Tenants get a glimpse at the future of Market Square

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Tenants of Market Square Shopping Center in Lafayette now know more about the future plans for the property.

Tenants got to meet the all the new owners Thursday. They also heard plans to spruce up the exterior of Market Square.

Arni's co-owner Brad Cohen said the new ownership is a relief, because a few months ago, he was worried he wouldn't have any neighbors.

"We assumed that we would be here. But, of course, the question was whether anybody else would be here," said Cohen.

He added Market Square has been home to the popular pizza place since 1953. That's why when the shopping center went up for sale in September of last year, there were some concerns.

"It kind of created a lot of questions. Customers were coming in saying, 'What's going to happen?' And, of course, you really don't have an answer for them so you really just needed to wait and wait and wait to see what happened," Cohen said.

Cohen said Arni's signed a new lease a couple of years ago, so he knew they would remain in Market Square. He was just worried if neighboring businesses would do the same.

"You rely on the other stores bringing people just as much as they rely on us to bring people. You know, you're creating a lifestyle atmosphere of being able to walk in and hang out in the neighborhood," Cohen explained.

New owners Jennie and Aaron Kirby of Kirby Realty hope to spruce up the neighborhood and shopping center.

In a meeting Thursday, they revealed new plans for the shopping center to the tenants. The couple has managed the property for eight years. Jennie said it's time to finish things they've wanted to do for years.

"Some of the improvements that we plan to make would be some sidewalk work, pretty immediately in the spring. We've got some areas mapped out that we would like to start on. We also have some focus on some paint for the building, as well as some parking lot areas throughout the center," Kirby said.

Also in the meeting, tenants were able to meet the other four investors, partnering with the Kirbys. Kirby said the investors are all from central Indiana and come from different backgrounds. Kirby said they are Robert McCormack, Tim Jacobs, Brian Jacobs and Kevin Burrows.

Kirby said overall, on both sides, the response was positive.

News 18 spoke with the owner of Interior Objects, Michael Brouillette, last week about the new ownership. He said he's excited that the Kirbys are local and familiar with the area.