Former fire station ready for business
By Angela Greiner Community Reporter

Marlb o Sometimes referred to as the Old Fire Station, the antique brick building located at 491 Main St. is now the home of an updated office, retail and restaurant space. The vintage historical building is located in the heart of downtown Marlborough at the intersection of Main Street (Route 20) and Bolton Street (Route 85). It was purchased from the city of Marlborough in December 2007 by WRT Management, owned by Richard Olstein, Leonard Jowl- les and Michelle Staiti, for $845,000.

The building, which once housed parts of the Fire and Police departments and a courthouse, has been closed for about 13 years. The city used the manpower of Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School students and over $1.1 million in grant funds to rehabilitate the old building over the past few years.

The building, built in 1909, boasts over 21,000 square feet that have been completely refurbished while maintaining many of the original features, including offices in the former basement jail cells.

Olstein said that WRT has moved its office base into the building.

"I hope to see the building fully occupied over the next year with a mix of professionals, retail and/or a restaurant," Olstein said.

Rich Berte, a commercial division manager for Prudential, who is handling the leasing of space in the renovated building, has been working with Olstein to bring in local business tenants.

The building has been outfitted with new mechanical updates (plumbing, heating and electrical) and the space is in a prime location in downtown Marlborough.

According to Berte, the building features a 4,000-square-foot groundfloor area that would be a perfect space for a restaurant.

"The city has already given permission for a potential restaurant to offer customers an outdoor eating area," Berte said. "There is also currently one full pouring license available from the city; it would be perfect timing."

"The interest from local businesses has been encouraging," Olstein said. "We have had interest from a couple of parties interested in the potential restaurant space and we are optimistic that we will have a commitment soon."

For those familiar with the building, Olstein explained that the restaurant would be in the former fire station area and the large doors, which have been preserved, would open up to feature outdoor seating during the summer months.

As a lifetime resident of Marlborough, Berte appreciates the project.

"It is terrific seeing this building revitalized," he said.

Although some city officials did not support the sale of the property, it is hoped that the property under private ownership will economically benefit the city.

"We hope it will help the continued revitalization of the downtown area," Olstein said.

For more information about the building, contact Rich Berte at 508-624-6470.