It’s been just more than four years since DOJO Creative took ownership of 119 S. Main Street, the former Gene’s Camera Store, and began the toil of turning a decades-old building into a creative home. Armed with determination, vision and a fair amount of elbow grease (read: lots of sweat equity), our team dove into DIY renovations alongside local contractors to bring new life into the space.
For a while, though, we’ve admittedly been that building on the block, the one neighbors might generously describe as having “character,” and less generously as an “eye-sore.” The facade’s scorched-brick look wasn’t a bold design choice; it was the exposed underside of old brick that simply couldn’t be salvaged after a feasibility study. But that chapter is finally closing.
A Facade Revival in Motion
In early 2025, the City of Mishawaka’s Redevelopment Commission approved DOJO Creative for its forgivable loan program for facade improvements, helping us to move forward with exterior renovations. We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Redevelopment Commission for their good faith in this project and for supporting our vision. (Funds are reimbursed once work is complete within the given time frame; so trust us, we’ll make good on this investment.)
Construction officially begins Sept. 15, with the facade project split between a team of local pros:
- EER (Energy Efficient Replacements) of Granger will handle all new windows.
- US Signcrafters of Osceola will bring our new signage and awning to life.
- South Bend artist Cassi Graber will begin work on a second-floor, custom mural the week of Sept. 22.
Together, these pieces will transform the exterior into something that both fits our identity and contributes to the Main Street corridor in downtown Mishawaka. Our goal is to wrap everything by the end of the month.
Looking Ahead
As we move into this next phase, we’re excited (and relieved) that DOJO Creative will no longer be the block’s “before picture.” Instead, we’ll be part of Mishawaka’s ongoing story of growth, creativity and revitalization.
We’re grateful for the support of the community, the Redevelopment Commission and our project partners as we turn this long-standing vision into a finished product worth showing off. Stay tuned. Big things are coming to Main Street.
Tell Us About Your Project
Are you mulling over a website redesign for your business or starting from scratch on a new marketing initiative? Have a question about enhancing your current site’s performance but not sure where to start? We want to hear about it.
Contact DOJO Creative partner Doug Elder today at 574-276-4998 or doug@letsgodojo.com to schedule a consultation and learn more about our services.