CENTRAL POINT — Downtown revitalization will inch closer in coming months as restoration begins on the old Brown’s Hardware building.

The old storefront was purchased in recent months by local developer Tommy Malot, who plans to restore the 1800s building to its former glory.

Though he initially purchased the building with intentions of creating office space downstairs and living quarters upstairs, Malot said he ultimately decided to renovate the building for use as some type of eatery, a much needed service in the downtown.

"It would just be great to be able to bring in a brew-pub type setting, a place for people to bring their families to that’s smoke-free and inviting," Malot said. "There’s really not too many places downtown where people would like to come and congregate and enjoy the town we live in. This is a very unique opportunity to contribute to making the downtown more of the destination it could be."

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Though Malot said improvements to the building would be significant, he plans to make every effort to preserve its historical integrity. For restoration, he will keep existing historic features, especially the building’s original hardwood flooring, but do away with more modern changes.

"The building looks fine," he said. "We’re not gonna make it look brand new. We want it to look old, like when it was first built. I really feel, with revitalization happening in the downtown, this will fit in with what the city is going to become," Malot said.

Community Development Director Tom Humphrey said he was encouraged with efforts by local business owners and developers like Malot to participate in the downtown’s revitalization. Humphrey said the old hardware store was truly an important landmark.

"I don’t think most people realize that the first half of the building was built in the 1800s and the second half added and the façade redone in 1908," Humphrey said. "The fact they’re keeping the building and restoring it is encouraging because it could become a real keystone of the downtown."

In working on the building, Malot said he was hoping to learn more about its long history. While cleaning out some forgotten storage spaces he said he uncovered old paperwork indicating that the place had served as a phone company and auto repair shop, among other uses.

"We’ve got boxes and boxes of stuff laid out on tables ... receipts from the early 1900s, all kinds of stuff," said Malot. "This place has a lot of history and character. We’re really hoping to preserve that."

Malot, born and raised in Central Point, said he is especially interested in finding someone with a picture or details about an old mural that once graced the side of the building. He said there was some possibility he would consider having it repainted.

Anyone with information or stories they are willing to share about the building or mural can contact Malot by phone, 664-1258 or send an e-mail to tommy@malotconstruction.com.

Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at buffypollock@juno.com