Hey Locals,

We’re wrapping up three weeks of reporting on Electric Works with a reader question regarding an alleged “community benefit fund” the project was supposed to create. Details in this week’s Above the Fold.

In Briefs, we have updates on Parkview’s latest hospital acquisitions, new businesses opening at the Schaab Building on North River and what’s happening in Fort Wayne’s office market – including new uses for the former Lincoln Financial building Downtown. 

We also have some fun fall events for your calendar, from an interesting new Philosophy Hour at Packard Taphouse, to Hot Cider races and themed book clubs and concerts. We have a new deal for you this month, too!

In October: We’re partnering with Summit City Vintage to bring all paid subscribers to The Local a special deal: 10% off any purchase. Details (and shopping tips) in our Local Spotlight!

Now, let’s get started.

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

Electric Works Community Benefit Fund:

What is it + does it exist?

What's happening?

While reporting on promises Electric Works made to Fort Wayne, we received a reader question about a “community benefit fund” the project was supposed to create. We’re told this was supposed to be a fund where the developers would contribute a certain amount of money per square footage of space leased on campus, which would be used to support other projects in Fort Wayne, particularly on the Southeast side. 

So… does this fund exist? And if so, what’s its status? 

Stay tuned for Thursday’s Above the Fold newsletter – for paid subscribers only – where we’ll fill you in.

• Parkview Health continues to acquire smaller regional hospitals – most recently, Goshen Health. Last week, Parkview announced it has finalized a deal to acquire Goshen, which includes “a 105-bed acute care hospital and network of primary and specialty care physicians.” The JG* reports that, in recent years, Parkview has been “rapidly expanding” its 16-hospital network. Last year, it announced plans to construct a $200M hospital in West Lafayette and to invest $150M in two new Marion facilities. In April, it also announced its intent to acquire Witham Health Services in Boone County. This continues monopolistic trends noted by The Guardian in 2024, when Parkview Health made international headlines for how it "took over a region and jacked up prices." The story was part of a US investigation series called "Too big to care" that examines "how consolidation in the US healthcare system has saddled patients with big bills, fewer options and worse care."
• Fort Wayne’s office vacancies decreased in 2026, largely due to limited new construction, according to the Zacher Company’s new annual report released this month. Zacher tells Fort Wayne Business Weekly the whole market vacancy went down, along with Downtown vacancy and Class A vacancy, noting: “Tenants want to be Downtown, and they want to be in the best buildings." The report identified two noteworthy transactions at Electric Works, including Do It Best leasing an additional 45K sq. ft. when it acquired True Value and Vera Bradley leasing 40,491 sq. ft. as it closes its Roanoke HQ, zoned “industrial.” The report also noted that Regus Office Space Solutions leased 23,872 sq. ft. in the former Lincoln Financial Group building Downtown, now called Abridge Pointe.
• A prominent Allen County Sheriff’s Department corporal may lose his job due to “unbecoming and immoral conduct.” Last week, The JG* reported that Sheriff Troy Hershberger filed a petition requesting Cpl. Ben Fries be fired due to reports of Fries’s behavior from co-workers and community members. Fries’s is alleged to have made comments about violence, including saying that he hadn’t “shot anyone with [his] new Glock, yet” at a lunch with fellow officers, which Fries dismissed as “shop talk” and “just a joke.” Fries, who was cleared of criminal liability after fatally shooting a man in December 2024, is reported to have also made inappropriate comments describing ammunition in the presence of children at a recent National Night Out community event with his department. In addition to his work with the Sheriff’s Department, Ben Fries is the son of Ken Fries, former Allen County Sheriff (2007-2015) and current Republican At-Large member of County Council. Ben also serves as Executive Director of The Fries Foundation, which funds “critical safety and security training” for Christian churches.
• Mitchell’s new location at the Schaab Riverfront building opened on Friday, according to a Facebook post. The Downtown location* is the second location for the Southwest Fort Wayne sports bar and restaurant. It will be open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday. Mitchell’s is the first of several local tenants planned for the Schaab property, owned by Schaab Riverfront Plaza LLC led by Don Steininger. Other tenants so far include a recently announced local deli and ice cream shop (coming soon), as well as Flashbacks Downtown – also owned by Mitchell’s Todd Smith. Flashbacks is expected to open later this year and will be an ages 30+ dance club on the second floor above Mitchell’s, which is all ages.
• The Rescue Mission and Bridge of Grace Ministries are working on two large projects to increase Fort Wayne’s housing capacity. Last week, the Mission announced a $1.6M plan to renovate its third floor and add 204 beds. This would bring its total capacity to about 500 beds for men, with new facilities offering 24-hour access to beds, showers, laundry service and lockers. So far, the Mission has raised about $900K for the project and is seeking donations. The nonprofit Bridge of Grace is also planning a $4.48M project to “bridge an accessibility gap between rental units and homeownership,” WANE 15 reports. The project will bring 24 affordable housing units to neighborhoods on the city’s south side with the first set of triplex units expected to be complete by July 2027.

