By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
“I think it is very important to the city,” Rick Sovine said of a deteriorating and outdated mural on his downtown Decatur building. It is likely to get a makeover this year.
Rick and his wife, Emily, own and operate the Next Page Book Store and More in their building at Second and Monroe streets in the heart of downtown. Many local residents will call it the “Niblick building.”
A mural was painted on the west wall of the building to mark Decatur’s sesquicentennial (150 years) in 1986.
“Obviously, it’s been deteriorating over the last few years; it’s definitely showing its age,” Rick said.
“We definitely want to redo it; that’s the plan (see photo). We’ve put in for a (city) facade grant and, hopefully, will get it. It will cost a decent amount of money so if we don’t get it, we’ll probably have to wait a few more years.”
The Sovines live on the second floor of the building and, Rick said, “We quite often see people come into the yard and take a picture with it.
“I think it’s very important to the city. I don’t remember when it wasn’t there.”
The Sovines have talked with Samantha Hindenlang, who last summer painted the mural on the north wall of the Betsey’s Botique building downtown, near the Next Page.
“After she did that, we approached her and she’s agreed to work on our building,” Rick noted.