Former Bella Vino building at 112 W. Union St. in downtown Morganton.
The City of Morganton plans to sell the former Bella Vino building located on West Union Street.
The building has been owned by the city since 1996 and the upstairs is home to the Main Street office. Earlier in the spring, the city began seeking new restaurant tenants for the building and City Manager Sally Sandy said several had been received.
But one, which Sandy said aligns with the city’s goal to create an economic driver in the traffic downtown, involves selling the property.
The offer, which is from Cranford Hospitality, would involve purchasing the property for $425,000 with a $25,000 earnest money deposit, as well as reduced or free rent for two years after the closing, so the Main Street office can stay in its location. After the two years, they will have the option to renew the lease.
Cranford Hospitality is well established in the region, owning and operating several restaurants in the Hickory Metro area. The group owns Charolais Steakhouse, City Walk Brewing & Distilling, Cranford Brothers BBQ, Granny’s County Kitchen, Main Chick Jammin’ Biscuits, and Standard Oyster Company.
The City Council voted unanimously at its regular monthly meeting on Monday evening to approve a resolution of intent to declare the property surplus and sell it. The timeline includes closing on the property by the end of December and starting renovations by Jan. 31, 2026.
There will also be a requirement to operate the restaurant six days a week and serve two meals a day. The upfit of the building will include the first floor, the second floor, the mezzanine, and the outdoor deck.
“I think we’re fortunate that these guys have taken such an interest in having a restaurant in Morganton,” Councilman Chris Jernigan said. “They do good work, and I know they’ve been interested in coming here for a long time, but they couldn’t find a place they could own.”
According to North Carolina General Statute 160A-269, which instructs municipalities on how to dispose of public property, there is an upset bid process. The notice of the offer was advertised on Thursday, which began a 10-day period during which there could be an upset bid.
The notice contains a general description of the property, the amount and terms of the offer, and a notice that within 10 days, any person may raise the bid by no less than $446,300.
If at the end of the 10-day period there is no upset bid, the city council would review and approve the development agreement. That would then have to be approved within 30 days of the end of the 10-day period.
Bella Vino was evicted from the property in January 2023, which led to the owner Emmanuel Manolakas filing a lawsuit against the city, which resulted in him receiving $1 million in compensation.
Before Bella Vino, the building was home to Yianni’s Family Restaurant, which Sharon Jablonski, the city’s cultural and creative development director, said is similar to what she was looking for in a new tenant.
Madison Lipe is the municipal reporter for The Paper. She can be reached at 828-445-8595 or madison@thepaper.media.
