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Jake
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For sale: One pub, nearly ready to rock 'n' roll
FLINT
THE FLINT FIRST EDITION
Sunday, February 25, 2007
By James M. Miller
• 810.766.6318
FLINT - A roof leak in 2002 kept a new jazz club from opening in the former Billy's Pub, a one-time downtown landmark.
Now the owner of the building wants to sell it.
"We have no plans of pursuing the dream," said David Berry of Flint, owner of the building at 448 S. Saginaw St.
But according to the real estate agent handling the sale of the building, there are plenty of other people who apparently have dreams of their own for the three-story structure.
Berry bought the closed Billy's Pub in a tax sale in 1996, remodeled the interior and was planning to open a restaurant and jazz club there.
"We had our occupancy license - that's how far along we were," he said.
Then a roof leak damaged part of the bar's south wall.
Berry sued the Genesee County Land Bank next door, saying the leak came from that building. Eventually, the suit was dismissed, and the Land Bank dropped its countersuit.
Berry said no work went on inside Billy's in the years it took for the suit to wind through the legal system, and his enthusiasm for the project was doused by the experience.
The leak was fixed, and studs and insulation were replaced on the damaged wall, but that area still needs drywall and ceiling tiles.
"A few more little things are needed to finish it," Berry said.
Ryan Eashoo of Re/Max Real Estate in Davison said he has gotten a lot of calls since he listed the property in mid-January.
"We've had probably 25 showings so far," Eashoo said.
Some of the interest has come from potential investors in Ann Arbor, Detroit and Grand Rapids, he said.
"People are seeing the activity going on downtown and want to get on the bandwagon," he said.
He said the building without the liquor license is listed for $249,900. The building with the liquor license is listed for $294,900.
Eashoo said the building's second floor can be remodeled for use as offices, and the top floor - about 1,200 square feet of open area - would make a good loft apartment. It has a tin ceiling and bare brick walls.
"It's great space up there," Eashoo said.
The second floor has clothing racks and small dressing rooms from when it was an annex to the store next door.
Eashoo said the new kitchen was built for the bar, the bathrooms were remodeled and the bar area was refinished with wood paneling and new booths.
Billy's Pub opened in March 1984 and closed in June 1991. The bar's name was inspired by William C. "Billy" Durant, founder of General Motors.
Before the bar, the building housed the Lady Davison's women's clothing store, created in 1962 when the former A.M. Davison store next door acquired the building.
At that time, the building got its current facade, intended to look like a two-story wood-frame New England general store. |
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Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:34 pm |
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Cracker Daddy
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Always pushing himself and Flint, what a loser!!
Why doesn't he just stick to doing things without caring so much? |
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Mon Feb 26, 2007 3:45 pm |
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Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
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Its a great oppurtunity for someone, great location, good history there. I know it will sell pretty fast.
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_________________ Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:40 pm |
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Doug
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Your so full of yourself its not even funny, your a flint hater. |
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Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:47 pm |
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Guest
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He is almost as bad as Dayne Wallin |
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Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:52 pm |
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Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
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LOL
quote:
Guest schreef:
He is almost as bad as Dayne Wallin
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_________________ Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
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Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:46 pm |
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