The Shoppes at Lincoln Square

A fun Christmas event was held at The Shoppes on Nov. 14, giving area residents a chance to do some early Christmas shopping.

The historic building was originally an elementary school established in 1907. When classes ceased decades later, the Wright family purchased the building where their children had all attended school. It saw many incarnations over the years, but had fallen into disrepair.

MS Associates bought the building in 2015 and restored it with a new roof, remediation of dry rot, and installation of new windows that let in tons of light! It was also 100% rewired and replumbed. The building was furnished with lots of plants, which keep the air fresh and give it a welcoming atmosphere.

Today it houses lots of locally owned small businesses, including Liquid Vibes Coffee, a great place to meet friends; Haven Boutique, a resale shop with clothing and jewelry at a fraction of the usual cost; and Andi’s Flowers, for lovely arrangements and gifts. These are just a few of the stores and businesses that now call the building home.

Dan Jeffries, manager of MS Associates and The Shoppes, credits help from the community when it came to restoring the building. “People came and volunteered to help with initial clean-up, including hundreds of volunteers from Calvary Chapel, located across the street,” said Jeffries. The church now has Calvary Chapel Bible College located in the building, and rents the space out for events.

PHOTOS BY RALPH LOVUOLO