Prairie State Wire

The City of Edwardsville has acquired the former Edwardsville Frozen Foods building at 246 N. Main Street, with financial support from the Edwardsville Community Foundation. The site will be repurposed as the new home for the Edwardsville Arts Center.

Mayor Art Risavy described the project as a significant development for downtown and for the arts community. “The opportunity to transform this wonderful downtown building, which is next to our historic Wildey Theatre and near a vibrant business mix, is going to be incredibly impactful for the City,” Risavy said. “This is a win that will be felt in downtown Edwardsville and beyond, and an exciting prospect for the Edwardsville Arts Center, which has been seeking a permanent site.”

Funding for the purchase comes in part from a $525,000 donation presented by the Edwardsville Community Foundation. The funds are part of a bequest from the David Kriege Family, who were long-time owners of Kriege Hardware in Edwardsville. The foundation was tasked with using this donation to support recreation, preservation, and beautification efforts within the city.

Rich Walker, chairman of the foundation, highlighted their ongoing commitment to local projects: “The Edwardsville Community Foundation loves working with our community partners to help accomplish their goals,” Walker said. “In 2025, we have awarded more than $2 million to municipalities and nonprofit organizations. And we’re still growing.”

The city is also collaborating with Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau and the Illinois Office of Tourism to apply for a Route 66 economic opportunity grant related to this purchase. Route 66 historically passed through Edwardsville, making sites like Wildey Theatre and Main Street businesses popular stops along its route.

Beth Browne, executive director of the Edwardsville Arts Center, emphasized what this move means for local arts programming: “We are excited for the opportunity to become part of Edwardsville’s historic downtown, joining the Wildey Theatre in expanding the city’s arts and cultural offerings,” Browne said. “This new location will allow the Edwardsville Arts Center to reestablish an exhibition gallery and expand our art education programming, creating more opportunities for residents and artists of all ages to engage with the arts. We are deeply grateful that the City recognizes the value of the arts in strengthening a community. Their continued support has been vital to our ability to maintain programming following our move from the high school to the Montclaire Firehouse.”

While ownership of 246 N. Main Street will remain with the city, plans call for leasing it to house operations of the Arts Center.

This marks the fifth project funded by donations from Kriege family assets managed by The Edwardsville Community Foundation; over $1.3 million was previously granted by them across four other municipal projects.

The building itself was established as Edwardsville Frozen Foods in 1947 and remained a fixture downtown for over seventy years before later operating as Goshen Butcher Shop until its closure several years ago.