“The appearance of that property has become a nuisance to our community, as well as it has set a precedence for other condemned properties within the village limits,” Gary Copeland, the village manager and safety director, said in a July 13 letter.
“A subsequent investigation of the property revealed that the premise is unsecured and several safety issues have been identified,” Copeland added.
The letter to Mike Palmer, president of Dutchman Hospitality Group, gave the company 10 days to secure the building and 90 days to bring it up to code or tear it down.
The other two buildings, a 4,187-square-foot retail building currently housing a church, and a 2,592-square-foot office will remain, but the 16,625-square-foot restaurant is to be razed by the end of the month, Copeland said Monday.
A contractor was working on the building on Monday, tearing off exterior materials and removing interior fixtures.
Palmer could not be reached.
Dutch bought the restaurant, originally known as Der Duetchler, from Dale and Pam Bowman in 1998.
The Ohio-based company still operates restaurants specializing in Amish cooking in Walnut Creek, Sugarcreek, Berlin, Plain City and Bellville, as well as Sarasota, Fla.
But after the 2010 fire, it never reopened the restaurant or gift shop at 23o N. US 42, just north of the Ohio 73 intersection and west of Caesar Creek Lake.
Since then, village and Warren County leaders have worked to bring in a new owner. Most recently, Premier Health Partners was considering the purchase, officials said.
Premier did not respond to questions Monday.
Warren County issued a permit on Friday for the demolition.
Once valued at more than $2.5 million, the 41.9-acre complex is currently appraised at just under $1.4 million.
The village wanted to press Dutch last fall, but agreed to wait while a prospective sale was pending, according to officials. Recent vandalism fueled the village’s concern.
“The old burned-out restaurant has been vandalized in the last few weeks,” Mayor Dave Stubbs said. “It’s a shame, it’s a real shame.”
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