New deal Summit City Vintage on The Landing:

10% off any purchase!

What’s happening?

In October, The Local is partnering with Summit City Vintage to bring all paid subscribers a special deal: 10% off any purchase. Summit City Vintage is a vintage clothing store specializing in men's, women’s and children’s clothing in styles ranging from the 60’s to the 2000’s. 

Shop owners Justin Garman and Edwin Thomas met while vending at pop-up events, and realized that they not only had a shared passion, but also were both driving hours away to visit the nearest vintage clothing store. 

“The lack of options locally made our shopping experience limited to vacations, or trips to big cities,” Thomas said. “We wanted to bring a store you’d see in Chicago or Indianapolis to Fort Wayne.”

A few quick things to know for your next visit:

• Summit City Vintage moved to The Landing two years ago. Previously, they were located in The Marketplace of Canterbury, the same plaza as the former Pierre’s Entertainment Center. “Being at the new location has made a night-and-day difference,” Garman said. “The consistent foot traffic has helped us gain a substantial increase in exposure.”
• If you are new to vintage clothing, Garman and Thomas recommend starting with basics, like a solid pair of denim jeans or a cotton t-shirt. You can also find something in the shop that takes you back to your childhood – from band tees to sports jerseys and cozy holiday sweaters. 
• Summit City Vintage offers Buy, Sell, Trade. Looking to part with some retro pieces in your wardrobe? Summit City Vintage buys vintage clothing, offering cash or trade – so you can clean out your closet, and find some new treasures to add to the collection. 

• Learn: about Plato, the allegory of the cave, and more at Packard Taphouse during Philosophy Hour, a new event with Ethics in Conversation Fort Wayne, on Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m., offering "a stimulating study of the good life, for everyone.” (Free)
• Dance: at The Fairfield, tonight at 7 p.m. with a Salsa Dancing class taught by Instructor Jesus Rosario, followed by an open practice and social hour. ($10)
• Listen: to the Ghostbusters in Concert, with a live orchestra performing the classic film score on stage at Foellinger Theatre on Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. ($38)
• Run: in the Fort Wayne Hot Cider Hustle Half Marathon, 5K and 10K on Oct. 11th, 8:30-12 p.m. Plus, receive an event shirt, hot cider, a caramel apple, and a finisher's mug. Pre-register by Oct. 7. ($45)
• Move: with Barre on the Riverfront at Promenade Park, a combination of ballet, pilates, and yoga hosted by Discover Yoga on Oct. 11 at 9:15 a.m. (Free)
• Watch: “The Iron Giant” on Oct. 10, 1-4 p.m. as part of Cinema Center’s Film For All program. (Free)
• Read: “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie, then meet up and discuss with the Authors & Ales bookclub at 2Toms Brewing Company on Oct. 8 at 7:30-8:30 p.m. (Free)

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-Your Editor, Kara Hackett

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