Cory Schaefer
Michael Mann was scoping out the location for "public enemies" in downtown Columbus over the weekend. Shooting for the film begins today and may continue through the week.
COLUMBUS - The streets of downtown were packed this weekend with people observing the last minute preparations of designers working to create the set of "Public Enemies."
The movie is set to be filmed, in part, in Columbus today through Thursday.
Colder temperatures on Sunday brought out many winter jackets but did not stop people, both local and from elsewhere, from venturing downtown. Many had their video and still cameras on hand.
The movie stars Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard and Christian Bale. "Public Enemies" is about the federal government's attempt to take down infamous gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd in the 1930s.
Yellow tape, barricades and security personnel prevented crowds from going into the areas where crews were working. Adam Boor, location scout for "Public Enemies" Productions, said that construction had to be completed on Saturday. For part of the preparation, workers laid out the last of the cobblestone and prepared to install antique stoplights. A few of the downtown stores were also receiving finishing touches, as the city is being transformed to recapture the look of the 1930s.
Lt. Dennis Weiner, interim police chief, said on Saturday that the expanded road closures which were announced late last week would soon be in effect, as the final touches of construction and the first efforts of filming are undertaken.
Sharrow Drugs, 100 S. Ludington St., had a large consistent crowd. Not only where people in the store taking in the atmosphere, but walking through the store was also the easiest way for people to get from James Street to Ludington Street.
Many of the people stopped in Sharrows to buy Dillinger T-shirts for $10.
"We've sold out of the shirts four times over," owner Nick Sharrow said. "We've sold about 600 to 800 shirts."
His store will make a few changes in assisting customers when filming begins.
"I believe people will be able to come to the store on an individual basis and one at a time," Sharrow said. "If people make arrangements with us we'll be able to deliver prescriptions to them or meet them at their cars. We'll be handling every customer on an individual basis. We'll have some interruptions in service but everyone will be taken care of."
Other businesses such as the Capri Steak House on Ludington Street plan on continuing business as usual. The restaurant plans on serving corned beef and cabbage on Monday for St. Patrick's Day and also plans on having live music.
Businesses on the outskirts of town also profited from the influx of people enjoying the production. Julie's Java House, which was a favorite spot for production crews, had a steady stream of customers on Sunday. They were also selling souvenir tote bags for $8.
Most people were excited to see the changes in downtown Columbus.
"It's really amazing what they have done in the time they have been here," Columbus resident Mary Lou Weisensel said. "I think this is great. It's really interesting."
Portions of Ludington and James streets had been covered with cobblestone paving for the filming. Weisensel, who was born in 1934, remembers similar cobblestone roads in her youth.
"I came out of Sharrow's the other day and thought, 'Gee I've seen this before,'" Weisensel said. "The names (of the stores) are not the same, but they did a pretty good job."
Cherril Feucht said the cobblestone road was removed shortly after she was married in 1951.
"It was probably in 1952 or 1953," Feucht said. "Many people wanted the bricks from the road."
Feucht said a lot of the bricks were used by Columbus residents to make sidewalks and decks on their property and can still be seen on the lawns of some Columbus homes. The buildings in Columbus are similar to what they were decades ago, Feucht said.
Columbus Journal editor Paul Scharf contributed to this article.
"I think it's wonderful they kept our downtown area in the same form," Feucht said.
Young and old were excited by the events in the city. Lisa Weisensel, who teaches at St. Jerome's School, said her students were very excited about the filming today.
"A lot of the students were talking about bringing their parents down here," Weisensel said. "All the kids were abuzz about when they'll get to see Johnny Depp."
Columbus Journal editor Paul Scharf contributed to this article.