The property at 89 Elm St., which was most recently Bentley Billiards and was previously Lambson Furniture, was sold July 15, 2019 to Eugene Borowski Jr. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
WESTFIELD – The former Bentley Billiards building at 89 Elm St. sold July 15 after sitting vacant for almost a decade.
The building was purchased by Eugene Borowski Jr. of Chicopee for $275,000.
“The City has been made aware that the former Bentley Billiards property has been sold,” said Community Development Director Peter J. Miller Wednesday. “One of the new partners visited my office this morning. I am pleased that the eight-year logjam of ownership and title issues has been resolved, and we look forward to working with the partnership to bring new life to this significant downtown property.”
The building needs renovations and has no handicap accessibility to the second and third floors.
The building was listed by Century 21 Hometown Associates as “a prime find in the heart of downtown Westfield.”
Realtor John Morizio said the sale took “a lot of optimism and patience.”
“I was given the listing in April 2018 and it was listed with other very good companies before me,” Morizio said. “We needed the right price. When we reduced it to $299,000, we started getting offers.”
The former Bentley Billiards building at 89 Elm St., Westfield, was sold July 15 after being vacant for nearly a decade. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Morizio said Borowski has authorized him to serve as the leasing agent for the space.
“He’s looking at mixed-use,” Morizio said. “There’s retail, office and potential housing there. He wants to see what Westfield wants and needs and bring in what makes sense – and business that will be viable. He’s a builder and will build to suit.”
Morizio said Borowski is confident in Westfield and in his abilities.
“He has confidence in the city and the people he’s met here,” he said.
Built in 1890, the building has 22,400 gross total square-feet and was assessed by the city at $255,200. It was owned by Brian E. Whiteway of Las Vegas since 2005.
It was touted as having ample public parking on and off-street and included electrical upgrades, and fire and security systems, as well as temporary power disconnect ready for gas fired generator.
Once home to Lambson’s Furniture, the building has gas service for a full commercial kitchen or housing development.
Century 21 called the building “an opportunity for an investor/developer or user who needs 4,000 square-foot open floors and a connecting building for additional office, retail or other use.”
The interior first floor of the former Bentley Billiards. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Former City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell said he was surprised it was sold to a private investor.
“The city was ready to intervene,” said Mitchell, “but it’s always great when a private entity invests in downtown Westfield.”
Mitchell said he does not know what Borowski’s intentions are for the space but added that it “will be nice to have a local owner rather than someone who lives in Las Vegas.”
Borwoski is an owner of Beyond Builders in Northampton.
