LEWISTON – A warming shelter has opened at the former Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, which closed following the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston.

Kaydenz Kitchen says the shelter will “save lives and bring vital resources to the most vulnerable members of the community.”

Schemengees never reopened after being one of two sites of Maine’s deadliest shooting on Oct. 25, 2023, when 18 people were killed by Army reservist Robert Card.

“I never thought this day would come,” said Kevin Boilard, president of Kaydenz Kitchens, at a gathering Thursday. “Seven years ago, we were putting together our care package in a bedroom in our home, and now we’re taking on the challenges of homelessness on a whole new level.” 

Lewiston has six shelters, with the Lewiston City Council approving an emergency ordinance for New Beginnings to operate a homeless shelter for young adults on Tuesday.  

However, there are no adult warming centers across the city and none of the shelters open during the daytime.

Earlier this year, Kaydenz Kitchen was chosen by the Lewiston City Council to operate a permanent shelter, with the intention that it would be up and running by September 2025.

According to Boilard, his organization’s warming center is one of the largest capacity warming shelters in Maine. It can assist up to 100 people at a time.

The warming center will allow homeless individuals to receive a warm meal and fresh clothing while connecting with services. 

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline called the shelter a “long anticipated and deeply necessary step forward in tackling homelessness.”

“Let this warming center be a beacon of hope, a space where warmth is offered not just in the literal sense, but as a sense of community, care and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to thrive,” said Sheline.

Eric Jorgenson, senior director of government relations at MaineHousing, surprised everyone on Thursday by announcing Kaydenz Kitchen is being awarded $2.5 million toward building a permanent shelter.

The announcement brought tears to the eyes of Boilard, who called this the organization’s “Mount Everest” moment. 

“It was definitely a shock and awe moment,” said Boilard. “This is something we’re definitely passionate about, it’s something we’ve been committed to for over three years now and we believe we have the right team to address these challenges head-on and make a difference.”

The warming center will be open seven days a week, operating from 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The center opened Nov. 15.