NEWPORT, Kentucky -- A couple of restaurants, a bakery, a bus barn and a historic register mansion-turned office building are among the most interesting places for sale in Newport.
The most surprising might be Mansion Hill Tavern, a local bar and restaurant that has a blues music following and eclectic decor on the edge of the East Row Historic District. Its owner, Lou Peluso, who's owned the restaurant and bar since 1988, said business is good and he's not sick. "I'm just getting a little too old," he said.
The York Street Cafe, Bernhard's Bakery Building, the old Green Line bus barn and the George Wiedemann Jr. mansion along with the Mansion Hill Tavern all share historic roots in the city, and most locations have had multiple lives housing businesses or families. The top price is $1.25 million with the rest of the group below $800,000.
Here's a look at each:
The Mansion Hill Tavern building was built in 1875 as an inn. Today the tavern is a well-known spot to listen to the blues and enjoy its comfort food.
Mansion Hill Tavern, 502 Washington Ave., $745,000 with nearly 7,000 square feet in two attached buildings.
It was built in 1875 as an inn for railway workers, then became a grocery and another cafe. Peluso said it was a bookie place when he bought it in 1988.
"There was one phone and it didn't take long to figure out what he was doing when it rang," he said. "He was booking horses out of there."
Peluso made Mansion Hill the spot for music, particularly the blues. It's a cash-only business and know for its homey food (think fried cod sandwich or shadow steak sandwich with grilled onions and pepper Jack cheese) and bar.
Ben Trautmann, listing agent, said the value is in the name, size and location. "A buyer gets the name, liquor license and free public parking right across the street," he said. "It's a very hot up and coming area."
The York Street Cafe, established in 1994, is a Victorian-era building built in the late 1800s.
York Street Cafe, 734 York St., $785,000, four floors, square footage not listed.
According the the York Street Cafe website, the building was constructed in the late 1800s with a pharmacy in the front and bank in the back.
In November 1902, the Newport Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 280, was formed and occupied the top three floors of the building, according to the website. David Hosea bought it in 1994 and opened the York Street Café. Terry and Betsy Cunningham purchased it in 1997.
David Plunkett from the Keller Williams Vories Team said the building comes with everything, including fixtures, liquor license and name. "The top two floors could become residential or office," he said, noting that one can see the river from the top floor.
Bernhard's Bakery closed in December after 50 years in business. Before it was a bakery, it was the Yorkshire Club, with gambling and mob connections.
Bernhard's Bakery, 518-522 York St., $650,000 for nearly 20,000 square feet and a parking lot across the street.
Built in 1890, the building eventually was home to the Yorkshire Club bar and restaurant. It had neon lights and a contemporary vibe.
According to the Oct. 24, 1961, Look magazine, the Yorkshire Club was among several gambling clubs selling liquor without a license and was, at least in part, owned by the Cleveland mob. It was Bernhard's Bakery for 50 years until it closed in December.
Tom Deutsch Jr., the listing agent from Coldbanker West Shell in Cincinnati, said it could be the site of a restaurant, brewery or distilling company to fit with with the entertainment vibe of Newport on the Levee.
The George Wiedemann Jr. home is located in the Mansion Hill Historic District in Newport. Wiedemann Sr. started George Wiedemann Brewing Co. in 1890 and it became Kentucky's largest beer manufacturer.
George Wiedemann Jr. mansion, 401 Park Ave., Mansion Hill Historic District, Newport, $1.25 million for about 6,000 square feet.
This stately mansion was restored by current owner Grant Miller, who bought it for two businesses he had at the time. "It took about 18 months to restore it," he said. "We took a lot of time and energy so that all the historical details are correct."
It was the home of George Wiedemann Jr., son of Newport beer baron George Wiedemann Sr. The restoration includes eight working fireplaces and restored radiator heat. Other details include a mahogany room and a cheery wood room. Mitchell said the building no longer works for his logistics business, Motus Freight. "I really like it, it's comfortable here," he said.
It's being marketed at professional services companies such as attorneys or accountants. According to Mitchell, there are several spacious offices and off-street parking to boot.
The bus barn is located along the new Route 9 in Newport. It was historically used by the Green Line bus service, the predecessor to TANK, the Transportation Authority of Northern Kentucky.
Bus barn, 1102 Brighton St., $650,000 with 45,540 square feet with 2 stories.
The 1906 bus barn was the service location for the historic Green Line that later became the Transportation Authority of Northern Kentucky.
The CNC (Cincinnati, Newport & Covington Railway), better known as the Green Line, ran its last streetcar on July 2, 1950. Street cars and later buses had green exteriors.
Marketed by Colliers International Greater Cincinnati, the building has five overhead garage doors, plenty of room for buses -- or just about anything else.
