A new owner controls the northwest corner of Summit Street and East Third Avenue in Italian Village. Fans of the unique century-old building on the lot needn’t worry about it getting torn down, though.
“We don’t have concrete plans yet — the tenant just moved out — but we think that it’d be perfect for a bar, a restaurant or a brew pub,” said Michael Linsker, a partner in the new ownership group and a broker with NorthSteppe Realty.
Linsker and his partners, under the name 1041 Summit LLC, paid $685,000 for the 3,200 square foot building, according to the Franklin County Auditor’s site. He said they hope to identify a user before committing to any specific renovation plan.
Reliable Advertising, which occupied the building for years, has moved its operations to a more affordable spot on East Fifth Avenue. Also occupying the building at one time was a law office, but its past as an auto repair shop is obvious – from the traditional pitched roof to the holes in the floor marking where hydraulic lifts once stood.
“The interior space is very unique, it’s got a lot of character and integrity,” said Linsker, adding that he has already shown it to two potential tenants.
NorthSteppe also recently purchased a small cluster of buildings in the Brewery District that includes the R & R Bait shop on South Front Street. Linsker said don’t expect any changes to those building until R & R’s lease is up in the fall (and he clarified that no decision has been made by the owners of the bait shop on its future).
All photos by Brent Warren.
