Akron’s depot moves its way toward the lot at the intersection of Rochester and Mishawaka streets Wednesday. It will become The Grounded Coffee House at The Depot. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union.
Akron’s depot moves its way toward the lot at the intersection of Rochester and Mishawaka streets Wednesday. It will become The Grounded Coffee House at The Depot. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union.
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AKRON – The Akron depot officially made its way Wednesday from its original spot on Ind. 19 and Front Street to the intersection of Rochester and Mishawaka streets.

The depot’s new home will be at the intersection as it will be made into The Grounded Coffee House at The Depot.

Area residents Lori Tilden-Geiger and DeLynn Geiger signed the paperwork on Aug. 19 to buy the lot at Rochester and Mishawaka streets, along with the depot.

They had a kick-off event for The Grounded Coffee House at The Depot in September.

In September, Tilden-Geiger said the depot was built in 1883 for the Erie Railroad. Then it became the Erie Lackawanna Railway after a 1960 merger. The train went out of Akron in 1976, so the depot has not been used since 1976.

Wednesday, Tilden-Geiger said moving the depot started at 9 a.m. As of noon, the depot had not been moved completely to the intersection. Tilden-Geiger said the move took a little bit longer than expected with Wednesday’s rain and moving utilities, such as power lines. Tilden-Geiger said she had to work with the utility companies “way before” the move.

When the depot is moved onto the foundation, Tilden-Geiger said it will be moved alongside the foundation and rolled over onto the foundation.

She said the depot still has to be cleaned up before it’s opened.

Tilden-Geiger expects The Grounded Coffee House at The Depot to be open in 2023.

Tilden-Geiger said they have an incredible team and they’re excited about the process and they couldn’t have done it without their team.