Hey Locals,

You might have heard there's a new summer parade in the works by an organization honoring Fort Wayne's namesake, Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne. It's connected to the city's controversial Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne Day, which made national headlines in 2020. We explain more in Above the Fold.

We also talk about a new golf entertainment facility coming to town that's getting some neighborhood pushback and share which local ice cream shops are now open for the season.

This month: by popular demand, we're partnering with Sunrise Mart to bring all paid subscribers to The Local $5 off your next grocery shopping trip. We offer tips on what to buy in our Local Spotlight. Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get that discount!

Now, let's get started!

NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

Will City Council correct Gen. 'Mad' Anthony Wayne Day?

Announcements about a new summer parade bring up lingering questions.

What's happening?

Recently, several local news organizations have reported: that a group called the Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne Organization Inc. is seeking entries and sponsors for a new summer parade in lieu of the (bankrupt) Three Rivers Festival Parade on July 19. They're calling it the Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne Parade.

What the news failed to mention* is: the history – or lack thereof – behind Fort Wayne's controversial Gen. 'Mad' Anthony Wayne Day itself and how it relates to the new parade. 

Here are a few quick things to know:

• The context of the parade: In February, after more than 50 years, the board behind Fort Wayne’s iconic Three Rivers Festival passed a motion to file for bankruptcy. As a result, several organizations have stepped up to host various parts of the former multi-day festival. The Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne Organization is planning a parade with a similar route as the former TRF parade.
• The connection to Wayne Day: The General “Mad” Anthony Wayne Organization told several news organizations its mission is "to enhance area education about relevant history." But it did not elaborate on what this means. It also did not respond to our email request to learn more about its mission. However, its founder (J. Michael Loomis) and website have attributed its roots to a 2017 request from Loomis to his then-City Council representative, Jason Arp, to introduce a resolution designating a day to honor General Wayne in Fort Wayne. Its website says: “The passage of this Resolution led to the founding by Mike Loomis of our Organization on March 19, 2019.”
• The controversy behind Wayne Day: The story about Fort Wayne’s Wayne Day resolution made national headlines in Politico in 2020, when Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charlie Savage (raised in Fort Wayne) exposed several inaccuracies in it, ranging from the misspelling of the "Battle of Stony Point" to the mischaracterization of sovereign native tribes as "British led Native forces" and the claim that by capturing Stony Point, Wayne foiled a British attempt to capture General Washington. (In fact, Savage found that the resolution's claims about foiling an attempt to capture Washington may have been based on a fictional AMC TV show.) To this day, these inaccuracies remain part of the resolution (available here) and the annual holiday celebrated on July 16. City Council has not corrected it despite an outstanding offer from the History Center to do so.

For a deeper dive…

We share what we know so far about the public response to the Wayne Day resolution in our premium newsletter.

Why it matters

Correcting inaccurate local history is simply the right thing to do, and it fosters unity in the community. In 2021, I (Kara) explained the importance of accuracy in-depth, as part of a local book project about the future of Fort Wayne. But, in short, as one historian (Dawn G. Marsh, Ph.D. at Purdue University) puts it: "Interpretations of historical events can differ depending on the perspectives of the storytellers; however, those interpretations must be based in verifiable, known facts from archival, material, and oral accounts. They must be substantiated and accounted for. This is especially critical when the endorsement is coming from an elected body representing a community that includes the heirs and descendants of those historic events.... Fort Wayne's history belongs to all of its residents, past and present. An incomplete and inaccurate representation of that past as formulated by persons who lack the expertise, training, and research experience to do so, is a disservice to your citizens."

• Fort Wayne is getting a long-awaited Top-Golf-like facility, set to open in 2026 – but nearby neighborhoods feel "deceived" by the plans. Back 9 Golf & Entertainment is an Indianapolis-based brand under Riverfront Sports LLC, which has two partners who were born and raised in Fort Wayne. It has a flagship location in Indianapolis and plans to open a similar-sized, three-storey facility near a new development called the Villages of Arneo, on North Clinton between Wallen Road and I-469. The mixed-use development is led by local restaurateur James Khan and designed "to drive people out of their home and connect." It features 240 apartments, 60 villa/townhomes, and 80,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, as well as 2.5 miles of walking trails and paths, connecting to a dog park, a community park, and a commercial town square. Back 9 is the first commercial tenant, which Khan says is “exactly what (the project) is supposed to attract.” But not everyone agrees. City Council President Russ Jehl (R-2) tells The JG* he lives near the area and "feels 'deceived' by the Villages of Arneo because their rezoning application for the property was supposed to be for low-intensity mixed-use development." However, Back 9, like Top Golf, features stadium lighting, which threatens to dominate the sky. Jehl says: “Neighborhoods will point to this and be concerned about these kinds of bait and switches."
• A local family butcher shop lost its store to a Shell gas station and pizza parlor on Sunday. Dave Hill tells WANE 15 he's run Dave Hill’s Meat Market on West Washington Center Road for about 29 years. "He has been a butcher for over 40 years, working the market to carry on his grandfather’s legacy," WANE reports. In February, Hill announced the closure of his shop, due to his landlord wanting to use the space for a gas station and pizza parlor instead. Hill tells WPTA 21 he is not certain what's next for him, but plans to be "going somewhere, doing something different." There is still a separately owned Hill's Meat Market on Lower Huntington Rd.

