Flat Iron, a small area motorists travel through on their way to Ware Neck, is undergoing a transformation, back to a community of business, arts and services that it once was.

The latest addition comes with the opening of Flat Iron Crossroads, a nonprofit organization that has revitalized a 100-year-old gas station into a modern performing arts center.

Ware Neck resident Ray Friend, who is spearheading the effort, said the idea came after he started having a group of friends come to his house on Sundays to play music. Driving by the old Johnson’s Garage building each day and seeing it was for sale, the idea struck him to look into hosting the group there and making improvements so the community as a whole can enjoy it.

“With Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, the frame shop and a few other small businesses there, I thought what a beautiful setting,” Friend said. 

Once he purchased the building, he said one thing led to another and people started showing up on Su...