Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Three new businesses moved into downtown Warsaw within the past month, and a fourth is set to open its doors next week.
In the Garden, a Christian bookstore, opened March 26 on the corner of Market and Buffalo streets. Its owners, Thomas and Connie Ice, refer to themselves as "caretakers."
The Ices, who invite the public to "come walk in our garden," sell Christian books, cards, tapes and CDs, gifts and games. They said the reaction to their store has been "spectacular" and "outstanding."
"We're glad that we're downtown, we're glad that there's a revival going on," Thomas Ice said.
Just next door to In the Garden, on Buffalo Street, is Apple Gifts, an antique and gift store that also opened in late March.
Owned by Steve Rogers, the store offers merchandise on the first floor and will soon expand its inventory to the second floor, he said.
Apple Gifts is Rogers' second antique store in Warsaw - he also owns Warsaw Antiques, about a block down the street.
Local reaction to the store has been good, he said, with a steady stream of customers and a lot of interest.
The third new business is Advertising Advantage, which opened last month in the former license branch building on the corner of Center and Lake streets. The business is a merger of Creative Vinyl Graphics, owned by Jim McDairmant, and Lake City Awning, owned by Elmer Miller.
The two specialize in advertising on awnings, signs, flags, banners and vehicle graphics. They emphasize custom work and manage projects "from the idea stage to installation."
Half of the Advertising Advantage building is devoted to Warsaw Martial Arts, which McDairmant operates. Supplies are offered for sale downstairs, and classes for adults and children will be held upstairs.
McDairmant will be the chief instructor of the martial arts classes, and Randy Zorn will serve as his assistant instructor. Anyone with questions about classes can call 269-6127.
Scheduled to open next week is another combination business - Kaleidoscope Interiors and Courthouse Coffee, on the east side of the courthouse square.
Owned and operated by Dave and Paula Bowman, the unique store will feature gift and interior decorating items in the front and a coffee shop in the back.
The coffee shop has a fireplace and a grand piano and will offer gourmet coffee and pastries in a nonsmoking environment.
Paula Bowman said she wants the shop to be known as a refuge. "This is not just a coffee shop. This is a place to recharge," she said. Patrons are encouraged to relax in front of the fireplace with a cup of coffee and a newspaper and take their time, she said.
Courthouse Coffee also will include a meeting room at the back that can be used for private groups. The room has a diagonal wall for slide presentations and phone jacks for laptop computers.
Trish Brown, executive director of the Warsaw Community Development Corp., said 19 new businesses moved into the downtown area last year and six have opened in the first quarter of 1997. Only two businesses moved out of downtown in 1996, she said.
