Historic building to be renovated by its new owner

TEKAMAH, Neb. - What used to be a bank back in 1884, has now become a five-part project for Cindy Chatt.

"It's everybody's favorite building in town and it was time that somebody bought it and gave it some love," Chatt said.

Chatt is the new owner of the historic structure in Tekamah, and she plans to renovate the building into five different entities. 

"It was a bank until about 1960 and then from there, there was an antique shop in there, there was a flower shop in there, there's been law offices upstairs, there's been barber shops downstairs, and insurance agencies downstairs," said Chatt.

She said she thought about making the entire place residential, but quickly realized why that just wouldn't be right.

"I realized if I did that, then people couldn't go in there," she said. "It wouldn't be a public building, which made me re-think my plan on what to do with it. That's where I think commercial is really important, so people can actually go into the building and see what it's like today and how we kept a piece of history in Tekamah."

Because the building comes with a long line of history, Chatt plans on protecting it. She says that's what drew her to it in the first place.

"It's just got so much character. It's one of those buildings that still has all of the ornate detail on the outside, all the facade," said Chatt.

This project isn't Chatt's first. She is the owner of Chatterbox, a restaurant right across the street from the old bank.

"It's important for me to keep the character of the building itself, and I think since people have seen what I've done with my other business that they'll know I'll do the same with that building," she said. 

To make sure she gets it right, Chatt researched the building's old forms and is striving to not only preserve the old pieces like the brick walls and large bank vaults but also showcase them for everyone to see.