Buffett mentioned in Newport RI paper...
Posted: June 16, 2005 10:25 am
No buyers, but lots of interest for Christie's
By James J. Gillis/Daily News staff
NEWPORT - If you have an extra $12.5 million lying around, Christie's of Newport can still be yours.
The 60-year-old waterfront restaurant and nightspot went on the market in March for that price. Paul Hogan, whose real estate firm Hogan and Stone is handling the sale, said there's been plenty of interest.
He said 40 groups or individuals have shown interest, though that has yet to translate into a deal. "Have you seen Jimmy Buffett in town?" Hogan joked.
The kingpin of the Florida Keys constantly has come up in rumors, which have the singer buying Christie's and converting it into one of his Margaritaville franchises. Hogan has not talked about who has inquired, but would say only that Christie's remains up for grabs.
"There have been a ton of responses since it went on the market," Hogan said.
The business is zoned for retail, restaurant and office use by right, and hotel rooms and condominiums could be allowed with a special-use permit.
Established in 1945, the waterfront site was opened by Steve Christie after he ran the original Christie's in New York City. It has been a Newport institution through the decades, a site for celebrities and politicians to hang out.
"You could meet someone from Idaho and tell them you were from Newport," Hogan said in March, "and they'd say they'd been to Christie's."
Michael F. Crowley and partners bought the restaurant in the 1960s. Crowley died Feb. 4 at age 86; his family continues to run the business.
Meanwhile, it looks as if Christie's will be around for at least one more summer. The restaurant announced plans for "Traditional Rhode Island Shore Dinners" on Saturdays at Christie's Topside, kicking things off with a party tonight and serving the dinners on Saturdays after that.
By James J. Gillis/Daily News staff
NEWPORT - If you have an extra $12.5 million lying around, Christie's of Newport can still be yours.
The 60-year-old waterfront restaurant and nightspot went on the market in March for that price. Paul Hogan, whose real estate firm Hogan and Stone is handling the sale, said there's been plenty of interest.
He said 40 groups or individuals have shown interest, though that has yet to translate into a deal. "Have you seen Jimmy Buffett in town?" Hogan joked.
The kingpin of the Florida Keys constantly has come up in rumors, which have the singer buying Christie's and converting it into one of his Margaritaville franchises. Hogan has not talked about who has inquired, but would say only that Christie's remains up for grabs.
"There have been a ton of responses since it went on the market," Hogan said.
The business is zoned for retail, restaurant and office use by right, and hotel rooms and condominiums could be allowed with a special-use permit.
Established in 1945, the waterfront site was opened by Steve Christie after he ran the original Christie's in New York City. It has been a Newport institution through the decades, a site for celebrities and politicians to hang out.
"You could meet someone from Idaho and tell them you were from Newport," Hogan said in March, "and they'd say they'd been to Christie's."
Michael F. Crowley and partners bought the restaurant in the 1960s. Crowley died Feb. 4 at age 86; his family continues to run the business.
Meanwhile, it looks as if Christie's will be around for at least one more summer. The restaurant announced plans for "Traditional Rhode Island Shore Dinners" on Saturdays at Christie's Topside, kicking things off with a party tonight and serving the dinners on Saturdays after that.
