07-07-11 Opening marks 26-year, one-mile journey for locksmith

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kSpU TH gF p '�a d W vnacF y 1865 Office of the Mayor NEWS RELEASE July 7, 2011 5pm Opening marks 26-year, one-mile journey for locksmith Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564 Bill Schalliol, Economic Development Planner, 235-9371 or Tamara Nicholl-Smith, Director of Downtown Business Recruitment, DTSB, 631-1451 A joint release of the City of South Bend and Downtown South Bend Inc. Jack Seifer, owner of Michiana Lock& Key, will officially welcome customers, neighbors and friends to Michiana Lock& Key's new location at 621 E. Jefferson Blvd. during a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Friday presided over by Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. (An open house with tours and refreshments follows the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting and continues until 2 p.m. Friday.) The downtown locksmith is moving less than one mile from 306 W. Monroe St., in the shadows of Coveleski Regional Stadium, across the river to the East Bank Village. Although the physical distance is small, the journey results from a 26-year conversation between the small business owner and the City of South Bend regarding potential acquisition of the store since Coveleski Stadium was originally built. The journey also took an unexpected twist this spring when, as Michiana Lock&Key prepared for its move, Seiler discovered historically significant architectural details, including antique terra cotta, beneath what had been a nondescript storefront covered with wood paneling. "My first thought was we have to change gears from renovation to restoration," Seiler said. "We were really excited about it. The first thing we discovered was the transom windows. Then, when we pulled up the carpet, we found the hardwood maple floor. ... Those were the two big things that changed it into looking like an old, antique-style locksmith."