Volland, Kansas was founded in the late 1800s when Rock Island Railroad built a depot at the towns edge. On October 18, 1913 Kratzer Brothers Mercantile opened in Volland, built by brothers Otto and Bill. Filled with merchandise and serving as a post office with two telephone lines, the store quickly became a cultural hub for the surrounding community. After the store closed in 1971, the building sat empty for 30 years. In 2013, a couple from Kansas City purchased the building, deciding to turn it into an art gallery with a small living space serving as an artist’s retreat. While the roof, second and third floors had collapsed, the masonry shell was left structurally intact. The design team laid out a floor plan similar to the original: a large, open space at the front for events and exhibitions where the general store was, and a second-story living space at the back, above a catering kitchen and restrooms.