A downtown developer’s plans for a vacant building on Franklin Avenue promises to bring more business and foot traffic to what just a year ago had been a neglected block of downtown.
This week, Art Russo of Scranton purchased the Bittenbender Building, which formerly housed the popular Whistles Pub and Eatery. His rough plans for the building call for 15 apartments on the third and fourth floors, possibly offices on the second floor, and a restaurant, deli and possibly a third ground-floor tenant.
“The first floor space is too big for one restaurant, and we’d like to create space for two or three different business,” Mr. Russo said.
He’s talked to a potential operator of a deli that sells prepared foods and some groceries as a potential tenant. The restaurant and kitchen side, which has equipment in place, is a turnkey operation, Mr. Russo said. The former Whistles had a sizable back room, which could have potential as a third entity.
The upper floor has challenges, such as uneven floors – a function of the building’s age and evidence of the three or four buildings with integrated floor plans.
“These buildings have a lot of charm, but a lot of challenges, too,” he said. “This building is no worse than some of the others we’ve done.”
Work will begin on the Bittenbender in the first half of 2013, Mr. Russo said, after he completes other projects, including converting an industrial building at 829-831 Adams Ave. into apartments and completing the facade and first floor of the former John’s Bargain Store on Wyoming Avenue, which now has completed upstairs apartments.
Like Mr. Russo’s other projects, the Bittenbender will be privately financed and has not received local, state or federal grants or loans.
Mr. Russo said he had looked at the building earlier in the year, but passed on it. He was bogged down in other projects and the asking price was more than he was willing to pay, he said. According to documents filed with the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds, Mr. Russo’s ATR Properties, LLC, paid $187,500 for the building.
The challenges and possibilities of the building promoted Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate listing agent Marilee Barone to market the Bittenbender to developers. She said the interior wood and steel, arches and exposed brick will allow for the creation of trendy spaces.
The completed project will join a similar restoration on the same block, the four-story, 24,000-square-foot former Scranton Electric Supply Co., that underwent a conversion to commercial and residential space by owner Scott D. Allen.
Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com
