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Cornerstone pizza closes up shop

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ST. IGNATIUS – One last pizza was made at the Cornerstone Pizza shop on Thursday afternoon before supplies were depleted and the doors were closed on what has been an eight-year adventure to support the community.

The closure comes not as a result of any major issue but as a simple change in focus. Cornerstone Faith Center Pastor Lynn Lapka said the change is about a new chapter for the church and their service to the community. “We are still going to be serving the community but in a different way,” he said. “As an organization, we wanted to focus our efforts on another area to best serve the community.”

He said the pizza shop was doing really well. “Sales were good and up for the year. We weren’t having any problems.”

The new plan is to focus on the church’s new transitional living facility. Cornerstone Faith Center purchased what was the Sunset Motel in St. Ignatius back in April. The church was able to raise enough donations to purchase the property without any remaining debt and start the remodeling process.

“We wanted to put our focus and resources into something that could make an even bigger impact on the community,” he said. He explained that the need for transitional housing for individuals and families was something the church was continuously seeing as a great need. 

After purchasing the property, new siding has been added to the exterior of the motel building, windows were updated and a fresh coat of paint was added. The sign Cornerstone Crossing was then tacked up. On the inside, the coffee shop was remodeled with fresh paint and fixtures. At this time, four of the motel rooms will be turned into space where people in need can stay while they take steps to find a more permanent situation. A few of the rooms will continue to be rented as motel rooms.

The motel is open for business along with the coffee shop, but work is still being done on the housing side of things. Lapka said they are taking their time on the project to make sure things are done well. He said people can come and “get a great cup of coffee” to support the new adventure in serving the community.

“We are very thankful for the community's support and the employees who have all helped make these past years possible,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to give back without the customers and the employees.”

He said the church had been renting the pizza shop and all the equipment, so it’s possible that someone will take over the business and open the doors again. 

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