After more than 50 years on South Massachusetts Avenue, the Sedalia Democrat has announced it will be moving to a new location in downtown Sedalia later this year.
The Democrat opened its current office at 700 S. Massachusetts Ave. in 1967. As the newspaper industry across the country continues to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift in how readers consume the news, the Democrat has decided to leave its current leased building and purchase a building at 111 W. Fourth St.
“While I know change can be hard, especially for a long-standing company like the Sedalia Democrat that has been operating for more than 150 years, this change is in the best interest of our employees and our readers,” Publisher Will Weibert said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the next chapter in the Democrat’s long history and continuing our service of quality journalism, just in a new home.”
In May, the Democrat will move to its new location on West Fourth Street. Renovations will begin soon and an exact opening date will be announced later. The building formerly housed the Sedalia Water Department until March 2020, when the city moved Water Department operations into the Sedalia Municipal Building, 200 S. Osage Ave.
This move will bring the Democrat across the street from its former home. In November 1911, the Democrat-Sentinel moved to 108-110 W. Fourth St. Once the Democrat company purchased The Sedalia Capital in 1919, the Democrat remained on Fourth Street while the Capital was at 401 S. Lamine Ave.
The upcoming move means the Democrat will be closing its pressroom and moving printing operations to Nowata Printing Co., a commercial printing plant in Springfield owned by Phillips Media Group, the Democrat’s parent company. Printing will also move to Nowata for the Warrensburg Star-Journal, The Plainsman and the Star-Advertiser. The press changes will be effective this spring before the building move occurs, allowing employees to navigate one change at a time to ensure quality work for our customers.
Changing the press operation will not affect print subscribers. Our subscribers will continue to receive their print edition of the Democrat and Star-Journal in their mailbox the same day through the United States Postal Service.
