After running Ben’s in downtown Belleville since 1976, John Conkright is ready to play more golf, cruise through the Panama Canal, see the mountains of Alaska, visit with his family and retire from daily retail operations. His daughter and business partner, Beth Wamble, is ready to retire and travel, too. The two have decided to close Ben’s and sell the retail/office space their store occupies off East Main and South High streets.

Commercial Real Estate Listing

Barber Murphy of Shiloh is listing the property. The entire complex of Ben’s buildings can be had for $1.45 million, but Conkright and Wamble are willing to sell sections retail/office space as well. The entire property has about 57,000 square feet of space on multiple levels, with about 26,000 square feet of street-level retail space. Matt Barriger, a Barber Murphy broker associate handling the Ben’s listing, lauded the downtown Belleville real estate market which includes shops, bars, restaurants, lofts and offices.

“It’s very, very vibrant right now,” he said. “It’s just awesome down there.” As far as Ben’s, the East Main addresses listed for sale are 108, 110, 112, 116 and 120. The site also includes 12 S. High St. Barriger is not sure if one buyer will want the entire complex. Separately, the sites are listed as 12 S. High and 108 and 110 E. Main for $675,000; 116 and 120 E. Main for $495,000; and 112 E. Main for $375,000.

There is a city parking lot next to the rear of the Ben’s site. “It’s a luxury to have it that close and that amount of parking,” Barriger said. There also is 157 feet of street frontage on East Main Street that is “turn-key, ready to go” as for as retail, Barriger said.

There is potential for lofts, apartments and office space on the second and third floors, he said. A bar and restaurant developer may be interested in some of the space. “I wouldn’t rule it out,” Barriger said. “I think having that parking is the ultimate kicker on this.” The building at 112 E. Main St. has a freight elevator, which would be a selling point for someone interested in the upper floors, he said.

Click for full Article By Mike Koziatek – Belleville News-Democrat

Click for full listing information: Landmark Retail/Office Portfolio for Sale and Lease