A Peoria Heights building originally constructed in the 1860s to manufacture bicycles has found yet another life.
The Rouse Hazard building at 4416 North Prospect Rd. previously housed auto pioneer Charles Duryea, a boxing ring, and most recently, a motorcycle maintenance shop.
Katie Kim, CEO of The Kim Group that renovated the building, sees value inside its old walls.
"The current buildings that have the rich history, we really need to preserve them," Kim said. "It gives a lot more character to our area, a lot more character to our communities, let’s us embrace our history.
The building’s newest business, Identity Salon, opened Wed. Trefzger’s Bakery, Leaves and Beans, and Trailside Event Center are also in the building.
Kim says her firm has seen a growing interest in the renovation of old warehouses.
"A lot of small businesses don’t really want to go into the new, all-drywall, all new fresh building. They want that character," Kim said.
The Kim Group also is renovating two old buildings in Peoria’s warehouse district with retail space on the first floors and residential units above that.