Two buildings in downtown Bradford that housed restaurants until last year are getting new leases on life.
The former location of Kelly’s restaurant on Main Street is being transformed into an Italian restaurant, while Bradford’s Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD) officials are looking to lease or sell the former The Aud Restaurant & Espresso Bar along Boylston Street.
Greg Ross, who co-owns Goldenwest Group LLC of Las Vegas, is spearheading efforts to bring an Italian restaurant to Bradford.
“No exact word on a timeframe for the opening, however, Bradford needs a great Italian restaurant as many good Italian restaurants like the Ho-Sta-Geh, the Downbeat, Ross’s Inn, are just a great memory,” Ross said on Wednesday. “We are searching for the right winning combination, but first the location must be cleaned up and repaired. It’s a train wreck.”
Kelly’s restaurant downtown shut down in 2015 after being open for six years. One of the workers on site on Wednesday afternoon reported that work began on the building on Monday.
“Work has started to replace old wood. A new roof will be put on this month,” Ross said.
Meanwhile, local OECD officials are actively looking for a new restaurant to open in the former Aud restaurant, said Sara Andrews, executive director of the OECD.
“The building has seen significant renovation over the years and is a viable part of our downtown, so we are hopeful to see a new business open there soon,” Andrews said.
The building has a 280-square-foot fully equipped kitchen with pizza oven, 1,530-square-feet of dining space with seating for 80 people, 46 linear feet of bar seating, a lofted seating area, on-site parking and an updated studio apartment, according to information on the OECD’s website.
“The building has been cleaned with some interior maintenance and renovation work performed. It is fully equipped for a new restaurant business,” Andrews said.
The lease for the building is listed as being $1,500 a month, plus utilities; the sale price is $160,000.
Elsewhere in the city, renovation work recently took place on other properties that Ross owns –– 79-95 Main St. in Bradford. That bank of buildings recently saw a new paint job and signage.
Also, the interior of the one-story Gleason building at 79 Main St., which is the former Bradford Little Theatre location, is expected to house the U.S. States Army Career Center.
“U.S. Army Career Center will be opening mid- to late November after the interior remodel is completed. This will serve as the Army’s career center headquarters for western Pennsylvania,” Ross said.
Also on Main Street, Ross said Fresh Vapes will be relocating to New York state, thanks to the Pennsylvania state government imposing a 40 percent tax on vaping.
“That 1,500-square-foot location will be for lease on Sept. 1 by Penn Laurel Realty,” Ross said.
