James River Senior Center, transit to move into new Jamestown building

Jamestown seniors who depend on the James River Senior Center will face a brief interruption next week as the nonprofit moves into its new home at 1009 13th St. NE, the former IDK Bar & Grill site.

The center will close for meals and activities from Monday through Wednesday, April 27-29. Public transit will be down for only one day, Monday, April 27, while the center and the Loan Closet are both closed during the move. The organization says normal operations will resume Thursday, April 30, at the new address.

Staff already arranged frozen meals for older adults who usually receive home-delivered meals, with those meals delivered Thursday, April 23. That step is aimed at keeping Jamestown-area seniors supplied while the building is in transition.

The move is being carried out with help from a moving company, a University of Jamestown outdoor sports team, senior center employees and other volunteers. Executive Director Maureen Wegenke said the brighter interior is one of the best features of the new building, calling it calming and a major advantage for the people who use the center every day.

The relocation is more than a change of address. The new site is expected to improve parking, make the space easier to use and create a safer, more accessible setting for seniors and transit riders. For people who ride the buses, stop in for meals or rely on the Loan Closet, those details can shape whether a trip is manageable or frustrating.

James River Senior Citizens Center has served the region since 1967 and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its services reach seniors in Stutsman, Wells and Sheridan counties, with meals, transportation and outreach forming the core of its work. In 2023, the organization reported 11,584 meals served at meal sites, 29,773 home-delivered meals and 45,643 one-way public-transit rides, underscoring how many daily routines depend on the center’s operation.

The move also comes with financial pressure. What began as a $2 million capital campaign grew into a project estimated at about $2.8 million, then roughly $3 million after added costs for a fire monitoring and security system, furnace changes and drainage work. By late November 2025, the campaign had reached $1 million with about 90 donors and community entities contributing, but the organization still needs about $150,000 to $160,000 more and is likely to take out a loan to cover the remaining costs.

Even with the added expense, the center’s mission remains unchanged: helping older adults lead independent, healthy and productive lives. The coming move puts that mission into a new building, while Jamestown’s seniors wait just a few days for services to restart.