Former Shroyer building has new tenant

Sept. 22--At the ripe old age of 29, Cole Robertson has accomplished quite a bit in his life.

He's a Kansas State University degree holder, a business owner, and one who's been in the business of insurance and financial services in Junction City since 2010.

But recently, something changed -- he can now add building owner to his list of accomplishments.

Cole had previously taken over the Farmers Insurance office from Larry Minick, located at 1001 W. Sixth St., back in 2011.

And after spending years there with Nancy Hoover, secretary extraordinaire (who has been in the business more than 15 years herself), Cole felt it was time to stop renting and make the big move.

After closing on the former Shroyer Chiropractic building, located at 602 N. Jefferson St. (aka the corner of Sixth and Jefferson), Cole opened for business just 20 days later on Sept. 1.

While he admits moving from a 900 square-foot building to a 2,200 square-foot building hasn't been easy, he says it's been an incredible journey.

"Anytime you do something like this, you're a little scared it won't work out," he said. "But, I've known my clients for five years now, and we have no doubt they'll follow us and enjoy the new place just as we are."

He says the dream of owning the building came to fruition with the help of many people's belief in his ability to accomplish his goals.

"I'd been looking for two years and hadn't found anything in my budget," he said. "Kansas State Bank treated me well and got me a great deal. It's a great location and a big building. It's been a project though ... and there's still a lot to do."

If you happen to stop into the new office in the next week or two, don't let the baseball cap and jeans fool you.

While he's clearly settled in to his new job of taking down wallpaper, painting, adding wood paneling, recarpeting certain areas and even putting finishing touches on a kitchen, he and Nancy are still taking calls, helping clients and doing what they do best.

Cole didn't always know insurance would be his calling, or that Junction City would become the place he'd fulfill his dream.

"When I first came to Junction City, I wasn't sure about it," Cole said. "I didn't know anyone, but the people here are great. My clients are really fun to talk with. Now, I have many friends throughout the community, my bank and the people I do business with. It's starting to feel more like home."

And while you can take the boy away from the farm, you can't take the farm away from the boy.

Cole grew up in Tribune, about 45 miles south of Goodland. His dad was a longtime veterinarian, and Cole helped with the family's farming and cattle operation -- and he assumed one day, farming would become his career.

"I still harvest two weeks in the summer. My birthday is on the fourth of July, and I've only ever spent one birthday NOT in a harvest field," he said with a smile.

Well, Cole didn't become a farmer, but he does own a Farmers -- close enough, right?

He says one of the things that makes his business stand out from the others is the financial services side, which not everyone is aware of.

"Yes, we cover insurance for auto, home, life and commercial," he said. "But we also handle retirement accounts, Roth IRAs, mutual funds, annuities and securities."

He says they cover just about everything -- except for individual stock investments, which he feels are just a little too risky for his liking.

Cole says his office has always focused on customer service and the best coverage for the client's money, and that will continue to be the case.

"Farmers is doing very well right now," he said. "We're competitive in our products, and for people who might be considering us -- we give the best customer service of anybody I know -- and that starts with Nancy."

And while longtime Junction City residents are adjusting to the changes to the exterior building, there could be more changes yet to come.

Right now, the entire building belongs to Cole, though he's looking to rent out half the space to a compatible business or businesses.

"Maybe law or accounting," he suggested. "We'll eventually be putting in a multitenant sign out front. Every business in here will have its own signage."

As for the awnings currently on the building with chiropractic advertising, they'll soon be replaced with the familiar blue Farmers awnings and the exterior transformation of the building will be nearly complete.

Cole's parents and siblings are proud of all he's accomplished, and when they visited, he put them straight to work.

"They haven't been back," he joked.

But family aren't the only ones who've chipped in and helped Cole open as quickly as he did. Since the day he had keys in his hand, he's had a wealth of help from many people he wants to thank.

Kansas Home Professional Inspections; Kansas State Bank; Josh Newey Construction; Ruben Burgos of R.B. Painting, LLC, and Burgos' wife and daughter who also pitched in; Red Carpet Cleaning and F-n-A Painting all had a part in transforming the well-known Shroyer building into the new Farmers Insurance Group building, home of Cole's own Robertson Insurance Agency.

They're open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Cole hopes the final signs will be in by the end of next week, and after they're in place, he's hoping to hold their grand opening near the middle of October, something he's looking forward to.

"When you buy a building, you're kind of digging in for the long term," he said. "I'm so excited to finally be grounded in one place."

And according to Cole, there's no place he'd rather fulfill his dream than in Junction City.

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