Antique Mall plans to relocate
Crown Point’s Antique Mall is set to reopen in a new location.
After closing earlier this month so the owner of the building in the downtown square can make renovations and pursue other uses for the site, about 45 of the vendors plan to move into a warehouse at 545 E. 110th Ave. in Crown East, just west of Interstate 65 and south of 109th Avenue.
Mark Kratkoczki recently leased the warehouse for the purpose of relocating the vendors. However, and unbeknownst to him, the site is zoned for industrial use only and not for retail use.
Kratkoczki appeared June 24 before the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals asking for a variance of use to allow the Antique Mall.
The board, in a 3-1 vote, approved the use on the condition it would be a six-month probationary period with no parking allowed on the sides of the building or in the street as well as to have a rear entrance where the parking spaces are located. The vote is a favorable recommendation to the City Council, which will decide the issue at its next meeting in July.
Parking was the main concern of the board. Alda Veluttini said she had “grave concerns” over not only parking but the use primarily because it is in an industrial area and does not fit the city’s comprehensive plan to have a retail business there.
BZA president Dan Rohaley said they are totally supportive of business in Crown Point but are concerned about that location.
Kratkoczki said he does not expect an overflow of traffic through the area. He expects maybe 10 to 12 parking spaces out of the 55 to be occupied at a time during the week and maybe 20 on a weekend. He said he does not foresee it to being like nearby Off Square Brewing when they have events and people are parking “everywhere.”
“It is pretty congested,” he said.
“We are selling antiques, not beer,” said Jennifer Ruiz, Kratkoczki’s office administrator.
Several Antique Mall vendors showed up at the meeting to voice their support for the new location. Aria Manalan, who worked at the previous building for 26 years, said it would be a great asset to Crown Point.
“The Crown Point community has lost a big asset and draw for people,” she said. “If we don’t have that anymore, it is a loss for the whole town.”