LEWISTON, Maine — Turning tragedy into triumph—that's the idea behind a plan underway in Lewiston.
The former site of Schmengees Bar and Grille, where part of the Lewiston mass shootings happened last October is now becoming a place to help others in the community.
Kaydenz Kitchen, a local nonprofit that offers free food, clothes, and other vital services to the unhoused population, said it will be moving into the building.
"We’ve been bursting at the seams now for several years now," Kevin Boilard, Kaydenz Kitchen's president, said. "One of our biggest challenges is really, accessibility and space."
Boilard said he's currently operating in a 2,500 to 3,000-square-foot space. He said the new location will give him more than 10,000 square feet to work in.
The former Schmengees has sat empty since the tragedy. Boilard said he saw an opportunity to do good with it.
"We really wanted to take the opportunity to bring value back to the community," he explained. "It was a win-win situation as far as our ability to become more accessible and expand our resources."
In addition to his normal operation, Boilard has been approved to run this winter’s emergency warming center from the building.
"We averaged about 65 [people] a night last year with a high of over 100," Lewiston City Councilor Tim Gallant, said. "[Kaydenz Kitchen] offers more in a warming center than getting warm. If someone needs help or needs something [the nonprofit] can get them in contact with the right people to get that help."
Gallant said the warming center will open at the former Schmengees building sometime this November and stay open until sometime in March.
Boilard said he expects to use the month of October to transfer operations to the site.