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The Hainz Professional Center |
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The City of Sebring was founded in 1911 by Ohio Pottery magnate, George Sebring.
Through his venture dubbed “The Sebring Real Estate Company” he and his family first purchased, then set about subdividing and selling lots, developing a town on the shores of beautiful Lake Jackson.
In 1923, he partnered with a local town father of German descent, Edward L. Hainz (pronounced “hinds” or Heinz, as in the famous ketchup) to build a 13,000 square foot two story office and retail building on North Ridgewood Drive. The Hainz Building was the final project of the Sebring Real Estate Company before the Florida Land boom came to a close.
Since its opening, the Hainz building has housed a variety of businesses including an A&P grocery store, Gilbert’s Drugs complete with soda fountain, The Ridgewood Diner and Tony’s Pizza Restaurant.
The second floor office space holds fond memories for many local Sebring residents. Professional offices of all types graced the halls. Highlands County’s first courthouse called the Hainz Building home until the “new” complex was finished on South Commerce Ave. A dance studio, the local Moose Lodge and a long time dentist, Dr. Koonz also operated here.
In the 1970’s, as with many downtown areas, Sebring and the Hainz Building suffered the effects of urban decline. Slowly the second floor emptied. The first floor retail space was opened up, then divided again. By 2000, the last tenant, a sandwich shop, shut its doors. The Hainz Building sat vacant except for invading pigeons, leaking and forgotten.
Then in July of 2002, Sam Corson, an investor from Tampa, purchased the property and began a massive restoration on the stately building. With tremendous support from local historians, architects, governmental agencies, contractors and bankers, a plan to return the property to an original look sprang to life.
Storefront windows, which had each been changed over time to differing sizes, were ripped out and replaced with a reproduction of the original design. Hex tile floors were painstakingly restored. Twelve foot ceilings again graced the retail bays. “Wavy” glass transoms allowed light to once again piece the darkness of the past. Plaster & lath walls were restored using similar methods and materials. Wood replica windows were fashioned for the second floor where aluminum ones had been installed.
Always a work in progress, the historic Hainz Building once again welcomes diners, customers and clients. Part of a larger revitalization effort in Downtown Sebring, The Hainz Building is proud to have played a role in bringing life and vitality back to beautiful Downtown Sebring!
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