WELLSVILLE - It's been the million-dollar question since renovation work started over a year ago on the old Carter Hardware building - what's he doing?

When local businessman Andy Glanzman purchased the building and workers went into it, he made no secret of the fact he wanted to open an arts center. Exactly what it would be, and what it would eventually look like was a mystery. As the work dragged out over a year, with little the casual observer could see, curiosity began to grow.

However, while the Main Street Johnnies were craning their necks, lots was happening inside the 1880 circa building which is one of the oldest three-story buildings on Main Street.

From the ground up, Glanzman's workers have been laboring to reveal the true character of the building, clean it up and transform it from a hardware store into a Creative Arts Center scheduled to open Sept. 9.

While the contractors labored to reveal brick, uncover a tin ceiling, clean the stone cellar, install new utilities

Contractors have worked hard to restore the original tin ceiling of the building, taking it down and cleaning it and carefully reinstalling it. Stained glass windows were found online to compliment the interior of the new arts center. The room which once held rows of shelving holding plumbing and electrical supplies is now a wide-open building reading to accommodate artworks or audiences depending on the venue.

and search high and low for glass and materials to compliment the interior, Glanzman searched for someone who could bring his vision to reality.

The person he found was attending a special arts academic program at Alfred University, and who just happen to have the kind of background in business, art and entertainment he was looking for.

That man is Marshall Green, an energetic young man who has an extensive art background. He has been actively involved in ceramics for the last 14 years. He can throw a pot. Over the last decade he has also managed a business and been CEO of his own business.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois, and was accepted into Alfred's special student program for the ceramic arts.

“It's kind of like pre-graduate studies,” he said Monday as he led an impromptu tour over the cords and around the piles of material scattered across two floors.

However the building opening is a little over a month away, so since coming to town Green has been busy finding local artisans to instruct classes in ceramics, painting, drawing and cooking.

“Cooking is a culinary art,” he explained of the last choice.

At the Sept. 9 grand opening there will be sign-ups for the several classes and a tour of the building. There will be classes in acrylic painting, drawing, and ceramics for beginners and advanced students. Classes will start at the end of the month.

Glanzman's vision is to have a center for the arts which will encompass all of the arts, but which will also have a comfortable feel for those who just want to appreciate the arts. Because of the space needed to exhibit and show artwork the building can accommodate a 200 people banquet or conference center.

“Everything is moveable, we'll just be able to move things around when we need the room,” Green said.

Part of what will be moved around is a coffee lounge located in the front of the building where people will be able to lounge in comfortable chairs and read or just keep an eye on Main Street.

The main floor has been transformed. The original tin ceiling has been removed, cleaned and is in the process of being restored. Narrow tongue and groove wall boards have been placed on the walls and in another room where artists will stand at easels, the original brick has been uncovered and cleaned and windows bordered with stained glass have been installed. A brand new state of the art kitchen has been built in the rear of the first floor which will accommodate cooking classes and the banquet facilities. Surrounded by the stone walls in the cellar potters will be throwing pots, and drying and glazing their work in kilns. There will also be an art supply store.

“We want to appeal to the greater community,” Green said, adding there are plans to bring in outside entertainment in the form of poets, comedians, singers and bands. “There are thousands of different directions we can go,” he said.

The Wellsville Creative Arts Center has a Web site where the class offerings and other opportunities can be found. People can sign up online or wait until Sept. 9. Registration will also be on Sept. 11 and 12 at the center.

Some of the instructors and volunteers scheduled to help with the new facility are, Rick Minard, Marsha VanVlack, Deborah Rush, Robert Lake and Delaney Persons, assistant to the director.

“We believe this new center will affect economic development in Wellsville in a positive way,” Green said. “Andy (Glanzman) is fond of saying build it and they will come.”

While he declined to say just how much the cost of the renovation work is running, Green said, “It's a significant amount. He's not in this to make money. All the money that's made will be sunk back into the business so it will grow. Andy is doing his part for the community, now it's time for the community to do their part.”

For more information on the new arts center and what it offers go online at www.WellsvilleCreativeArtsCenter.com.