The Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen has found a new home.

In a statement from Soup Kitchen Board President, K.C. Gast, the organization has reached an agreement to buy the building owned by Lark’s on Main Street in Benton Harbor. Gast said the sale agreement has been signed and construction planning is underway.  

“The building is in very good shape but will need to be modified for us to begin service on or about May 1.”

The Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen is currently operating out of the Salvation Army building at 233 Michigan Street, but was informed in February their lease was canceled and they would have to leave by April 30.

Salvation Army Lieutenant Mario Bledsoe said in an interview last week that it was heartbreaking to ask the Soup Kitchen to leave their facility, but parts of the former YMCA building at 233 Michigan Street are in rough shape.

“It’s just not good. It’s crumbling before our eyes, but that’s more so on the Soup Kitchen side. The shelter is in really good shape, but it’s just some of the places in the building (aren’t) working as they used to when we moved into this building over 30 years ago,” said Bledsoe.

Gast said the Soup Kitchen’s services are much needed in the area and the group was willing to invest significant resources — even new construction, if necessary —  to continue operating in the area where most of their served live.

The new location, at the soon-to-be-former Lark’s BBQ at 174 West Main Street in Benton Harbor, is roughly three-tenths of a mile distance from the current Soup Kitchen location.

“We’re still waiting for an environmental study to be concluded, but we don’t anticipate difficulties with this property. Once that has been done, the formal transition will begin to take place.”

Gast said the group anticipates holding a fundraiser sometime soon to purchase new equipment and to help make minor building modifications.

“More on this evolving story in the very near future,” Gast said.