Allegany County helping Frostburg renovate Au Petit Paris

FROSTBURG — With help from Allegany County, Mountain City officials will purchase, renovate and sell a Main Street building formerly home to the Au Petit Paris French restaurant.

“The repair work makes it difficult for the building to transition into a business,” said John Kirby, city administrator.

The popular restaurant was in the three-story building at 84 E. Main St. for 52 years before closing in 2012. After the family patriarch and founder Louis P. St. Marie Jr., 76, died in 2008, the business became too much to bear, said his widow, Jeanne St. Marie.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” she said.

Jeanne St. Marie resides on the top floor, however, the building is starting to fail. Bricks built as a layer or mirage to the structure have deteriorated.

“It’s dangerous,” said Kirby.

Allegany County officials approved $160,000 be awarded to the Mountain City from the county’s community enhancement program designed to alleviate blight to acquire and upgrade the building. The price for the structure is based on appraisal value.

By purchasing and upgrading the building, officials will have a say as to what business moves in, as well as making economic development “hassle-free.”

“We can sell it at a discounted rate to the person with the best idea,” said Robert Ketterman, community development project specialist for the city. “Based on their idea, their business plan, the amount of money they will give us for the building…”

Any money from the sale of the building will be returned to the county.

“The city isn’t making any money off this,” Kirby said. “We get the building, we get the repairs done and it makes the building valuable again and it helps us help Main Street.”

Commissioner Bill Valentine said the project is a great partnership between city and county government.

“This is a fantastic partner project for the City and County,” he said.

“A building on Main St gets renovated, increasing tax base and improving Main St appearance, while becoming more attractive for a new business.”

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