News & Media

Restaurant Among Plans for Downtown Site

June 23rd, 2006

NEW BRITAIN - A New York management company has purchsed the historic Andrews Building downtown and plans to fill it with a restaurant, jazz club, art gallery and offices, city officials said.

The 103-year-old building at 136 Main St. was purchased by Jasko Development three weeks ago for $700,000. It is surrounded by the Hole-In-The-Wall Theater, the Trinity-On-Main arts center and the music series at South Church, making it an ideal site for commercial business, Downtown District Director Don Courtemanche said.

"Retail definitely helps the city out," Courtemanche said. "If you're a restaurant looking for a location, everyone knows this place. It really is a landmark."

William Cadwell, a local architect of renown at the time, designed the five-story, 30,000-square-foot building for Andrews Furniture. It is built with yellow brick, marble and limestone, along with elaborate cornice and keystones in Beaux-Arts style.

Jason Zeigler, a real restate developer in the area, owned the building before the latest transaction. The New Britain Board of Education and seeral law firms that occupied its offices are in the process of relocating.

Libby Dreisinger, a Jasko Development spokesperson, said the company has been restoring, leasing and maintaining buildings in cities that "have a need for revitalization," such as Trenton, N.J. Jasko's founder, Avner Khron, stumbled upon New Britain and the Andrews building when he took a wrong turn while passing through Connecticut, she said.

"He thought it was charming and was very impressed with its potential and the motivation of the public sector to turn the pale around," Dreisinger said. "We're really excited. We really feel that what we're doing will be a shot in the arm to New Britain's downtown."

The development company has added lighting, new paint and parking lots to the Andrews Building, and several businesses have expressed interest, Dreisinger said. If Jasko's efforts are successful, the company will tackle other projects in New Britain.

Main Street's older buildings will always need maintenance, Courtemanche said, but the street has come a long way. After five years of work, the city's 10-year plan to restore the downtown area is on track, he said.

"We have a great opportunity here," he said. "This could reshape how the city looks over the next year or two."

Contact Kelly Sheehan at [email protected]