Zesto’s greets spring with free cones, project
May 13th, 2009Broadway landmark open for business now.
Three-year-old Azrielle Ritzman sat on a parking lot curb just after noon Friday, eating an ice-cream cone as if she’d been fasting for a month…
Business on Broadway Announces New 2009 Board Members
February 10th, 20092009 Officers and Directors for Business on Broadway
President - Nancy Schoenle, IntraScape
One year term
Vice-President - Tim Gouloff, Gouloff-Jordan
One year term
Treasurer - Chris Conner, Zesto’s
One year term
Secretary - Barb Schoppman, St. Joe Hospital
One year term
Board Member - Mindy Kelker-Hockaday, DesignFactore, Inc.
Two year term
Public Relations – website, publicity
Board Member - Steve Shine, Shine & Hardin Law Offices
Two year term
Broadway Corridor Project
Board Member - Blaine Stuckey, Mad Anthony Brewing
Two year term
Programs
Board Member - Brian Schaper, Metro Real Estate
One year term
Residential Neighborhoods Liason
Board Member - Jan Bell, Knitting Off Broadway
One year term
Government affairs and By-Laws
Board Member - Chris Rongos, George’s International Grocery
One year term
Miscellaneous Projects
Business on Broadway Meeting - January 8th, 2009 at 5:30pm
December 23rd, 2008With all our successes so far, our vision of making Broadway the caliber of street it deserves to be has just begun. To commit ourselves to making this dream a reality, we invite you to attend a meeting of the Businesses on Broadway (BOB) at St. Joseph Hospital, 700 Broadway, in the Assembly Room, on THURSDAY, January 8, 2009, at 5:30 pm to further address important issues for businesses along the Broadway Corridor. The agenda includes BOB’s proposed by-laws and election of officers and directors for 2009, the role BOB will play in the possible rezoning of northern Broadway, proposed city ordinances, and the status of the city’s façade grants program. Please take the opportunity prior to this meeting to review the following:
Thank you for your consideration of our invitation. Please RSVP your attendance on the website, www.broadwayfortwayne.com by filling out the email form at the bottom of the home page, leaving the message “RSVP”.
CHRISTMAS ON BROADWAY!
November 18th, 2008Check out the Indiana’s News Center Skyview Network camera focused on the 40 foot tall Christmas tree located on Broadway at Shine & Hardin, LLP.
Kick off the holiday season, and don’t miss the official lighting of the tree at 5:45pm on November 21st!
Improved Broadway will enhance downtown
October 21st, 2008Open Call to Broadway Businesses
October 13th, 2008We’re fleshing out our NEW Broadway Business Directory on the website (currently under development), and we would love all businesses to fill out the online business information form at: http://www.broadwayfortwayne.com/directory/default.php
Once your business has been added to our directory database, you will receive a login/password. You can use these login credentials to login and add upcoming events and detailed information about your business which will be posted throughout the site.
We are also looking for Broadway businesses that would like to BLOG about life on Broadway! We’ll take care of the technical end of things, we just need friendly faces that would like to spread the word about the exciting changes that are taking place! For more information, contact Mindy Hambrick at DesignFactore.
Broadway Corridor Could Be a New Hot Spot
October 13th, 2008Broadway Buzz (WANE TV Story)
October 13th, 2008Big Changes Coming to Broadway (WANE TV Video)
October 13th, 2008This clip aired on Newschannel 15’s First at Five on October 7, 2008
Broadway Corridor Project Meeting Recap
October 13th, 2008The folks over at AroundFortWayne.com posted YouTube video below of the meeting. To move forward/backward through the video series, mouse over the video and you’ll see arrows appear at each side.
The designation of the two-mile-long Broadway Corridor as one of the city’s “destination spots” was unveiled today during a news conference at the Catablu American Grille, 2441 Broadway. Leaders from both the private and public sectors presented a united front, committed to the improvement of the business and residential atmosphere of this historic Fort Wayne area.
The presentation noted infrastructure improvements already underway by the City of Fort Wayne, including recent sidewalk reconstruction that provides for handicap-accessibility on the north side of the Broadway Corridor. Additionally, several soon-to-commence renovation projects were announced, as well as a website to serve as the informational guide for the Corridor.
Steve Shine, a partner in the law firm of Shine & Hardin, located on the Broadway Plaza, speaking on behalf of the Broadway Corridor Project, stated, “This is an effort to coordinate the activities of businesses, property owners, and residents along the two-mile Corridor to create a pop-culture, eclectic-type of community, using the best of the Corridor’s current assets, while rehabilitating and/or finding a better use for existing properties which want and need the assistance of a coordinated effort.” Shine said the hub of the Broadway Corridor will be the Broadway-Taylor intersection, with the areas to the north and south of the hub serving as the spokes.
