Mishawaka Mayor gives sneak peek of new downtown development, the Ironworks Building

 

MISHAWAKA, Ind.-- Mishawaka Mayor, Dave Wood, gave ABC57 an exclusive first look at the city's newest development, the Ironworks Building.

"We want to embrace the fact that yeah, it gets cold, we can't change that. But boy, we can sure have fun and take advantage of that," Wood said. "And so, we decided to-- very deliberately-- to bring ice and events and a café to downtown Mishawaka."

Located downtown behind The Mill and Sun King Brewery, it will be the home of the new ice-skating rink, which is already filling up reservations.

"This is our little mini–Millennium Park," Wood said, referring to the famous Chicago park that offered a lot of inspiration to the project.

It will also house an event center, which includes a buffet line, bar, large windows with views of the river, and a removable dance floor.

"It's a great space, there's nothing like it in downtown Mishawaka," he said. "And so, it creates a great new venue for groups or for weddings or for class reunions."

And a café, which has already been leased to the South Bend Chocolate Company, will be converted into the Mishawaka Public House.

The city created a non-reverting fund, making sure the new community amenity is sustainable.

"The money captured here on-site stays on-site to help us maintain this beautiful facility long-term," he said.

Mayor Wood said he hopes it will be a hub of activity, bringing vibrancy downtown.

"The vibrancy here will also support local businesses," he said.

The new Ironworks Building opens to the public Dec. 3 for Mishawaka's "Winter Fest."