Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The final remnants of the Lake Theatre interior recently were removed from the northwest corner of Buffalo and Main streets, allowing workers to begin initial construction of a Zimmer building for planned corporate housing.
The old lighted marque is dismantled. The slanted floors and cushioned seats of the theater are gone as well.
Replacing the cinema, which opened its doors in 1952, will be a structure Warsaw Community Development Corp. Director Carmen Lock thinks will be quite the "showcase" for the surrounding area.
"I believe this new building will be the greatest improvement for downtown Warsaw," Lock said. "I stand back and just admire what's taking place."
The new Zimmer facility will consist of 40 lodging units for corporate visitors, a majority which will be surgeons traveling to Warsaw to use the Zimmer Institute, a training facility in the basement of the company's headquarters on Main Street. The new building will not be open to the public.
Though the interior will be different from that of the theater, Zimmer opted to keep the base structure of the building and plans to erect a third level to allow for adequate space for the desired capacity.
Zimmer's director of facilities David Woodcock said the demolition process is 99 percent complete, and workers soon will begin pouring concrete to level out the floor on the first level. The project is estimated to reach completion in mid-2006.
The Lake Theatre itself was not an official historic landmark for Warsaw, however, the block in which the theater was on is part of the registry.
Brad Bishop, Zimmer's public affairs officer, said little was left behind from the old theater. The seats, projectors, popcorn machine, and other larger movie equipment were removed by the previous owner before Zimmer purchased the building.
"From what was left, very little of the materials we found were thrown away," Bishop said. "Employees have bought such items as movie reels and posters, even the large 'LAKE' letters."
Bishop, who is also on the board of directors for WCDC, said Zimmer is very pleased with the location of the new facility, being close to both the company's headquarters and downtown businesses.
"With our concept of bringing surgeons to Warsaw, we believe the location will help get the most out of our visitors' time," Bishop said. "The proximity to our headquarters is ideal, plus downtown is just a walk away."
Lock believes visitors to the facility will have a positive effect on surrounding businesses, both boosting property values and helping downtown economies.
"There's a lot of possibility here," Lock said. "If all goes well, I just hope the businesses can start staying open later."
"Any time one of the local industries expresses interest in the downtown area, it's wonderful news to hear," Mayor Ernie Wiggins said. "The Zimmer building will be a positive benefit for the downtown."
Bishop reported Zimmer will still use the surrounding hotels to accommodate sales reps, vendors and many other visitors they invite to Warsaw. Bishop also projected an increase in hotel reservations, due to continued emphasis on surgical training.
