New ownership could signal bright future for Lyndora Hotel
There could be good times in store for the Lyndora Hotel building.
As of last week, Joe Gray has become the new owner of the nearly 120-year-old site and, in this weekend’s edition of the Butler Eagle, said he is looking for a new tenant or tenants to help build the next chapter in the storied structure’s history.
After its construction in 1908, the building originally served as a place for travelers, many in the area doing business with the steel industry, to stay.
In 1947, the building came into the hands of the Pawk family, who operated it as a restaurant and bar for more than 74 years before closing the establishment in 2023.
While Gray said he is looking particularly for tenants in the restaurant or brewery business, he also said he’s open to other ideas.
But the 107-year-old building needs work. According to Gray, a principal with Ashlar Architecture & Engineering, the site’s foundation is “solid” but there are issues with the roof and the electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems.
Gray said he is planning to hold off on renovating too extensively so he can tailor efforts to the needs of tenants. He also noted he is in no hurry, which indicates he believes he is investing in the building with a long-term vision.
We hope Gray finds the right tenant, or tenants, that will work with him to ensure the historic building once again becomes a part of the fabric of the Lyndora community and remains so for years to come.
— JP
