Oakhurst Realty Calls Old ReMax Location “Best Available Restaurant Space” in Decatur
Decatur Metro | February 27, 2011 | 8:35 pmMy wife and I noticed about a month ago that it looked like ReMax was vacating its location in the old Bowen Press building on Church Street. And I actually took a pic of the empty space last week, meaning to post it and reiterate its awesomeness and ask everyone what they thought it should become.
Well, Oakhurst Realty – who has been tasked with leasing the space – believes it’s the “best available restaurant space in downtown Decatur”. Here’s their description of the property on their website…
The Bowen Loft is a one-of-a-kind loft building located in the heart of downtown Decatur. It is a perfect location for a high-end restaurant or for other retail or create office users. It has an exposed wood barrel roof with ceiling heights of 22 feet in the center and includes exposed brick walls. The building also shares 57 parking spaces that it can use at no cost.
That piece of Church Street could really use a bit more life. A popular restaurant or retail spot could be just the thing. And the amazing interior space, combined with a good amount of parking has the potential to attract a very interesting tenant!
Photo courtesy of Oakhurst Realty
There is a building for rent or lease right at Ponce and Clairemont, across from the Old Courthouse. I think it used to be a bank. It’s small but seems like it would make a really neat restaurant space, sitting at the prime corner like that. Or a bookstore!
We should rename that building the Albatross of Decatur. It’s as close to the heart of the city as you can get, and yet has sat empty for a decade. I actually like the vaguely Prairie style of architecture and think it’d be a great space for SOMETHING, and yet it just sits there empty. On an on. Frustrating.
Vacant at least 10 years.
I saw three men talking out in front of the old Hi-Tec station on E Ponce this week. The sign on the pick-up said something about environmental clean-up. May the speculation begin!
My understanding is that the space was leased to a bank that got purchased by a bank that got purchased by a bank. The bottom line is that the landlord is still collecting rent at a premium rate and is not particularly motivated to alter the present circumstances. Too bad, because it appears to be a great space with lots of windows and a vaulted ceiling.
It is an unusual space and not as large as it looks. Like most buildings in the heart of downtown it has no “on site” parking so it will take a creative, urban minded tenant to get over that issue. Earlier comments are correct about it being controlled by banks as the lease was transferred various times as banks were bought and sold. We continue to market it and hope to find just the right tenant. The upcoming changes at the hotel/conference center will help.
Do we think that Decatur is saturated with restaurants yet?
And, amad, that space in fact used to be a bank – DeKalb Federal. The space has been vacant at least 10 years, so it must be unattractive for some reason.
Not good restaurants.
Trader Joe’s! Costco! Movie theater!
Sorry….force of habit.
Anyone that wants a big space with lots of traffic and plenty of parking should look into renting the old Chinese buffet place on Scott Blvd.
Decatur Diner South.
“Best availalble Restaurant Space”? Really? You only have to compete with U Joint, Steinbecks, good mexican (x2), decent pizza, and a great coffe joint. Plus, a couple of other places that seem to come and go. And the spectre of some large unknown store front next door…
Eco, I think you’ve got the wrong space. The old Bowen Press is on Church St. just south of Johnny’s Pizza.