Geneva, Ohio, Looks to Create Great Lakes Culinary Center

The city of Geneva is proposing to reclaim Geneva Elementary School on South Eagle Street from the wrecking ball by turning it into a different type of educational campus; specifically, a wine and culinary center.

The proposed culinary center would feature a winery, a restaurant and winery incubator, a farmer's market, and classrooms for cooking and wine appreciation classes. There is also talk of adding condominium units and office space to the mix.

The three-story, 50,000-square foot Geneva Elementary School was built in 1924 and originally served as the community's high school. The school, whose students will move to a new facility in time for the 2010-2011 school year, sits on more than two acres and is within walking distance of Geneva's downtown merchant district. The center would be within one hour's drive of 20 wineries and within 90 minutes of 80 wineries. "Organizers look to capitalize on the trend toward buying locally--and that includes food and wine," says Donniella Winchell, marketing director for the Ohio Wine Producers Association.

However, the center would not be just for Geneva residents. "It's not about Geneva; it's not about Ashtabula County; it's not even about Northeast Ohio. It's about the entire Great Lakes region," Winchell says.

This would be the only such center between New York's Hudson Valley and Lodi, Calif. Supporters of the project anticipate that the Geneva Culinary Center will draw 30,000 to 50,000 visitors per year and add jobs to an area that has seen unemployment rates hover around 10 percent; some cite the success of the Lodi Wine and Visitors Center (near Sacramento), which opened in 2000 and now welcomes an average of 30,000 visitors annually, according to the center's director, Michael C. Perry.

A feasibility study is currently underway and proponents of the Geneva Culinary Center hope to have the study completed by late spring or early summer. Until then, the Geneva School District, which currently operates the school, is remaining quiet on the matter. District Superintendent Mary D. Zappitelli says, "The Geneva Area City School District continues to be in contact with the city of Geneva as they explore their options on this project."