Scott Lewis called the grand opening “a long progress, a long time coming.”
The building houses Kingswell Seminary and the first students are expected to begin classes in the fall, he said. Also, Kingswell is in negotiations with regional universities about opening site campuses in Middletown.
He also hopes to lease office space on the third and fourth floors.
Most of the finances, he said, came from Triad Investment Group., the family business. Kingswell also received donations of books for the library and furniture for the classrooms.
He called the last 11 years “a lot of work” and there were times when he wanted to give up, but his vision was “driving” him.
The building houses West Central Wine, Don’s Pizza that is scheduled to open this month, offices his wife Jeri Lewis uses for parades and Family Movie Nights, and a theological library.
The building was constructed in 1915 by the Sebalds and took the name Castell because of the drug store on the corner. The building had dentist and doctor offices on the upper floor.
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