When The Raven closed up shop earlier this summer, it didn't take long for speculation to begin. In the meantime, the owners have taken some time to give the charming old building at 63 Main Street in Stafford a spruce. Now, it's on the market, looking for a tenant, but it's not alone.
Just up the street is the old J&D's Pub & Grill, which has been sitting empty since owner Luis Aguilar-Ceron died in a car accident. Aguilar-Ceron and the delicious food (we miss those burritos) and the community at J&D's are sorely missed downtown. Next door, the Palace Theater is no longer listed for sale, but is just waiting for someone to breathe new life into it. Earlier this year, I spoke with someone interested in both spaces, but the Palace posed a problem as the lack of income history made it a risky investment for banks who might loan the money. Similar theaters have become non-profit community spaces, but for now, the Palace goes mostly unused.
Further up the road on East Main Street, the old cleaners building is getting a new life. Owner Michael Simon bought the building at auction earlier this year, and for the next couple of months, the building will be home to the Stafford Democratic Town Committee. Beyond that, Simon says, "We are putting it up for lease or sale; however, we would love to see something useful go in there."
And let us not forget that the town is pursuing a grant to buy the old Cumberland Farms building. With limited downtown space, using every building to its fullest potential is critical to full revitalization. Businesses that bring tourists and foot traffic to the area are key drivers of growth, and we're excited to see what develops in these important locations.
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