Early primary voting begins today! • Union Street Market seeks new management • April deal at new coffee/bookshop!
Hey Locals,
It's shaping up to be an interesting local midterm primary, and early voting begins today. We share what to know – and what races to watch – in this week's Above the Fold.
In Briefs, we have a vendor-exclusive update on Union Street Market at Electric Works and a tip on new moves Parkview Health is making in Noblesville, including naming a new sports arena....
Plus, a local deal for you in April at a new coffee/bookshop, and a guide to Fort Wayne's blooming flowers in our To Do List, courtesy of Visit Fort Wayne!
This month: We’re partnering with The Shops at The Sanctuary in Columbia City to bring all paid subscribers a BOGO coffee drink at their new cafe and reading room, 1892 Coffee & Books. Learn more in today’s Local Spotlight!
Learn how to claim your offer here.
Now, let’s get started.
NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.
Early voting begins today!
Here's what to know for the May 5 primary.
For a quick overview:
- Registered voters can cast a ballot at any designated Vote Center. (See a list here.) Allen County switched to a “Vote Center County” this year, so you don't have an assigned precinct voting location.
- Allen County is seeing an increase in the number of candidates running for office.* This year, 103 Republicans and 39 Democrats are running in the primary, an increase from 2022, which saw 101 Republicans and 23 Democrats seeking a party nomination.
- Multiple county positions, as well as township trustees and board members are on the ballot. All Indiana state and U.S. Representatives will also be on the ballot, as well as half of Indiana’s state senators.
- One big local race to watch is county commissioner. Two of Allen County's three commissioner seats are up for grabs, and the District 3 seat, currently held by Rich Beck, is turning into a hot contest between Republican candidates, Ewelina Connolly and Paul Moss.* (Democrat Jorge Fernandez is unopposed.)
So... why do county commissioner seats matter? Who else is on the ballot? And how might voting centers affect this spring’s primary?
Stay tuned for more in this week’s Above the Fold newsletter – available to paid subscribers only.
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- Electric Works is seeking new management for its Union Street Market food hall, following the closure of more businesses under 3PO. Sources tell us vendors recently received an email from management, saying: "We are temporarily closing the Crane Bar and the Neon Pear and gift shop, which were previously operated by 3PO. These businesses have not met our expectations, nor were they providing the experience our tenants and visitors deserve." It also noted that Plowshares food hub, which operated fresh food stalls in the East Hall under a federal USDA grant, did not receive its federal funding this year, and thus, will be vacating its spaces, too. "We have been interviewing new management groups for Union Street Market, including the bars and bar services," the email says. "This will allow us to reposition the East Hall and bring you an even better experience and more dining, retail, and entertainment options in the near future."
- Parkview Health is behind a new $40M sports arena in the Indianapolis-area. Recently, the City of Noblesville and an independent, community-based health system there called Riverview Health announced a partnership with Parkview Health as part of the naming rights for the Home of the Noblesville Boom (NBA B League) basketball team in Noblesville. The newly christened Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile is a 123,000-square-foot, 3,500-capacity facility that will also host concerts and community events as part of Noblesville's 600-acre Innovation Mile (near another Fort Wayne namesake: the Ruoff Music Center). A news release says: "Recently, Riverview Health and Parkview Health of Fort Wayne entered into a management agreement to enhance operational efficiency and expand growth opportunities for the independent hospital system." In 2024, Parkview's spending on naming rights for arenas and its "aggressive acquisition" of regional hospitals received national scrutiny in a report by The Guardian.
- Fortezza coffee shop in Downtown Fort Wayne says it's “reviewing and strengthening" safety protocols after a customer’s firearm went off in the bathroom. The customer sustained minor injuries from the bullet, which shattered the porcelain bathroom sink, but no one else was injured. In a statement on Instagram, Fortezza extended its gratitude to its staff for managing the situation with professionalism. Fort Wayne is one of many cities that prohibits the discharge of firearms within city limits, carrying fines of $2,500. Firing a weapon, even accidentally, in a place where people are likely to gather can also be defined as "criminal recklessness" and a Level 5 felony in Indiana. We have reached out to the FWPD to learn more about the incident and improving safety at small businesses. We will report back when we know more.
