The Central District building is off to a hot start since opening in November.
Cade Higgins | The Lima News
LIMA — The Lima Young Professionals met Wednesday afternoon at the Central District downtown in Lima to learn about the ever-changing landscape.
Members of the group listened to the owner of most properties on the city block, Tracie Sanchez, summarize her vision and goals over the last seven years involving the various properties.
The Central District is a retail hub home to nine businesses with two more joining in the future. There are boutiques, a salon, a coffee and chocolate shop, a European bakery, a podcast studio, a massage therapist and a bridal company offering dresses and a seamstress among other activities to take part in on the three floors.
Perhaps the biggest plan currently in the works is the Social House, a fun, casual restaurant and space featuring outdoor activities such as cornhole, hibachi, fireplaces, patio and a courtyard with seating. The plan is to open in mid-October. The restaurant, which was a bus garage, is being constructed behind the Central District building.
Sanchez purchased the block in 2017 with encouragement from the owner of Rudolph Foods, Rich Rudolph.
“He had a vision before I became president of the Lima Rotary Club,” she said. “Five to seven years ago, this place (downtown) was desolate.”
According to Sanchez and Rudolph, Lima lacked a green space downtown. This led to the idea of the Greater Lima Region Park & Amphitheater at 128 Spring St, which opened in August 2023.
“We have a really big plan for that next year,” Sanchez said.
This led to Sanchez being offered to purchase the city block.
“It’s our turn. Our parents had invested a lot in Lima. It’s our turn to revitalize and invest in Lima,” she said.
Sanchez explained that recruiting people to Lima was always a difficult thing.
“Why can’t we be a destination place where people want to come, especially considering where we’re located?” she asked.
Sanchez explained the building was something they wanted to showcase things Lima doesn’t have.
She concluded by discussing a future grocery store similar to Whole Foods or Sprouts, somewhere people could have more healthy options to shop for.
“What does Lima need, what are we lacking, and what can we do,” she said when considering what to offer next.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
