As Kosciusko County prepares to demolish the buildings on the corner of Center and Lake streets in Warsaw this summer for the jail expansion, the businesses operating in those facilities are making decisions on what to do next.

One has found a new location. Another will go out of business and two are still undecided.

June E. Hamman, owner of Mail & Package Mart, said her business is moving to 714 N. Detroit St., the former location of Blimpie's. She said she began looking for a new location once she received the eviction notice in February.

"I felt I had to go out and look right away and not wait until demolition day," she said.

Although she heard rumors that the county might eventually demolish the building when she bought the store in November, she said she didn't actually expect it to happen for several years.

But, she said, "for us, it turned out to be enough notice."

She checked out different plazas and now is planning a May 3 opening day.

"It has 300 square feet more than what we have here," Hamman said. "Parking is going to be our biggest plus as far as our customers are concerned."

The move will not cause a disruption in service, she said. Saturday is the only day Mail & Package Mart will be closed due to the move.

"We've sort of begun telling customers (we're moving) as they've come in and most have been fairly pleased because the parking will be so much better," she said.

There are still small items Hamman said are being worked out.

"We have to change our addresses on everything, notify our suppliers," she said. "There's a lot of preparation to be taken care of."

Private mailbox owners will have to change their addresses, too. Companies that own mailboxes will have to change their letterheads, envelopes and business cards.

As for the number of customers, Hamman said, "I couldn't even venture a guess." And she said she believes there will be even more customers at the new location due to more visibility, better exposure, better location and better parking.

"That's my hope, anyway, that it's better for us," she said.

Another business on the block is George's Electronic Service.

"I'm not doing anything yet. I've probably got until June, anyhow," said George Mann, owner. "I've been retired and I'm going to retire a little more."

He said he will simply close up shop when the time comes. His shop has been at 107 N. Lake St. for 20 years.

He said it is not a viable business because not too many people go into electronics anymore and those who do go into the new electronics. Mann said he is probably only the local person who repairs older makes.

He said in the next month or so, he will investigate auctioning items in the store to get rid of them.

Yong Park, owner of Dharma School of Taekwondo, said, "I don't have any plans at this point. I just have to wait and see."

Lakeland Art Center is searching for 4,000 square feet of donated indoor space. A non-profit organization, LAC does not pay rent at their current facilities and Director Lila O'Connell said they are not able to pay too much rent at a new place, if they find one.

If LAC doesn't find a new building by June 1, there's little option left for them, O'Connell said recently.

LAC has been at their current facility for six years. Until the bulldozers arrive, or until a new facility is found, O'Connell said, LAC is going ahead with some of the projects they have planned.

If anyone wants to donate space or money, or knows of available space, O'Connell said, they may contact her at home at 269-5491 or at the art center at 267-4040. [[In-content Ad]]