owner, Aaron Johnson posted on social media, “It’s sad to say goodbye, but I want to thank the community for all their support over the past 10 years. Yes, Paden’s is for sale and no, it hasn’t sold. So, if you are interested, please reach out to me. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the support and understanding as I prioritize my children and must have availability in the evenings moving forward. Much love to you all!”

With more than 120 shares via social media, it’s clear that residents of Ellsworth County care about our downtown eatery and bar.

Grow Ellsworth County is right on its social channel to point out, “Holding tight to our assets means spending dollars locally and appreciating what we have. Our business owners deserve it. Shop local. Dine local. Be local. At every opportunity that you can.”

But let’s take it one step further. During the annual meeting, Dr. Steffensmeier told us that we were all part of any problem ... but we can also be part of the solution.

Would it be optimal for someone with restaurant or catering experience to come in and purchase a downtown anchor? Absolutely! But what if we are thinking too small, too narrow?

Are there investors who would be interested in joining together to invest in the future of downtown Ellsworth to keep it moving forward? Maybe they have no experience in running a restaurant, but they are savvy business owners. Could they combine with anyone locally who might be interested in running a restaurant but who might not have the capital to buy a business outright?

We know the I-R readership spans beyond our county borders. Maybe the supportive investor or investors grew up here, but live elsewhere? Could there be creative solutions to help underwrite the business while residents run day-to-day operations?

The reality is that Paden’s isn’t the only restaurant for sale in Ellsworth. The Ellsworth Steakhouse remains shuttered and in search of its next owner/ operator. Creative thinking and applications can apply to this situation as well. The same goes for the location that housed Munchkinz Bakery.

There are opportunities in our community, and we need to encourage in-the-box and out-of-the-box ideas to maintain local dining options.

Yet, this reality isn’t limited to eating. In rural Kansas, we need to take a hard look at business succession. Planning for the future is essential if we want our communities to continue to grow.

Please, consider how you can help support our community. This includes shopping and eating locally, but also entails patience with employees and employers who continue to struggle with staffing. Karen Bonar Publisher