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Washington Evening Journal
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Greiner Plaza is back on its feet
A fire at the Greiner Plaza in November of 2022 was a big hit to the titular business, Greiner Buildings. The damage forced every tenant to relocate, before crews spent well over a year repairing the damage.
The journey was not an easy one, with several hurdles along the way including revised construction plans, hassles with insurance, and occasional re-do’s on contractor work the Greiners said didn’t meet their standards.
“It was a difficult process, I think, in a lot of different ways,” Matt Greiner said. “It’s been strange, because on one hand, it’s been a great thing, we were able to redo this our way, and it turned out very good. But on the other hand, it was a lot of time and a lot of pressure.”
But by April of 2024, Greiner Buildings Inc. was back in the plaza. WEDG, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, Main Street Washington, and other tenants have moved into the space since then as well.
The Greiners did more than repair the building; they made a number of renovations along the way. Changes included conversion of a former storage closet into more office space, structural improvements to the roof, and a vaulted ceiling visible on the front facade, reaching over a spacious conference room.
Most of the aesthetic decisions were left to Ashley Greiner — Matt’s wife — who said she was pleased with how the building turned out.
“When you walk in here, it just is a calming feel,” she said. “It’s very up-to-date, a more modern look.”
At some points during reconstruction, Greiner met with others involved in the project to regroup in what’s now a conference room, but was then an unroofed section of the building, brainstorming together under the open sky as plans changed, hit complications, and changed again.
“We had to tear a few walls apart,” he said. “They started cranking out renderings, and to me it was going to look kind of like a Pizza Hut, which — nothing against Pizza Hut — it just wasn’t the look.”
The talent of several team members proved essential during those brainstorms, as did the sense of resolve throughout the company, and a shared vision of how the building needed to turn out.
“We could’ve probably torn it down, and some people thought that would have been smarter,” Greiner said. “I don’t know that we ever really seriously considered that. Once we decided, ‘This is what we’re doing,’ and the conceptual renderings came out, we’re all in. And once we’re all-in, it’s just got to be excellent. That’s our standard.”
The hard work seems to have paid off.
A combination ribbon-cutting and confetti-popping event at the plaza was well attended, and tenants in the building say they’re happy to be back in the upgraded space.
“It was super nice before, I think it’s even better, now,” said Washington Economic Development Group Director Mary Audia, whose office is in the building. “Everything is lighter and brighter, and Greiner Buildings did such a great job getting everything back together for us.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
