PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER - Mulvey Construction works to tear down the former Jubilee to make way for the upcoming ice arena, which is scheduled to open in September.

The demolition of the former Jubilee (which had also prior been a Twin Fair and a Sears) at Chestnut and Market streets has picked up the pace.

Mulvey Construction of Lockport is handing the tear-down of the old supermarket to make way for the Lockport Ice Arena, expected to be completed and open for business by mid-September.

The facility will have two NHL-sized ice rinks, spectator seating for 630 people, a performance training center, community room, and 7,000 square feet of retail space, including food service, once completed.

The $13 million project has already secured $11 million in funding, including a recent $1 million grant from the the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, announced in December.

Organizers expect that the arena will bring 150,000 people to downtown Lockport annually and require 4,000 hotel room stays annually.

With a $2 million gap in funding, organizers are actively looking for donors, sponsors and those interesting in various naming rights.

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