A Palisade memory is renewed as an old building finds new life as Dixie Burmeister shares with us this week's Boomers & Beyond...

Since 1909, the southeast corner of 3^rd and Main in Palisade housed Palisades National Bank; at least, up until a couple of years ago.  It was sad to see the beautiful old bank with its rich history empty.  Fortunately, Kim Henderson came onto the scene with her idea that would bring life back to the building, so treasured by those like former banker, Mike McEvoy.

“The building has been a fixture in Palisade for over a hundred years," said McEvoy, former owner of the bank.

Not only did the building house the bank, many others shared its space.

“This old building has seen about everything you can imagine,” McEvoy said, listing its may uses.  "It was the original telephone switching office... And then it was the public service office for a long time too... Doctor Bliss, one of the well-known doctors in town had his office in the building... We had a dentist upstairs for quite a long time and it housed some government offices after World War II.”

The bank was a gathering place where kids opened their first savings accounts, others got their first car loans, home loans and celebrations were held.

“In the community, it’s been a little bit of everything and everyone’s familiar with it and feels good about it," McEvoy remembered. 

Then, Kim Henderson, married to a Palisade guy, had a dream that seemed a perfect fit for the location and for her Lupita’s Bizzare Bazzar, Too!

“I had thought about starting something here for quite some time and watched, actually, the bank be empty and for rent and really thought I wanted to get something going.  I think I probably put nose-prints on the window for quite some time hoping I could get something happening," Henderson said.

Keeping the integrity of the bank in place, her shop has brought many to share memories and even a few tears.

“When the bank did close here, it really was difficult for a lot of people in this community.  So, a lot of people come in and still want to come here and shoot the breeze, which I love, but they had to go through and just check out the bank and go through a little bit of withdrawal that it’s not here any longer.  And they seem to really appreciate that I really like to include the important aspects of what this building really has been.

I wondered: 'Any friendly ghosts around?'

“You know, I’ve never heard of such a thing.  That’s why I think the building is so nice," McEvoy laughed.

Well, there IS the mystery of the unopened safe...

“I know that it’s three numbers," Henderson explained, "so I’ve been having people try their birthdays.  And nothing yet, but I figure some day maybe something will happen.”

Kim says starting a business during these times is risky, but with strong community support she looks forward to her first holiday season and Palisades Olde Fashioned Christmas celebration.

“The support has been wonderful.  Especially the local support, I mean, everybody comes in here wanting to shop Palisade and that’s been so good," said Henderson.

I think you can say that Kim found the winning combination for a successful business.  In fact, I think you could, she could take that to the bank!