PROPERTY PROFILE Killen Real Estate $4,000,000
Grand Main Street retail opportunity
The grand, old building at 54 Main Street represents a rare

opportunity for anyone who wishes to own a prime retail location as well, as intriguing and charming living space, on the corner of Main and Orange Streets.

Built in 1847, this interesting and historic edifice has been home to several prominent main street retailers and for the last three decades has housed Mitchell's Book Corner, a wellknown and much-beloved spot for avid readers and browsers. The retail space consists of 750 square feet of selling area, as well as a spacious office and a half bathroom. Renovated several times since it was built, this spot features lofty, high ceilings (from which currently hangs "The Chancellor," Mitchell's mascot) as well as big, sunny divided 12-light windows in front and facing Orange Street, which have enticed passers-by for generations to stop and browse.

In addition to the retail space, there is a full, dry-as-a-bone basement which currently serves as storage space for the bookstore. Here you'll find the building's exposed brick foundation, another small office, the building's forced hot air furnace and a convenient back exit to Orange Street. Also visible in the basement is the original hearth and the coal chute (now covered over from above) both of which served to heat the building in the days before modern furnaces.

The entire building, which houses other stores, had been previously converted to condos, and all of the condo spaces in the structure share a common access to additional storage space in the attic.

One of the surprises of this building can be found by climb- ing the back exterior stairway accessible through a wide, white gate on Orange Street. Here, a heavy oak door opens to reveal a wonderful, spacious loft apartment. The apartment is bright, and airy, letting in sunlight much of the day, thanks to its corner location. The five double-hung sash windows feature oversized sixover six panes, which mirror the scale of the retail windows one floor below. The view is engrossing, both in summer, with the hustle and bustle of visitors, and in the winter (there's no better view for the red-ticket drawing on Christmas Eve).

Two of the walls in this very large studio are exposed brick, and the ceiling, which is open and exposed, features rough-hewn original beams and ceiling joists of pine that show the patina of a century and a half of age. (The floors of this apartment are clad in wall-to-wall carpet which likely hides original wide pine floors if the material used in the construction of the ceiling is any indication.)

Between the open loft space and the back door is a work area/study which features tall, built-in book cases, as well as access to cooling summer breezes via the rear screen door.

The galley kitchen features a dual basin sink and at-your-fingertips convenience. (Although with dozens of world-class restaurants just steps away, who needs to cook?)

This historic and ideally-sited building, which combines both living and retail space, located in the heart of the island's old historic district, is offered for $4,000,000.

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