Welcome to The Reyleck

Grafton becomes a village and Walsh County is established.

W.W. Reyleck buys the Chicago Store in Grafton after moving to Vessleyville in 1884. Reyleck was from Austria.

Dakota Territory becomes North and South Dakota.

The store is renamed W.W. Reyleck’s Department Store and moved to 532 Hill in 1916.

Reyleck retires and sells to four partners including DJ LaBarge.

Store sold to Dick LaBarge and Murphy Callahan and closes in 1995.

Dave and Linda Lot purchase the building and relocate True Value. Kerry and Carole DeMars purchase True Value and relocate and expand in 2015.

City of Grafton purchases 532 Hill and donates the building to the Red River Regional Council with a vision of creating an entrepreneurship and community innovation hub with a commercial kitchen. $2.2 million is raised for the project.

Two construction bids fall through. The first, in February, comes in over budget. The second, in November, draws limited contractor submittals. Both times, the project is tabled.

A third construction bid draws regional interest. RRRC interviews three qualified CMAR candidates.

MBA Development of Fargo is selected as construction manager.

Owner, architect, contractor, and EDA partners hold their first official construction kick-off meeting at The Reyleck.

RRRC and ICON conduct a pre-construction walkthrough.

At a partnership event for donors, sponsors, legislators, and contributors, RRRC Board Chair Amy Suda reveals the building's new name: The Reyleck. Former occupants attend, including past owners of DeMars True Value and Reyleck's Department Store, and guests are treated to lunch at Byrdie's.

Ahead of demolition, Dawn and Nicole get creative with spray paint, covering the space with motivational messages dubbed "Graffette." Pre-construction demo begins January 22, with the MBA crew welcomed with pastries and coffee from Cabin Road Coffeehouse.

RRRC approves the GMP. Dawn Mandt and Amy Suda are presented with demo tools by MBA Development and each take a ceremonial swing of the sledgehammer to mark the start of demolition.

The building's interior brick is found suitable to remain exposed, preserving its historic charm.

Framing begins in March, sheetrock in May, and interior finishing with first coats of paint by August. In between, the crew is treated to an appreciation lunch in June, and the community helps choose paint colors in July, settling on Champagne Dreams.

Window delivery and installation are scheduled to begin September 14, with construction slated for completion by December 31.

The RRRC and its affiliate organizations, including the Walsh County JDA, will headquarter in The Reyleck and continue their 50+ year legacy of assisting entrepreneurs in northeast North Dakota.