Detroit Lakes icon is sold - Waterslide will come down for Giovanni’s Pizza building, fun zone By Jackie Jenson , Detroit Lakes Newspaper Published Saturday, February 01, 2003 Having occupied the Detroit Lakes landscape for over a decade now, the big blue waterslide located at the corner of West Lake Drive and Washington Avenue will be no more. Local Giovanni’s owner Matt Wimmer purchased the Waterslide and the Ride on Sports bike shop building in early February of this year. “The slide is going to come down,” explained Wimmer. “We’re talking with a youth organization who we plan to donate the slide to … We believe this will happen, but if there are any other people interested in the slide, they can feel free to contact us,” he added. Wimmer’s vision for the popular lakefront property is twofold: expand the bike shop building to house an expanded Giovanni’s Pizza and Subs restaurant, and help form a fun zone for tourists and locals alike near the lake. “I am going to create a fun environment down here again,” said Wimmer. “I grew up here and am very pro-community … the waterslide hasn’t maintained its attraction to this corner that it had in the mid-eighties,” he explained. “I want this property to be a fun attraction again.” One way Wimmer said he’d like to utilize the prime lake property better, would be to promote different events in the summer. According to the local entrepreneur, there would be room for things like concerts and extended space for gatherings like Art in the Park. According to local Jack Chivers Realty real estate agent Mike Ring, Wimmer’s buying agent for the waterslide, the property had been on the market for over two years. “There was not much going on down here … The waterslide had been available for two and half years,” noted Ring. “We need to utilize what we have; the lake,” added Wimmer. “We need to focus on crowds or getting people back to the lakes of the Detroit Lakes area,” he continued. Explained Wimmer: “I want to promote fun stuff down here in the summer and in the off season grow my restaurant business. The new addition to the bike shop building we have planned will expand the restaurant to 2,000 square feet, almost doubling its size.” He also plans to expand Giovanni’s menu to include subs, salads, and a larger ice cream selection ? more than just pizza. He also hopes to take advantage of the lake view by offering outdoor seating in the summer. Wimmer added he had been looking at this property for over a year and it had been a goal of his to move to this location since purchasing the Giovanni’s business last summer. “Summer is when things happen in Detroit Lakes, and happen at the beach. My wife and I have felt from the start that this location would be a great place to grow our business,” explained Wimmer. “I owned Matthew C. Wimmer Construction for a number of years and my wife Jodi has been in the banking industry for the past twelve years … we wanted to do something different and exciting for the youth in this town.” Wimmer, who is also an assistant head hockey coach for the Detroit Lakes Boys High School Hockey Team, said he likes to work with kids. He and Jodi, therefore, wanted to give back to the community. “I enjoy my work and the people around here. I want to look to the future and make the lake a draw once again,” concluded Wimmer.