Main Street Commercial Space: Other Uses?

[Cory St. Esprit]

I have a main street commercial unit in Butler, PA. The tenant moved out and we have it listed for rent. It was a brewery, then it was most recently a thrift shop. It's about 2,000 sq.ft of space, open ceiling, couple of bathrooms, etc. Wondering what, if anything, I could do to spruce up the place to make it more attractive to a potential tenant OR if there are ideas of what I could personally do to it that would create some nice cash flow for me (co-working spaces, etc.). There's 3 floors of old apartments upstairs we have an architect working on a plan right now. Rental listing available here.

[Kristi Kandel]

Quote from @Cory St. Esprit:

I have a main street commercial unit in Butler, PA. The tenant moved out and we have it listed for rent. It was a brewery, then it was most recently a thrift shop. It's about 2,000 sq.ft of space, open ceiling, couple of bathrooms, etc. Wondering what, if anything, I could do to spruce up the place to make it more attractive to a potential tenant OR if there are ideas of what I could personally do to it that would create some nice cash flow for me (co-working spaces, etc.). There's 3 floors of old apartments upstairs we have an architect working on a plan right now. Rental listing available here.

We are looking at several mixed-use projects right now. I’d suggest talking to the city to see what the zoning allows for from a use and density standpoint. Also speak with the economic dept, Chamber, and any business incubators in the area. They are all going to have insights on the existing businesses that might want to grow/move spaces, types of businesses looking for spaces, and the need of the area. 

Housing is always a plus and depending on the location the city might be willing to reduce required parking for the location depending on the circumstances, street parking, or walkable public lots. 

When you work in partnership with the city you can see if they have economic grants, TIFs, etc. to help offset the remodel costs to both the commercial space and the residential. See if there are county or state programs to help with housing as well. MI and OH have quite a few programs in all of these areas.