Rookwood moving to OTR
BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN | LBERNARD@ENQUIRER.COM
OVER-THE-RHINE – Grand plans are in store for an 80,000 square foot building near Findley Market that is expected to be the new headquarters for The Rookwood Pottery Co.
Martin Wade, owner of the recently reopened Grammer’s restaurant in Over-the-Rhine and financial partner of Cincinnati restaurateur and chef Jean-Robert de Cavel, finalized a more roughly $500,000 deal Monday to purchase the 106-year-old building at 1920 Race St.
Wade said he’s been inspired by the work and plans of Cincinnati artist Chris Rose, who purchased the remaining assets of the original Rookwood Pottery from Michigan collector Art Townley in July 2006.
“It’s one of the gratuitous things. He was looking for bigger space, and he’s passionate about Over-the-Rhine,” said Wade, who owns more than a dozen pieces of property in the downtown neighborhood. “We perceive this to be something that will be good for the city and great for Rookwood.”
The building, which is about one block north of Findley Market, once housed the food service company of Frank J. Catanzaro Sons & Daughters.
The Catanzaro business to Lockland in 2000, and the property has sat vacant since then.
Rookwood, which has worked from building on Glendora Avenue in Corryville for the last two years, hopes to move into the building by July, Wade said.
George Verkamp and Christine Schoonover of Huff Realty represented Wade and the Catanzaro family in Monday’s sale.
Verkamp said he’s been working with Rose for two years to find the right property for the pottery company.
“It’s proximity to Findley Market, and the street car line that we’re all banking on, makes this an absolutely magnificent location for Rookwood,” Verkamp said.
