Tammy Dieker’s labor of love has been equal parts renovation, exploration and perspiration.
Dieker, who took over management of The Market Place Flea Market on Jan. 1 from Laura Rasa, has spent the past month overseeing a number of changes, inside and out.
Most passersby on the south side of the Iola square have noticed the scaffolding local contractor Keith Keller is using to refurbish and repaint the building’s facade, most notably around the second-story popout windows.
Once finished, the exterior will fit in perfectly with its similar-styled buildings along the 100 block of East Madison Avenue.
Keller took advantage of Monday’s unseasonably warm temperatures by spraying a base coat of paint on the brick exterior around the first window.
If tomorrow’s winter storm passes quickly enough, Keller hopes to return to finishing the windows.
By then, he will have plastic sheeting in place so crews can continue working outside, rain or shine (or snow).
Meanwhile, Keller and Dieker have been working in league on the building’s interior.
The ornate tin ceiling is being repainted white, which brightens the storeroom considerably.
“You can really see the difference,” Dieker said.
And much of the building’s carpeting is being torn out, and the tile flooring beneath cleaned.
“It’s been going well, but it’s an old building,” Dieker said. “And that’s like an old house. You do one thing, and discover two other things that need fixed.”
Ripping out the carpet was a good example. While the old gray carpet came out rather easily, leftover adhesive will need to be treated and cleaned off the tile surface.
The store has several rooms on the first floor connected by a long corridor, built as part of a previous renovation project.
A portion of the corridor wall has been removed, to give the font showroom a more open layout.
Dieker hopes to set up a small coffee bar at the front — not necessarily to sell coffee, but just for her to relax while she’s in the store, she said with a chuckle.
