The new owner of the Jefferson Market property hopes to see the store reopen. (Paula Roberts photo)
The new owner of the Jefferson Market property hopes to find someone to reopen the store.
Farrin Properties, of Damariscotta, closed on the property June 1. Owner Wayne Farrin, of Jefferson, is now considering what to do next.
“The biggest thing is, it has always been a store and I would like to keep it that way,” Farrin said.
He has already talked to candidates to run the store.
“I’ve been interviewing people, seeing what they can do and what their interest is,” Farrin said.
Farrin has “for lease” signs in the windows of the vacant building, which has other commercial and residential space in addition to the store. He is open to a lease or potential resale.
Farrin said he put the signs up while he starts work on necessary repairs.
“I’m toying with a couple different ideas. My goal is to do some fix-up, overhaul the deck on the back side, and do some things to make it safe,” Farrin said.
Farrin said he worked with brothers Raymond Eon, of Wiscasset, and David Eon, a part-time resident of South Bristol, when Raymond Eon won an on-site foreclosure auction in early May.
“I brought them to the auction. When I heard the Jefferson Market was for sale, I got them on board. I worked with them, we worked together, and I ended up purchasing it,” Farrin said.
Farrin said he was at the auction May 3, when Raymond Eon made the winning bid of $200,000. He said he has worked on a number of projects with David Eon over the years.
“If (David) wanted to do something with it, I would have helped him out. We’ve worked on many projects in the past and we worked it out so I did the purchase on my own,” Farrin said.
“I’ve always had an interest in the store from the start,” Farrin said.
During the foreclosure auction, auctioneer Stefan Keenan, real estate division manager with Keenan Auction Co. Inc., of South Portland, said the property is assessed at over $300,000. It had previously been listed for $497,500.
The store closed abruptly in February. A sign on the door indicated that it was closed for vacation and would reopen in April, but it went to foreclosure instead.
“I live in Jefferson and go by it,” Farrin said. “It’s a good space, the location is great, and we’re working on ideas for more parking and other improvements.”