- Pierre’s entertainment center quietly rebranded as Century Music Hall. The venue changed its outdoor signage and updated its website with minor references to its previous name on the info page. Pierre's had been the site of several criminal investigations, including a fatal stabbing and parking lot shootings within the last year, according to WANE 15.
- The City of Fort Wayne is hosting an informational meeting for the Poka-Bache Connector Trail on April 8 at 6 p.m. at Waynedale United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Construction along the east side of Bluffton Road from Lower Huntington Road to Ferguson Road will begin in 2028. The meeting will cover the preliminary trail design. At 82 miles long, the Poka-Bache Connector will be the longest trail in Indiana, connecting Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton.
- A new neighborhood coffee shop, smoothie bar and breakfast spot recently opened at 6218 Covington Road. The shop, Jet Cafe,* is owned by a pilot of 30 years and features an aviation-themed menu with retro plane seating.
What else? Updates on Downtown Fort Wayne's leadership, Fort Wayne FC's stadium, and a special tribute to a Fort Wayne actor. We share more even brief(er) briefs for paid subscribers only!
April deal: BOGO coffee drinks at a new bookshop cafe!
Meet 1892 Coffee & Books inside The Shops at The Sanctuary in Columbia City.
What’s happening?
In April, we’re partnering with The Shops at The Sanctuary in Columbia City to bring all paid subscribers a BOGO coffee drink at their new cafe and reading room, 1892 Coffee & Books. The Shops at The Sanctuary in Columbia City, just Southwest of Fort Wayne, is an 1892 church that Fort Wayne couple, Retta and Ben Yoder, transformed into a two-story vendor mall, filled with everything from new furniture and home goods to one-of-a-kind vintage art, decor, clothing and more.
Fun fact: After becoming a regular shopper last year, I (Kara) decided to open my own booth at The Sanctuary this spring (while getting into thrifting and redoing furniture as part of renovating my house). So when I found out Retta, Ben and their team were opening a new coffee and reading cafe this spring in the basement, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to partner and share their story in The Local.
We sat down with Retta Yoder for a few quick things to know:
- The cafe's menu is a mix of made-in-house drinks and pastries and locally sourced products. “You can expect thoughtfully crafted coffee drinks—from classic espresso and lattes to seasonal specialties—along with teas, fresh lemonade, and other simple, comforting beverages,” Retta says. “Our food offerings will focus on light, cozy options like pastries, baked goods, and small bites that pair perfectly with a good book or conversation.”
- The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and full of character. “Think soft seating, the glow of natural light through stained glass, shelves of books, and little details that make you want to linger,” Retta says. “It’s a space designed to feel both peaceful and alive… where everyone who walks in feels like they belong.”
- Plan to stay awhile: The coffee shop doubles as a reading room, and there are plenty of vintage treasures to explore. As for the bookshop, Retta says: “My vision is to offer a thoughtfully curated selection of books for all ages—stories that inspire, comfort, challenge, and bring joy. From timeless classics to children’s books, devotionals, and a mix of modern reads, each title will be chosen with intention.”
Learn more, and get tips for your visit in our full Q&A.
- Explore: a guide to Fort Wayne’s April flowers, featuring cherry blossoms at West Swinney Park by the pagoda pavilion, flowering pears by the Rivergreenway, and daffodils and tulips at the Botanical Conservatory.
- Laugh: with Stavros Halkias on The Dreamboat Tour at The Clyde Theatre on April 8 at 7 p.m. ($51)
- Attend: a discussion on mental health with Chamique Holdsclaw, an Olympic gold-winning NCAA player, known as the “female Michael Jordan,” at the Arts United Center on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. ($10)
- Dance: at The Brass Rail’s Goth Night with bands, Healing, Angel-Maker, and Cloudmaker, on April 11 at 9 p.m.
- Celebrate: the next generation of youth in the arts at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art's Second Thursdays event on April 9 at 5 p.m. It features the first Young Artists Exhibition, a juried art show for 5th-7th graders, and Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners. (Free admission with light appetizers)
What else? Three pop-up dinners to attend and more. We share additional things To Do for paid subscribers only!
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Have a great week, Locals!
-Your Editor, Kara Hackett
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