Bakery Square in Butchertown is getting a facelift. Rick and Lisa Schardein’s company CurrentProperties was awarded $34,500 today for renovations to the three-story building at 1324 East Washington Street on the corner of Webster Street.
The Louisville Metropolitan Business Development Corporation (METCO) issued the loan to help with a total of $70,500 in exterior renovations at the building. Work is expected to include painting and repairs to the windows and building facade. A call to Rick Schardein requesting additional details was not returned as of this publishing.
The Schardeins own advertising and branding company Current360, which is located at Bakery Square.
According to a history on the Bakery Square website, the building dates to 1870 when it was a chair factory. From the building’s more recent history:
In 2002, a group of owners led by Rick Schardein acquired the venerable building and relocated Louisville advertising agency CurrentMarketing to the site. As the home of CurrentMarketing, Bakery Square has been given extensive upgrades including T1 lines for high-speed Internet, new roofing and awnings, extensive landscaping, and all new windows installed under the scrutiny of the Historic Landmark’s Commission. CurrentMarketing now occupies nearly the entire 1st floor, while the 2nd and 3rd floors are rented space for a variety of businesses from general contractors to fine artists.
In 2011, CurrentProperties acquired the west adjacent property at 1320 East Washington Street and connected it to historic Bakery Square via an entrance in the courtyard area. The next-door building is now home to Studio Nulu, a state-of-the-art photography and video production facility.
Read the comprehensive building history here.
[Top image courtesy Google.]
Inn the 1970s the building was am eclectic mix of shops – a very nice shopping experience. It was called, fittingly, Bakery Square. After it was a furniture factory it became a bakery. Inside the buildings the old iron oven doors are still mounted in one of its hallways. It also has a nice courtyard. 🙂
It’s a wonderful and unique building. Our group, Louisville Esoteric Society, has space there and all our members, guests and speakers love the atmosphere the facility offers. Lisa and Rick are wonderful landlords and in addition to being very responsive to our needs, have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome there!