First commercial tenant named for Fort Wayne’s The Pearl
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A $50 million mixed-use development currently under construction in downtown Fort Wayne has its first commercial tenant. Set to open this fall, Ducky’s at The Pearl will feature a full-service family restaurant and duckpin bowling.
Ducky’s is the brainchild of local restauranteurs Johnny Perez and Esli Barrón Perez of Te Gustó Hospitality, which is the parent of several other area restaurants such as Mercado on the Landing, Papi’s Pizza and Spoke & Ivy.
“I was searching for a space in the center of Fort Wayne’s growing downtown,” Perez said in a news release. “And The Pearl I see as a symbol of that growth. It’s the right caliber space to host a brand like ours. I think this partnership will be great for the community.”
Plans for The Pearl were first announced in February 2022. The project is being developed by Surack Enterprises, owned by Sweetwater Sound founder Chuck Surack and his wife, Lisa.
The seven-story building at 248 W. Main Street will feature 76 apartments, five live-work units, a 300-person event space, parking, and 12,000-square-feet of ground floor commercial space where Ducky’s will be located.
The restaurant will feature American staples such as smash burgers and spicy chicken strips, as well as more unique items like duck carnitas nachos.
Perez noted that he saw a need for more downtown attractions, particularly in the winter months.
“When it gets cold out, your options for indoor entertainment are limited. Duckpin bowling is our answer to that,” he said. “We actually had this idea for a downtown duckpin bowling alley several years ago, but we couldn’t find the right space for it until we found The Pearl.”
Slated for an October opening, Ducky’s will share the commercial space with a new Crescendo Coffee & More location and one more commercial tenant, which Surack Enterprises said is being finalized and will be announced soon.