Thursday, May 26, 2016

Need a nice place for your retail business?


The venue for Sunday's party was this building in Frankfort.











History would doubtless suggest that this facility was once known as the Bankable Building.  Bankable, if I am not mistaken, was a cigar brand.









The locals know the building as the National Cigar Company, the home of El Verso Cigars.  Cigars were rolled here for 96 years.  At times in its history, the company employed up to 150 people here.  When they closed the doors in March 2015 seventeen employees lost their jobs.  Federal taxes were cited by the owners as a principal factor in the decision to close.

There now remains but one cigar factory in the United States.  It is located in Tampa, Florida.





This building was recently purchased by BBBH's granddaughter and her husband, Crystal and Chris Reichert.  They are making plans to develop a group of boutiques, artisans, and cafes to occupy the acre of floor space available.

The listing agent named here is BBBH's d.i.l.

6 comments:

Vee said...

I'm always glad when historical buildings are repurposed and not lost to communities. I wish Crystal and Chris much success.

Grace said...

That is a marvelous looking building. I'm gonna assume those big white sections are windows that have been covered up until the building is put back into use. Multi-use buildings are a great idea and convenient for consumers.

vanilla said...

Vee, it is a nice old building three blocks north of the courthouse on Main Street. Repurposing is far superior to another parking lot.

Grace, your assumption is correct. The building even boasts living quarters on the top floor with view of the "city."

Jim Grey said...

It looks like a school to me! But glad it's being adapted for a new use.

vanilla said...

Jim, I was surprised that the odor of tobacco leaf that I expected was not present. Go figure.

Ilene said...

I love the idea that they are re-purposing this building in this way. I wish them well.