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CB&Q Freight House
March 2025
Chariton Area Chamber/Main Street is proud to feature one of our local contributing businesses in the monthly Small Business Spotlight.
This month, we are featuring CB&Q Freight House LLC, a rental venue located right in Chariton's Historic Downtown & Main Street district.
What is your job title and role?
The CB&Q Freight House LLC, is ran by a small board of volunteers; Alyse Hunter, Mariah Pierschbacher, Alissa Evans, Jenna Smith, Becca Bittner, and Chelsea Belcher.
How long have you been in business in Chariton/Lucas County?
The building itself was built in 1904. The Lucas County Arts Council owned the property from 2003 to January 2020. The Arts Council approached the Lucas County Preservation Alliance to become the new owner/operator. The Preservation Alliance chose to create an LLC within the organization creating the CB&Q Freight House LLC.
Describe your business
The CB&Q Freight House is a wonderful venue for your next family gathering, wedding, party, reunion, or meeting. The Freight House provides 3,700 sq feet of space including a full kitchen, restrooms, a large hall, and spacious deck.
Why do you do what you do?
We are passionate about preserving the historic Freight House and allowing it to provide a service and space back to our patrons and economy.
Was there a specific moment or realization where you made the decision to start your own business?
Fall of 2019, LCPA began conversations with LCAC on how the CB&Q Freight House aligned more closely with our organization's mission - to cultivate a thriving a cultural and economic climate of the City of Chariton and throughout Lucas County by rehabilitating, restoring, and preserving historic and unique buildings. To all board members of LCPA, it felt more obvious as a historic space that was crucial to continue the preservation of the building and the service provided to the Lucas County community.
What inspires you to keep at it each day?
Our business is inspired to keep going by the people in our community. We want to offer a beautiful event space option for our town, that also keeps a historical building relevant.
Why did you choose Chariton for your business?
It was more like the location itself chose the business! While the Freight building served a different purpose in the local economy in the 20th century, 2005 until now we have pivoted the building purpose to provide a different economic need.
What are your biggest challenges as a business owner?
As a non-profit entity, made up of volunteers helping with the rentals and property management- our capacity for marketing and building improvements is limited. Historic preservation of the property is vital but it also brings challenges on how to keep-up with maintenance while balancing preservation. Previous renters word of mouth and community support for the building is the best way to off-set our limitations on our volunteers time in addition to fundrasing and grant opportunities to fund property maintenance needs.
What are your biggest rewards?
Our biggest reward is being able to provide our commuinity with an event space they can be proud of to celebrate their big life events and bring families, friends, businesses, and community members together.
What will people get from your business that they won't get anywhere else?
At the CB&Q Freight House, they will receive an experience that is very unique. There are very few, if any event spaces in the state that looks like ours and we are proud to offer that experience to anyone who is interested!
Learn more about CB&Q Freight House at:
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