Vacant for 5 years: Gardner's old Bank of America building has been sold

The new owners of the former Bank of America building in downtown Gardner have big plans for the property which has been vacant for nearly five years.

Gardner-based Empire Management announced on April 9 that it purchased the building at 29 Parker St. for $825,000 from developer Tony Molina, who bought the property two years ago. The former bank is directly across the street from Empire Management office, which opened in 1994.

“We look at that building every single day, and since we are committed to the revitalization of downtown Gardner, we’re really excited to have the opportunity to purchase it,” said Gabrielle Surette, the Empire Management office manager.

Plans for the property include utilizing the first floor for a higher-end family restaurant, according to Empire Management president Jenna Hartman.

“When we first started the conversation, we (would have had the restaurant) ideally by the end of this year, but with contractors and everything like that it’s kind of hard to say exactly, but we would love for it to (open) by the end of this year,” Hartman said.

Discussions are continuing with a potential tenant interested in opening the restaurant, she said.

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One of the property’s most attractive features for tenants will be parking, Surette said.

“Not only is that building beautiful, but it has two parking lots, which is awesome,” she said. “Both floors are pretty accessible as well.”

What about the bank vault and the second floor

Another unique feature is the former bank’s large vault on the first floor.

“(The vault) is going to be a big focal point for the restaurant; they’re really excited about having that, and they definitely have some ideas for it – that vault is not going anywhere,” Hartman said.

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The second floor will likely be the new location for a medical arts center, according to Surette.

“At the moment, we are in negotiations with a pediatrics firm out of Texas which has expanded to other areas of Massachusetts, and are looking to open an office in Gardner,” she said. “We have also had a mental health office that is looking to relocate and expand their practice to Gardner.”

The new second-floor tenant could be fully moved in by late fall, Surette added.

Downtown renaissance in full swing

The move to revitalize the downtown area is in full swing, according to Surette.

“We are not only happy to be a part of it, we’ve been in Gardner and in business for 30 years, so we’ve been here for a long time, we’re going to stay here for a long time, and it seems like things are going nowhere but up,” she said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of it and to be contributing to it.”

The public response to Empire Management’s purchase of the building had been overwhelmingly positive, according to Surette.

“I think the most heartwarming messages we’ve received are from people who are excited and happy that (the new owners) are people who have lived here for so long,” she said. “The outside investors are great – there’s no downside to that – but people are glad it’s a local business revitalizing buildings that have stood there for years and bringing them back to life.”

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Empire Management buys Parker Street building: Plans for restaurant