We Bought the Building

I’m happy to share some news—this summer, I purchased Vested Interest with a partner, Dominick Simeri.

If you live in South Bend, you may know the building from events such as the Birdsell Project in 2018, the South Bend Burger Society in 2019, and the South Bend Lyric Opera in 2021, or as a home to artists and entrepreneurs, including A Roaster Called Revenant, Sew Loved, CHUCK, Stronghold Gym, Keur Design Studio, and more.

I moved in during the summer of 2017 after Rami Mikhail-Sadek walked over one day at LangLab and said, “I’ve got a building you need to check out.” I quickly fell in love with the place.

Vested Interest is a collection of seventeen adjoining buildings on Sample and Tutt Streets on the southeast edge of downtown South Bend. The Sample Street buildings were built by the Ziker family of Ziker Cleaners starting in 1917—and the Tutt Street buildings by the Stephenson family of Stephenson Underwear Mills as an engine room and shop for their pump manufacturing business, starting in 1886.

By 1956, the Zikers owned the entire property—and in early 2017, after a century on the property, Ziker Cleaners moved to a new facility in Mishawaka. David Ziker struggled to find a new buyer for the aging complex, so he began to imagine the building as a community for small businesses—I soon moved in to help out.

In the six years since 30+ artists and entrepreneurs have found a home here. But as David continued to operate the Cleaners and spend time with his grandchildren, he asked if I would purchase the building to carry the plan forward. I agreed, with the help of a friend and now partner.

My partner in the project, Dominick, is the owner-operator of Madison Oyster Bar downtown. We were introduced by Jason Adam Miller in 2019, gaining a friendship by collaborating on projects for the bar, including the South Bend for Pete mural. Those who know Dom will not be surprised to hear that his loyalty, business sense, and enthusiasm make him a good partner for such an effort.

The city is dotted with beautifully aging buildings that, if cared for, will continue to be home to generations of artists and entrepreneurs. So our plan is simple: care for the building—and invite good people to work alongside us. If you fit the bill, please inquire on our website.

And to celebrate, we’re hosting an “open building” party on Thursday, November 2nd from 6-9 pm. Consider joining us—RSVP today.