LEWISTON — The Agora Grand Event Center and neighboring inn may be yours for $1.2 million.
A month after owner Andrew Knight announced he was leaving Maine because of negativity he experienced here, he has listed both buildings with Malone Commercial Brokers of Portland.
However, a full sale is not certain. Knight said he may ultimately sell just the event center and keep the inn, or he may keep both properties and partner with someone who can manage the event center for him.
“There’s lots of options on the table,” he said.
He added, “In the end, the main thing is that I am not running the events. That’s not my forte.”
Knight, a developer, moved to Lewiston from the Washington, D.C., area three years ago and bought the former St. Patrick’s Church and rectory. He refurbished the late-1800s buildings at Bates and Walnut streets, turning the rectory into a boutique inn that opened in March 2015 and turning the church into a wedding venue and event center that opened in spring 2016.
Both businesses have proven very successful, Knight said.
The sale listing touts the event center’s mix of historic architecture and modern updates, with 58 original church pews, stained glass, custom lighting and sound systems, a commercial kitchen and a two-level balcony lounge.
It highlights the inn’s 8,548-square-feet of space, with five guest rooms, two annexes for family guest rooms and third floor inkeeper’s suit.
It also emphasizes the properties’ positive online ratings and untapped potential for live performances, conferences and additional guests.
“The crypt under the chapel is very unique for further profit and fun,” the listing reads, pointing visitors to the crypt’s website.
The event center has an assessed value of $214,200 and the inn has an assessed value of $123,050, according to the listing. Knight said the $1.2 million list price was based on comparable sales and listings, as well as the businesses’ cash flow.
Knight said he listed both properties because they are “infinitely intertwined” and his broker thought it might make sense for a buyer to consider both.
In July, Knight said the inn and event center are booked through 2017 and he expected they would be fully booked in 2018. He said that remains true and reiterated that nothing will change for clients who reserved the spaces, whether there’s a sale or not.
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