ELYRIA, Ohio — A formerly vacant Lorain County building is getting new life and Elyria leaders hope the investment helps usher in a new era for the city center.

In recent months, the Shoppes on Broad has become a new shopping destination in downtown Elyria. A half dozen stores occupy the indoor boutique mall, recently restored to its original purpose after years of serving various functions for Lorain County.

“I kept saying it would be a really cool mall. And everybody thought I was crazy or whatever. And then finally it came for sale and I bought it,” said owner Dan Martin.

He explained the building on Broad Street originally served as an indoor mall, with storefronts designed to look like Parisian shops. Most recently used by the county as storage, Martin and his wife repainted the in

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