Poli (Sigh): Downtown Warsaw Businesses Doin’ The Shuffle
There’s a lot of movement in downtown Warsaw right now in addition to the decision by Three Crowns Coffee owner Tim Hori to soon move his business to North Detroit Street, which we reported Friday. The following is a recap of other happenings in a one-block area of the city.
- To begin with, Lyle Shrock, owner of The Lab, and attorney Travis McConnell have purchased the Elks Arcade Building at 120 E. Center St. Schrock is preparing to move his cell phone and tablet repair business to that storefront. He’s been across the street at 105 E. Center Street since opening in Warsaw two years ago.
- A previous tenant in the Elks Arcade Building, Glaser & Ebbs, has moved its law offices to 107 E. Market St.
- If you’ve followed local news this week, you probably saw that Nathan Underneath won approval from the city board of zoning appeals to operate a tattoo parlor as part of his business, Moving Pictures Tattoo Cinema, at 112 E. Center St.
- The other downtown development to keep an eye on is the future bar at the corner of Buffalo and Center streets. David Gustafson, who moved Oak & Alley from the downtown to the east side of the city last year, said he has switched gears a bit for the future bar across from the Kosciusko County Courthouse. Instead of a whiskey bar concept, he said it will be more of a cocktail bar. He said he hopes the yet-to-be-named bar will open by the end of autumn.
- And what will become of the store space after Three Crowns moves out of Gustafson’s building at 114 S. Buffalo St.? He said he’s looking at options, but hinted that a whiskey bar could eventually end up behind the coffee shop where Oak & Alley had been located.
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HEPHZIBAH HOUSE REVISITED — Remember Hephzibah House, the conservative boarding school for girls in Winona Lake? It’s been under scrutiny for decades over how it treats girls and continues to operate. If you Google the name, you’ll certainly come across plenty of the allegations. Numerous documentaries have been done about the school, including one that aired on A&E network earlier this week that is titled Living in Sin: Inside a Religious Reform School.
I have not seen the documentary yet, but I know that it focuses on a group of former students who believe the doctor they claim performed unnecessary exams on girls should be held accountable. They feel the abusive atmosphere is continuing.
The women (all from out of state) were in Warsaw and Winona Lake last summer with an A&E production crew. The show documents how they attempted to confront the doctor and their attempts to file criminal charges, which have not worked out. Those women are part of an effort to speak out against the school. A related blog includes “survivor stories.”
Pastor Ron Williams has steadfastly denied claims of wrong-doing.
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LET ‘EM ROT!!! — This week’s unscientific InkFreeNews poll question — Do you agree with the state’s plan to allow low-risk offenders to be released on their own recognizance instead of posting a bond — was a bit telling. Turns out the plan, which will be implemented beginning next year, is not that popular. About 62 percent of respondents opposed the concept, which is viewed by many as a way to remove the burden from indigent inmates and at the same time reduce jail overcrowding.
Dan Spalding is the editor of InkFreeNews.com.
He covers city government and politics and always welcomes your input.
He can be reached at [email protected] or at (574) 855-7612.