14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Investors have big plans for Owensboro building

Investors have big plans for Owensboro building

By Stuart Peck - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email

OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - In Owensboro, the work hasn't really begun yet, but already, private investors are showing interest in the new downtown plan.  

A private investor wants to build a high-end lounge in a historic building downtown.

It will be called Gambarinas.

Thursday, 14 News got a tour of what Gambarinas looks like now.  

While it doesn't look like much now, Rosemary Conder and her husband, the owners of the Smith-Werner building at the corner of 2nd and St. Ann have big plans.

"It's going to be a whole different feel from what we've seen here before, but in the larger cities, there's those places where an age group from 25 to 85 can go and relax and socialize and network," Rosemary said.

The empty building will become the first private investment made in the city's redevelopment project.

"It'll be a nice, quiet place with a great ambiance," downtown development director Fred Reeves said. "Just go in after work, sit down and enjoy something, have some snacks and maybe leave there and go have dinner somewhere else downtown. It's the perfect kind of venue for us to begin the process downtown."

The Conders are really trying to capture the historic feel of the building, and it's the details that will really make the difference.

The doors are from the Executive Inn that they have purchased and they're actually going to put in the lounge.

"We are really working hard to protect and preserve the feel of the building, the brick, the press tin metal ceilings," Rosemary said. "So it will have an old, new, eclectic feel to it."

Right now, the Conders are ready to get permits and start construction on the interior.

They hope to have Gambarinas open by September.

14 News wants to hear your thoughts about a new high-end lounge opening in Owensboro.

There's a lot of feedback on the 14 News facebook page.

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