EDGEWATER — The former St. Andrew's Inn in Edgewater is getting a new lease on life — literally — as the now defunct tavern is transformed into a storefront that matches other building facades to its north along a strip of North Broadway that's been challenging to develop, its leasing agent said.
Joe Padorr, of Seneca Real Estate Advisors, said that while there was no one on deck to take over the storefront yet, he had been "in talks" with interested parties.
The business at 5938 N. Broadway closed in 2013, and in 2014 a group of restaurateurs declined to go through with a deal that would have reopened it.
Now both the St. Andrew's and 5936 N. Broadway properties, both leased by Seneca, are getting a makeover by way of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce Facade Improvement Program, including rebricking St. Andrew's Broadway-facing exterior and restoring window openings, according to Jennifer Hackman, the chamber's economic development manager.
New awnings will also be going up to "expose architecturally significant elements, present storefronts in a modern and attractive way and unify the buildings," she said.
Money for these types of facade renovations comes from local Special Service Area No. 26, a special property taxing district, and is open to any businesses or property owners within the zone. Up to $5,000 worth of the improvement costs can be refunded to those who follow through the program, she said.
Several trucks were filled with debris after gutting parts of the storefront. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
The former St. Andrew's isn't the only business location on the block that has experienced trouble finding someone to set up shop.
On the west side of Broadway, between Thorndale and Elmdale, all four historic storefronts (leased by Seneca) have remained vacant for nearly a year, including the Broadway Bank building and its sister store at 5948-60 N. Broadway.
Some, like St. Andrew's, have been empty even longer.
In November, Padorr said some national chains had been "reviewing" the Broadway Bank building. He said his team was "talking to a couple of users" who might be interested in moving into the landmark building, complete with safety deposit boxes and 20-foot coffered gold-leaf ceiling.
At that time, Katrina Balog, executive director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, said filling the storefronts along that block of Broadway was a crucial aspect of generating business in the neighborhood.
“That piece is pretty critical,” Balog said. “We would love to see a use there that would generate activity on that particular intersection.”
Padorr also said the former beauty supply store at 5936 N. Broadway, next to St. Andrew's, was undergoing routine updating and maintenance like finishing, painting and plumbing as he was in talks with a potential renter.
He said his team was in the process of negotiating the deal, but could not disclose his client yet.
Workers inside and out could be seen pulling off signs, sawing wood and knocking down walls. [DNAinfo/Linze Rice]
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