Plus: two fieldhouse projects vie for funding, a passenger rail update and a new city housing initiative to promote infill development. We cover it all in our premium newsletter.

A new deal with Sunrise Mart!

This might be the coolest grocery store in Fort Wayne, and all paid subscribers get $5 off their next shopping trip!

What's happening?

Fort Wayne has a lot of great local grocery stores, but there's only one where you can find budget-friendly food, Indian sweets, tasty tacos and delicious sushi and bobas all under one roof. Since it opened last fall, Sunrise Mart has quickly become one of our favorite places to shop, from its friendly staff, to its unique product selection and its amazing family-owned restaurants inside: Antojitos Mexicanos and Uramaki Sushi.

By popular demand from a few readers who feel the same way, we're partnering with Sunrise Mart in March to bring all paid subscribers to The Local $5 off your next grocery shopping trip.

Here are five tips for your next visit:

• Our current obsession: is fun flavors of Kuehnert Dairy Farm milk sold in reusable glass bottles. So far, we've tried the Coffee, Red Velvet and Cookies & Cream flavors, and they're all delicious. As an added bonus for you (and the environment), you get $2.50 off your next purchase if you bring back your empty bottle! (Kuehnert has tubs of delicious local ice cream available at Sunrise Mart, too!)
• Taco' bout tasty: Did you know there's carne asada taco meat available in a refrigerator next to Antojitos Mexicanos? We snagged some of this the last time we visited and made our own tacos at home. If you're in the mood for takeout, Antojitos owner Jesus Bazquez recommends the Tlayudas on his menu. "It's a big corn tortilla that’s toasted on the grill, and it’s covered with beans, cabbage and a dense, thinly cut steak," he says.
• Something unique is: Sunrise Mart might be the only place in town where you can find fresh Indian sweets. Check out two large pastry cases by the entrance, and ask for samples of the flavors. One must-try item on our list is the viral Dubai Chocolate Strawberry cups (while supplies last). You can DoorDash them, too!
• Don't forget the bobas! May Khant and her family used to own a sushi franchise inside Sam's Club, but ventured out on their own as Uramaki Sushi when Sunrise Mart opened. "People really like the boba drinks," Khant says. "The Pink Drink and Taro Boba are most popular. People rave about the California Crunchy Roll, too!"
• Be sure to: watch Instagram and Facebook for special deals and promotions at Sunrise Mart. They're a young team with an active social media presence, and they frequently post special discounts on produce and other products, first-come, first-served.

We catch up with Sunrise Mart on three more questions in our premium newsletter.

• Kickoff: the warm weather season with the annual opening of local ice cream shops. Zesto at Coventry opened Saturday, and The Stand on Bluffton Rd. opens today. Zesto's St. Joe location opens March 6.
• Shop: a solo art show by Emily Mercedes at Fancy & Staple on March 7, 5-8 p.m. The nostalgic show features fun, original prints of toys, as well as free bites from Good Bread for All bakery, opening soon on the Broadway Corridor. (Stroll the street to find more First Fridays happenings that night, too!)
• Explore: creatively reimagined historical photographs at Centier Bank Downtown, open during regular business hours.

What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.

Support The Local!

Our independent news publication is run by just two locals, Kara and Mike. We are 99% funded by our paid members, and we'd like to keep it that way. If you've enjoyed reading our newsletter so far and have found value in the service we provide, we'd love to have you become a paid subscriber. Help us keep going by upgrading today, and receive our premium newsletter and perks!

Got a story tip or idea?

Let us know at thelocalfortwayne@gmail.com.

Have a great week, Locals!

-Your Editor, Kara Hackett