SHELBY — Karl Milliron said he wants to help another entrepreneur fulfill a dream.
The first step in making that happen was finalized about two weeks ago.
Midwest Consulting & Management, LLC, purchased 58-60 West Main St. in Shelby — the former First National Bank building — from Linville Enterprises, LLC, on June 13 for $200,000, according to Richland County Auditor’s Office property records.
Milliron signed as the representative in the purchase.
“I’ve had my eye on that bank building for a long time,” Milliron told Richland Source on Thursday.
“The timing was right to engage in it and do a project in there that would be great to give back to the community and bring in some more involvement into the downtown,” he said.
The vision Milliron and his wife, Jill, have for the historic three-story structure is layered.
On the ground floor, the plan is to create a higher-end, tablecloth Italian restaurant, he said, with the possibility of a small banquet room on the building’s second floor.
With the remaining space, the husband and wife envision a boutique hotel, with rooms on the second and third floors.
Milliron said the restaurant/hotel combination will be a positive addition to the city, offering a place for current residents to enjoy and somewhere for returning natives to stay and explore when back in town for events like class reunions or weddings.
“Not saying it’s going to be booked every night, but at least it will be an option for people to stay in Shelby, instead of having to go to Ontario for overnight accommodations,” he said.
Major project. Major investment.
Milliron said he doesn’t plan to personally enter the restaurant/hotel business. He just wants to be a building owner. But Milliron also wants to create the facility to spur a fellow entrepreneur.
Being early into the process, Milliron said he estimates it will be around a two-year project.
He said the building’s roof is “in terrible shape” and has a major water leak. One of the first efforts planned is installing a new roof in August.
“Once we get that (roof) done, then we’ll assess the water damage,” Milliron said. “Then we’ll get more engaged with (an) architect and engineer and get more involved in the designs.”
Along with codes, permits and occupancy rates, much of the design — most specifically the building’s facade and exterior — will need to conform with the Shelby Historic Preservation Commission’s design guidelines for the city’s historic district.
“It’s a major project and a major investment,” Milliron said. “If we get it done in 24 months, I’ll be happy.”
Jessica Gribben, Shelby’s economic development manager, said Milliron’s investment is significant for a variety of reasons.
In addition to filling a vacant building on one of the city’s busiest intersections, Milliron’s purchase also exemplifies the investment model Gribben and the city have been promoting.
“We knew this public-private partnership (model) and investment in Main Street would catalyze some new development downtown and we’re seeing that happen in real time, which is amazing,” Gribben said.
“You add the Karl Milliron name to it and he’s just a wonderful community partner. There’s a lot of trust there in knowing that he will do what’s right by the community,” she said.
Shelby is ‘transforming,’ says Shelby Foundation executive director
A 1983 Shelby High School graduate, Milliron has continued to give back and invest in his community for many years — much like his father, the late Grant Milliron.
He and Jill assisted with finishing the Black Fork Commons project in downtown Shelby, along with helping Shelby City Schools complete the Whippet Athletic Complex.
The city has always remained intertwined in Milliron’s life.
“One of the things that was instilled with me with my father is that we have always had great community support in all of our endeavors,” he said. “When you look at that, the community supports your business so you have to turn around and give back and support your community.”
Milliron also spent time as a board member for The Shelby Foundation, with which he still has close ties with, he said.
The Shelby Foundation Board approved the purchase of three historic downtown Shelby buildings — across the intersection from Milliron’s new purchase — in March 2024. Efforts remain on-going to possibly welcome retail shops, entrepreneur shared space, restaurants and professional services in those buildings moving forward.
Carrie Kemerer, executive director of The Shelby Foundation, said to say she is excited about Milliron’s investment “would be an understatement.”
“When the Foundation strategically selected the buildings to revitalize it was with the hope that it would positively impact economically and aesthetically the busiest intersection in Shelby; and other investment would follow,” Kemerer said.
“This reiterates the Foundation made the correct decision. But knowing that Karl Milliron is behind an investment of this magnitude — we know for certain Shelby is transforming,” she said.
Gribben said the future of the historic bank building would be cloudy if not for Milliron and some philanthropic investment.
As economic development manager, her job is to retain existing Shelby businesses and attract newcomers. Conversations with both groups are easier when move-in-ready spaces are available, she said.
“It’s going to be so exciting as we watch those storefronts come to life and bring new opportunities to downtown,” Gribben said. “That will catalyze the businesses that have already taken the chance and invested down here.”
‘Nothing short of wonderful,’ says CIC president
Jake Penwell, president of the Community Improvement Corporation of Shelby, said the current momentum in downtown Shelby is the result of years of planning, dedication and mindset shift.
The CIC is now a partial “neighbor” to Milliron’s recent purchase — owning the Shaw Building across the intersection of Main and Gamble streets.
Penwell said several of the CIC’s efforts, including new streetscape along Main Street and the Black Fork Commons, were intentional to help spark private investment.
It takes major investment to ensure the historic buildings the CIC, Shelby Foundation and Milliron are tackling last for generations to come, he said.
“We’re all rowing the boat in the same direction and it’s moving fast,” Penwell said.
“Shelby should be beyond thrilled of what is going to be happening and what is continuing to happen downtown. It’s nothing short of wonderful.”
