CANTON − Local businessman Chris Maggiore officially has purchased the former Nationwide building.
Maggiore, also the owner of Jerzee's Sports Grille, bought the property at 1020 Market Ave. N for $1.3 million from the city of Canton. The sale closed on Feb. 3, and Maggiore said he's "working on some different plans" but wasn't ready to disclose details.
"I'm working on everything as quickly as possible," he said.
About a year ago, Maggiore told The Canton Repository about his desire to buy the building and convert the first floor into warehouse space with second-floor offices for rent. Those plans still are "on the table," he said.
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. left the more than 100,000-square-foot building in early 2019. The Downtown Canton Land Bank then purchased it for $500,000 and maintained the property opposite the Canton Museum of Art and Canton Memorial Civic Center.
In late 2021, the city took ownership and paid $1.25 million to reimburse the land bank and allocated up to $300,000 to the Canton Community Improvement Corp., the city's economic development nonprofit, for building upkeep.
Maggiore and the city previously entered a City Council-approved purchase agreement that was extended four times since last year, Mayor Thomas Bernabei told the council at a recent meeting. He also declined to discuss plans publicly when asked by a council member about the building's future use.
"He has taken the property subject to its current zoning and subject to no other incentives from the city of Canton," Bernabei said.
Council Majority Leader Bill Smuckler, D-at large, said Maggiore would need to present a plan to council members if he wants to change the current zoning ― business ― or an economic incentive such as a tax abatement that requires council approval.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP
