Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana Places

The Pearl and The Pearl Arts

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Today, Fort Wayne Community Development, in partnership with Chuck and Lisa Surack announced a new mixed-use development...

Posted by City of Fort Wayne Government on Monday, February 14, 2022

Monday, February 14, 2022 post by the City of Fort Wayne Government on Facebook:

Today, Fort Wayne Community Development, in partnership with Chuck and Lisa Surack announced a new mixed-use development in downtown Fort Wayne.

The project, known as “The Pearl,” is a $50 million investment by the Suracks. It is anticipated to include a seven-story building with commercial and event space, residential units, and structured parking.

Read more: UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT PLANNED FOR DOWNTOWN THROUGH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SURACK ENTERPRISES AND CITY OF FORT WAYNE

May 5, 2023 post by Weigand Construction on Facebook:

Could you imagine living and working in this building one day?

After several large, successful concrete pours, the team at The Pearl continues to take the project upwards!

We're starting to see framing for rooms on the first floor go up while work on the parking garage carries on.

There will be great opportunities for businesses, retailers, restaurants, and live music once this build is complete. As with so many of the projects happening in downtown Fort Wayne, we're proud to invest in the growth and innovation taking place in the heart of this city!

#dronevideo #update #thepearlfw

August 22, 2023 post by Weigand Construction on Facebook:

This week, our crew celebrated hitting a new milestone at @thepearlfw! 😮

Having completed the frame of the building, we all got to watch as the final support beam was installed, bringing a successful close to this chapter of the construction phase. 👏

The Pearl will feature residential apartments, live/work storefronts, a coffee shop, an on-site fitness center, and much more.

"It's going to be a further expansion of the downtown and particularly of The Landing." - Chuck Surack, Founder and CEO, Surack Enterprises

With building scheduled to be completed in a year, we can't wait to see what this new addition brings to the downtown skyline!

#thepearl #mixeduse #toppingout

Ahead of Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, CEO Chuck Surack of Surack Enterprises gave WANE 15 an exclusive guided tour of his new downtown building The Pearl and the new Pearl Street Arts Center across the street.

Posted by WANE 15 on Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

Ahead of Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, CEO Chuck Surack of Surack Enterprises gave WANE 15 an exclusive guided tour of his new downtown building The Pearl and the new Pearl Street Arts Center across the street.

Downtown Fort Wayne’s skyline has gained another gem. Congratulations to Chuck and Lisa Surack on the opening of The...

Posted by Mayor Sharon Tucker on Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 post by Mayor Sharon Tucker on Facebook:

Downtown Fort Wayne’s skyline has gained another gem.

Congratulations to Chuck and Lisa Surack on the opening of The Pearl on Main St. This new mixed-use development combines living, working, and entertainment spaces, making it a remarkable addition to our downtown.

The Pearl holds ribbon cutting/tours of live/workspace, rooftop area, more. See more in FWBusiness.com.

Posted by Fort Wayne Business Weekly on Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 post by Fort Wayne Business Weekly on Facebook:

The Pearl holds ribbon cutting/tours of live/workspace, rooftop area, more. See more in FWBusiness.com.

Today, we joined friends throughout the community in celebrating the completion of The Pearl a 7-story mixed-use...

Posted by Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne on Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 post by Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne on Facebook:

Today, we joined friends throughout the community in celebrating the completion of The Pearl a 7-story mixed-use development featuring ground floor commercial and event space, parking, residential, and live-work units in Downtown Fort Wayne!

Find out more: www.thepearlfw.com

Another Downtown Project Complete! ✨ We had a wonderful time cutting the ribbon on The Pearl near the heart of downtown...

Posted by Weigand Construction on Thursday, October 10, 2024

Thursday, October 10, 2024 post by Weigand Construction on Facebook:

Another Downtown Project Complete! ✨

We had a wonderful time cutting the ribbon on The Pearl near the heart of downtown Fort Wayne. Thank you to everyone who came out to support and celebrate with us on delivering this amazing project. 🙌

Here's to building landmarks that impact the lives and communities we serve! 🥂

Open House at The Pearl 😮

Posted by Whatzup on Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 post by Whatzup on Facebook:

Open House at The Pearl 😮

The Pearl Arts

https://pearlarts.org/. A Foundation for Opportunity. Located in the eastern third of the old Perfection Bakery site at Pearl Street and Maiden Lane in downtown Fort Wayne is Pearl Street Arts Center, Northeast Indiana’s new community arts and education destination, scheduled to open in the summer of 2024. Pearl Arts is the vision of local businessman and philanthropist Chuck Surack and a small group of committed volunteers who are creating a one-of-a-kind interactive community arts hub, and a new center for musical life in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 post by Pearl Arts on Facebook:

Scheduled to open in the Fall of 2024, Pearl Arts is the vision of local businessman and philanthropists, Chuck and Lisa...

Posted by Pearl Arts on Friday, May 17, 2024

Friday, May 17, 2024 post by Pearl Arts on Facebook:

Scheduled to open in the Fall of 2024, Pearl Arts is the vision of local businessman and philanthropists, Chuck and Lisa Surack and a small group of committed volunteers who are creating a one-of-a-kind interactive community arts hub, and a new center for musical life in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana.

August 21, 2023 post by Hagerman on Facebook:

Check out the progress at the new fine arts building for Pearl Arts, Inc. This project is an extensive renovation of the original Perfection Bakery building in downtown Fort Wayne, IN. #BuildingABetterFuture #ConstructionSolutionsProvider

Welcome BACK to FUN 👏 FACT 👏 FRIDAY! 👏 Today, we visit the Pearl District, surrounded by Main Street, Webster Street,...

Posted by Sturges Property Group on Friday, February 21, 2025

Friday, February 21, 2025 post by Sturges Property Group on Facebook:

Welcome BACK to FUN 👏 FACT 👏 FRIDAY! 👏

Today, we visit the Pearl District, surrounded by Main Street, Webster Street, Pearl Street, and Maiden Lane. 📍

The Pearl opened in 2024 as Fort Wayne’s newest downtown development, but back in the 1880s, the Pearl District was an area full of manufacturers, blacksmith shops, construction suppliers, and stables.

The most popular businesses on Pearl Street were Perfection Biscuit Co., Troy Cleaners, the Interurban Freight Depot, and Wayne Hardware, all on the northern side of Pearl Street.

Some of these are still prominent businesses and buildings today!

Several structures throughout the Pearl District were razed, rebuilt, or restored throughout the 1900s to adapt to the popular, growing industries and technologies of the time.

For example, the soon-to-be-open Ducky’s FW location was once home to Universal Wheel Co., a business that made puncture-proof automobile wheels in the early 1900s. 🚗

`The building was converted into a garage in the 30s and became part of Workspace Solutions in more recent years. This building ran from Webster to Main Street.

In the 30s, Central Motor Parts claimed the corner of Webster and Main Street, where The Pearl’s new live/work units are now.

Star Bowling & Billiard Supply, as seen in the historic image, occupied this corner in the 70s and 80s until Workspace Solutions moved in and stayed until the building was torn down.

False storefronts were built over several Main Street businesses between the 1980s to the 2000s in an attempt to clean up the block.🧹

Many may remember Peerless Cleaners, Pioneer Barber Supply, and the Ross Hotel building along this section of Main Street where Crescendo Coffee & Café and The Pearl Event Center now sit.

The south side of Pearl Street was once home to Gauntt Manufacturing Co, where they made and repaired machinery and auto parts.

Various garages, businesses, taverns, and nightclubs lined Pearl Street throughout its 150-year history, including Tamica’s Club, After Dark, and Ross Radio & TV in the early 90s.

Now, you can enjoy fine dining at Amoré, 🍝 followed by a stroll down the quaint corridor.

The Pearl District’s early days of dirt roads and manufacturing plants have been replaced with luxury living, event spaces, and fine dining.

The live/work units along brick-paved Webster Street give a nod to those early years when it was common to live above your place of business. 💼

Historic image/video courtesy of ACPL.

Shared February 27, 2025 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.

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