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Preacher’s vision reaches fruition in an unlikely place

Former bar now church’s community center for youth

Vince Marquis, the director of student ministry for Imago Dei Christian Fellowship, led the transformation of a former bar into the Transfer, a community center at 5353 Dixie Highway that features a game room and a secondhand youth store that will open in the spring. Contributed photos by Jessica Uttinger

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Bethany Baker, 11, listens to the ceremony at a meeting of Epicenter, a youth group of Imago Dei Christian Fellowship. The group meets at the Transfer, a Fairfield community center at 5353 Dixie Highway run by the West Chester Twp.-based church.

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 10:29 AM Friday, December 4, 2009

Vince Marquis has helped turn what was once a blight in the Fairfield community into something new.

The director of student ministry at the West Chester Twp.-based Imago Dei Christian Fellowship has led the transformation of the former Fairfield Tavern — a bar that had its liquor license revoked and was the scene of many police calls — into the Transfer, a community center for youth and young adults.

“I think it is awesome,” Marquis said. “I’m so glad we can open this up and offer a hope that’s real.”

The Transfer opened behind Reruns for Wee Ones on Sept. 27 at the Kennnedy Center, 5353 Dixie Highway, but it has not yet opened daily. Two groups meet at the facility: The Verve is for 18- to 30-year-olds that meet bi-monthly on Fridays, and the Epicenter is for 12- to 18-year-olds, meeting every Sunday.

“I’ve had a vision for a long time to have a facility like this that could function as a community center, an outreach center,” Marquis said. “Kind of like a beacon of light and hope for the community.”

Fairfield police and the owners of Reruns for Wee Ones said they also are happy with the building’s new use.

“The Fairfield Police Department has invested quite a bit of time in the previous establishment. It seemed like every time we went there, it was because of disorderly conduct or criminal activity,” said Chief Mike Dickey.

“The type of use of the new occupant is a step forward in maintaining a viable and useful business area,” he said.

Trish Taylor, co-owner of Reruns for Wee Ones, said there have been several bars in that space since her business opened a decade ago.

“They spent a lot of tax money, being back there all the time. They were breaking fire codes, they were breaking all kinds of laws,” said Taylor, who attends the same church as Marquis.

“They took something bad and made it good,” she said about the church.

Private contributors are helping fund the facility for a year, and eventually a teenage resale shop will open to help partially fund the Transfer. The name sprouted from the resale shop.

“It was in the thought of people bringing their old clothes here, whether we buy them or they donate them, and transfer that into something that can be used and teach the gospel and benefit others,” Marquis said.

Visit imagodeicincy.com for a complete schedule and details, or call Marquis at (513) 807-9728.