Raclin Murphy Encore Center officially open for business

SOUTH BEND, Ind — The long awaited, highly anticipated Raclin Murphy Encore Center is open for business as of Friday morning. It's been in the making for years, with initial ideas and plans dating back to 2019, pre covid.

Donors, state legislators, council members and members of the community gathered for the 11 a.m. ribbon cutting of the $30 million, 20,000 square foot expansion of the Morris Performing Arts Center.

Carmi Murphy and her husband are lead donors of the project and put the Murphy in Raclin Murphy.

CARMI MURPHY AND HER HUSBAND ARE LEAD DONORS AND PUT THE MURPHY IN RACLIN MURPHY.

"I think this is above and beyond anything that any of us expected. It is really magnificent, first-class addition to an already stunningly beautiful, Morris Civic Auditorium, our lobby, and our theater."

Murphy shared she was instantly sold on the idea of making Downtown South Bend's future a little bit brighter.

"We've got an arts and equity program here. We've got enormous entertainment space. Navarre Hospitality is going to be handling a lot of public and private events here. So, it's just very, very exciting," Murphy shared.

The encore center is phase two of the three-phase Morris 100 project, also known as "The Never Ending Encore."

The new building provides additional lobby space, circulation space for shows and events, new bar and lounge area and an Equity in the Arts space with the hope of having new displays every month.

The City's Chief of Venues and Promotions, Dezha Moore, tells ABC 57 there's even more exciting plans in the future.

"We want to have rotating monthly art exhibits with local creatives, with organizations. We're partnering with some of our schools that we're we'll be excited to announce later on this year, to have rotating art here on this floor. And then again, we want to make sure that the community knows that this space is their space."

Mayor James Mueller says today is a proud day for the city.

"15 years ago, we were named the dying city, and this is a loud and proud response where the communities rallied together, and this is a testament to the community coming together and showing that we are not a dying city. We are a thriving city."

Phase three of the Morris 100 project is an attached garage that will be located behind the Raclin Murphy Encore Center. Construction is slated to begin by the end of 2026 and wrap up in 2028.