New look, new purpose for one-time grocery store

Skip and Cindy Dugger of McCook, the new owners of an aging building at 702 E. Third in McCook, promise that the corner will take on a new look and a new purpose.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Skip and Cindy Dugger of McCook, the new owners of an aging grocery store/office building/warehouse at 702 E. Third in McCook, promise that the corner will take on a new look, and a new purpose.

Skip said Tuesday afternoon that the renovation of the corner property has already taken him two to three months and that he’s definitely not done. “I’ll turn it into a nice building that the community can be proud of. I will not give up on it,” Skip said.

Skip plans a new roof, new paint, parking lot repairs and improved landscaping. He will then either sell the property or lease it for office space or possibly a child care center. “Anything that will help the community,” he said.

The building’s contents have been donated to the Central Nebraska Branch of Orphan Grain Train, which has a warehouse in Grand Island. “So far, they’ve taken out 40,000 pounds of clothes, and plan probably another 20,000 pounds,” Skip said.

Skips plans to give to charities what the Orphan Grain Train cannot use. Kathy Haas, the director of McCook’s Family Resource Center, which was once located in the building, is gathering baby and children’s items from the building’s inventory for the resource center’s annual spring garage sale.

Skip said recently that George and Judy Wortley of McCook have helped him immensely on this project. “George and Judy have been such blessings,” Skip said. “They’re great, great help. There’s absolutely no slowing George down.”