Shine also unveiled a logo to identify the Broadway Corridor area, as well as an internet website that spotlights the businesses, events, commercial real estate availability and other services which both residents, businesses, and those interested in the Project can easily access and navigate. The website address is: www.broadwayfortwayne.com.
The public will soon see noticeable improvements along the Corridor, which includes façade and internal renovations to the Mad Anthony Brewing Co., George’s International Grocery and George’s La Baguette International Bakery, Chappell’s Coral Grill & Seafood Market (to be merged with Hartley’s restaurant), and the Metro Real Estate Building (located at Broadway and Michigan Avenue).
Blaine Stuckey, general manager of the Mad Anthony Brewing Co., announced that he plans to immediately break ground on a beer garden at the Mad Anthony. “The partitioning for the garden will begin immediately, and it will be open throughout the winter, when weather permits. We’ll have a reopening in the spring,” said Stuckey. Also this spring, Mad Anthony will unveil a significant renovation of its exterior façade to coincide with similar efforts along the corridor.
Located directly to the east of the Mad Anthony Brewing Co. is George’s International Grocery and George’s La Baguette International Bakery, which will undergo similar façade updates, as well as a construction project to build upon several out lots located upon the real estate owned by Chris Rongos, co-owner of the grocery and bakery.
Directly south of the hub, at the intersection of Broadway and Michigan Avenue, Metro Real Estate owner Brian Schaper will spend over a quarter-million dollars in both façade and internal renovations to the Metro Real Estate Building located at 2042 Broadway. Schaper also announced the relocation to the Metro Real Estate Building of DesignFactore, Inc., a company that specializes in print and creative services, including website design. DesignFactore created the website for the Broadway Corridor, referred to above.
Gary Chappell, owner of Chappell’s Coral Grill & Seafood Market, announced an investment of over $100,000 to be put into his soon-to-be-remodeled restaurant on Broadway, which will incorporate the operation of the well-known Hartley’s currently on Fairfield. The merger of Hartley’s into Chappell’s will allow for the best of both cuisines under one menu and one management. “I’ve been working on this merger for about eight months now, and it has resulted in a positive outcome, based in part upon the new energy coming from the private sector on Broadway, as well as with the city’s support in its designation as Broadway becoming a destination point. The city’s support and the private sector’s commitment to a reenergized Broadway results in the relocation of Hartley’s into Chappell’s on Broadway being a perfect fit. Between Chappell’s and Hartley’s, we feel confident that we can make something unique in Fort Wayne. We felt like by teaming ourselves together … it was a win-win situation,” said Chappell.
The meeting was attended by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, his Community Development Staff, Fifth District City Councilman Tim Pape, and all three City Council At-Large members. “The Mayor’s Office will do anything within its power to support private industry’s momentum in improving our communities,” said Director of Community Development John Urbahns.
In addition to expressing support for Broadway’s revitalization efforts, the Mayor used the event to announce his Community Front program that will make funds available to offset the expenses that Fort Wayne city businesses invest in façade renovations, saying the average matching amount of the grant is expected to be about $20,000 with additional assistance available for larger projects. “In an area such as where we are today, along the Broadway corridor, business owners have come together to work as a team, identifying a vision they have for this area, and we are proud to offer support and assistance to help make the vision a reality for all involved,” said Mayor Henry.
Shine said that as the Harrison Square development continues, the increased commercial activity in the downtown Fort Wayne area will build momentum in these private sector projects. The Broadway Corridor Project also will work with the city in placing information kiosks and neighborhood-unique light poles to assist shoppers and distinguish the community.
The Broadway Corridor Project leadership team includes: Tim Gouloff of Gouloff-Jordan Surveying; Chris Rongos of George’s International Grocery/Bakery; Brian Schaper of Metro Real Estate; Nancy Schoenle of IntraScape; Barbara Schopmann of St. Joseph Hospital; Blaine Stuckey of Mad Anthony Brewing Co.; Gary Chappell of Chappell’s Coral Grill & Seafood Market; Steve Shine of Shine & Hardin, LLP.
Members of the electronic media are asked to arrive 15 minutes early for set up purposes so that the speech may begin promptly at 12:00 p.m.
For more information contact Steven R. Shine, of Shine & Hardin, LLP, 260/745-1970.
