Two buildings on Bardstown Road have come under new ownership and a long-standing tenant has plans to relocate.
The buildings,1501 and 1610 Bardstown Road, were purchased by the same buyer under two different LLCs: Carter Realty V and Carter Realty III, respectively. The buildings are located about a block away from each other and on opposite sides of the street. Guitar Emporium, a music shop that's been around for more than 30 years, is located in the latter of the two addresses.
John Hoagland Jr., partner at Hoagland Commercial Realtors, represented the buyer in both transactions and will be handling the leasing on the buildings. Justin Baker from TRIO Commercial Property Group represented the seller at 1610 Bardstown Road.
Hoagland said in an email Guitar Emporium has a footprint of 4,446 square feet on the main level with a 3,525-square-foot basement. The building sold for $860,000, and he said the shop will be receiving some cosmetic enhancements. The wood floors in the shop will be refinished before a new tenant moves in.
The seller was 1610 Bardstown Road LLC registered to Sherman Buschemeyer, owner of Guitar Emporium. He said in a phone call the store's last day is Wednesday. He's still figuring out its next steps but said he intends to relocate the shop.
The space at 1501 Bardstown Road is about 8,492 square feet and sold for $1.6 million. The seller was David L. Waterman LLC. The new owner is currently looking for a single tenant, but it can be split into three units as well. The building is currently vacant and will be getting some updates. Hoagland said a new roof is being installed, and the building is getting an overall clean up.
“It’s got excellent visibility since it sits at the busy intersection of Bardstown Road and Eastern Parkway,” Hoagland wrote in an email.
Guitar Emporium almost closed in 2013, when former owner Jimmy Brown retired. It was then purchased by Buschemeyer who kept the shop up and running.
“It’s a great space with really interesting history,” Hoagland said in an email. “Many famous guitar players from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Plant, and many others have stopped in to play guitar here over the years— especially around Derby time when many of them are in town.”
