Want prime downtown space? Bank building now for lease
By JONATHAN BILYK - jbilyk@kcchronicle.com
ST. CHARLES – The law firm that owns and renovated one of the downtown's most prominent buildings now is seeking some new neighbors.
In the last two weeks, the owners of the old St. Charles National Bank building have launched an effort to market space within the building the firm purchased, renovated and added to at the northwest corner of Routes 64 and 31 in downtown St. Charles.
"If someone's looking for some cheap space somewhere in St. Charles, this is not for them," said Kevin O'Donnell, president of O'Donnell Commercial Real Estate, the St. Charles real estate agent marketing the space.
"But if someone is looking to be in a premier location in this city, then we have just what they are looking for."
The law firm of Foote, Meyers, Mielke and Flowers LLC purchased the historic structure three years ago.
Since it was built in the 1920s, the building had served as home to several banks. Most recently, Fifth Third Bank operated a branch at the building before it was purchased by the Foote firm, which formerly was based on Third Street in Geneva.
The leadership at the law firm, however, decided that the building needed a new direction.
Two years ago, the law firm presented the city of St. Charles with plans to renovate the bank building and build an addition off the building's north face on the space formerly occupied by the bank's drive-up facility.
Construction on the addition was completed earlier this summer, allowing the Foote firm to relocate its offices to 9,500 square feet of space on the building's top floor, said Ted Meyers, a partner with the firm.
"We wanted to make this building usable again," Meyers said. "And I think we succeeded."
Now, the new landlords are seeking some tenants to share the building with them.
O'Donnell said they hope to bring in clientele to complement the new development ongoing in downtown St. Charles.
"The whole dynamics of this place are changing," O'Donnell said.
They intend to bring in a "high-end, white tablecloth" restaurant to renovate the former bank building.
The new addition features a street-level storefront facing north on Route 31 for which the developers are seeking small retail or restaurant operations, like a coffee house.
And they are also seeking an office user, such as another law firm, accounting firm or other professional practice, to lease about 6,100 square feet on the second floor of the new structure.
Deb Pfaff, a representative of the St. Charles Downtown Partnership, said her organization has been impressed with the work done at the site, noting the lengths taken to blend the new construction with the older building.
"It's a great re-use of a great downtown building," Pfaff said. "It's a welcome addition."
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