The Westing House getting new purpose

Mansfield News Journal

The Rust Belt Flea, as in flea market, was open Friday and Saturday at the site of the former Westinghouse building at 246 E. Fourth St. Bryan Gladden, onsite developer, said he hopes to bring a flea market/produce market once a month to the site. This past weekend this market was the Lincoln Highway and Byway Sale on old U.S. 30 across the country. For now, vendors can set up for free.

Vendors were just setting up Friday inside the former Westinghouse building at 246 E. Fourth St.

Bryan Gladden, onsite developer, called the new monthly event, The Rust Belt Flea, offering furniture, antiques, clothing, vinyl records and more.

Gladden said he hopes to offer a farmer's market and flea market at the site once a month going forward.

This past Friday and Saturday, The Rust Belt Flea was part of the Lincoln Highway and Buy-Way Sale on old U.S. 30 across the nation. Vendors were setting up inside the former train rail-through where train cars were once unloaded and loaded. For now, vendors set up for free.

Indoor sports complex, residential apartments

The former Mansfield Commerce Center is still being used for warehousing but the new owner of the property, Joe Curry of Newark, Ohio, has lots of plans for the site, including an indoor sports complex, with retail shops in the garages and 60 residential apartments.

Curry, an entrepreneur and real estate investor, said he purchased the spacious building in November 2021.

He plans to re-activate the former Westinghouse ballroom for use as an event space and for weddings.

Curry said he is looking for franchise partnerships and sees the possibility of an indoor trampoline park, indoor go-kart track and more.

Furniture, antiques, clothing, vinyl and more were part of The Rust Belt Flea at The Westing House at 246 E. Fourth St., Lincoln Highway and Byway Sale. Monthly flea markets and farmers markets are planned at the former Westinghouse building.

He plans to make space for artists to come and work and is working with the Richland Community Development Group art sector to bring artists to the site to set up studios.

There is plenty of parking and he envisions indoor parking too.

An industrial landmark

Damien Beauford is working to bring activities for kids, including an after-school program with areas available for rental for various team sports activities with plans for providing such services for youth as early as Jan. 1, 2023, Curry said.

The Westinghouse factory was one of Mansfield's industrial landmarks. Thousands of area residents spent their working lives at Westinghouse, at one point the city's largest employer.

Changes are coming to the east end of Fourth Street.

The Richland County Land Bank Thursday announced R&D Excavating of Crestline will demolish the former dilapidated Westinghouse building and clean up the site at 200 E. Fifth St. this fall.

Anyone interested in setting up at the flea market/farmers market may contact Gladden at 419-512-9225.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir