It turns out a new owner is already lined up for the building at 1030 Davis St. in Evanston that’s long been home to the Studiomedia Recording Company.
Dan Kelch, who’s building a new home for his Taco Diablo and LuLu’s restaurants next door at 1026 Davis, on the site of the former Tom Thumb hobby shop, says he and his partners signed a contract to purchase the Studiomedia building late last year.
Studiomedia officials earlier this week said they are moving out of the property — blaming construction noise and saying the building would be put up for sale.
“We have been in constant communication with Studiomedia since we purchased our property well over a year ago,” Kelch says, “and we’ve kept them informed of all activity because we are sensitive to the effect construction could have upon their business.”
He says that during those talks Studiomedia offered the 1030 Davis building for sale and the restaurant owners agreed to purchase it.
Kelch says that since the original Taco Diablo was destroyed by fire neary 18 months ago, he “knows all about business disruption from outside impacts. We have delayed the closing” on the Studiomedia building purchase “for an extended time period in order to accommodate their search and moving logistics.”
Unlike with the Tom Thumb store, which had been structurally weakened by a fire many years ago, Kelch says the Studiomedia building “is attractive and structurally sound. We have no intent of taking this building down.”
“We’re looking to lease to a quality tenant that will open their doors and service the general public, activating a prime downtown corner,” he added.
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Evanston Boxing Club is being forced to move from it's location at Emerson and Benson because that owner of that building has sold the building to developers. Evanston Boxing Club and Ultfit gym have been in the community for over 10 years, have a dedicated clientele and needs a place to relocate. This seems like it would be a great place- Dan Kelch and Dave Englund should connect to see if a deal can be made!