Uses for vacant small town buildings?

[Oliver Sparks]

Most of my life is spent living in and cruising around the midwest. Particularly in the Kansas City and Des Moines metro areas. And when I'm traveling to the outskirts and more rural areas, it bugs me that I see so many empty old buildings no longer in use. What was once a flourishing business district is now vacant and run down. There are, of course, a large number of reasons why these old store fronts or industrial areas are no longer functioning as healthy businesses. But, the entrepreneurial side of me gets my mind wondering what if...

I'm curious what some other investors and business owners have done to revive and rescue properties like these. And if the choice was made to bring a building back to life, was the decision actually the most economical? Or was it just for the sake of saving a piece of history?