A nearly 60-year-old structure is getting new life after sitting vacant for almost 13 years.

Anyone driving by the former Nemez IGA grocery store, officially known as Village Square Plaza, located at 8 N. Broad Street has seen major renovations taking place recently. 

The 25,000-square-foot building will receive additional upgrades in the coming weeks, including landscaping and new asphalt for the parking lot. 

The plaza can hold 6 to 7 retailers, and two of the spaces have signed leases so far, including the award-winning Cockeye Creamery, which currently has one location in Warren. Cockeye Creamery owner Eric Hoover tells 21 News that they will offer a "full scoop shop" with homemade waffle cones.

The second rented space will be a cafe with local owners offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

The local owner of IGP Peninsula Properties, who has been overseeing the renovation with a Canfield architectural firm, DPH Architecture, also told 21 News there is great interest in the larger spaces by local companies looking to add a restaurant or two to the plaza, but nothing he can talk about at this time.

The renovations aim to give the new plaza a unique look and feel for its guests. Another possible business looking at the facility is a local craft cocktail lounge. 

Other updates to the plaza include upgrades to utilities, including new electrical service and waterlines. In the near future, the plaza will see new siding on the sides of the buildings. 

According to the Mahoning County Auditor's site, the building was purchased in May 2023 for $425,000.

Architectural renderings by DPH Architecture were provided by IGP Peninsula Properties of what the completed site will look like.