What would you do with a church/chapel?

[YodaRules]

In my small town (northern Florida) with a population of about 7,400 sits a beautiful brick church for sale. Beautiful little church 2 story with sanctuary, offices, mulitiple use rooms and bathrooms. Church sanctuary is 3204 sq. ft. 2nd floor is 1265 sq.ft. fellowship hall is 2423 sq. ft. Fellowship hall has kitchen, choir room, nursery and bathroom.

The chapel has high ceilings with exposed beams, stained glass windows throughout, about 24 pews with a center isle and a raised area for choir. Chapel/Church also has 2 large offices, storage room plus 4 large room upstairs. There is an outside building (with covered walkway from church) with a large fellowship hall and kitchen plus nursery and another room. There are only 3 bathrooms (large with several stalls each) throughout the complex. All was built in 1955 and there are no handicap access to upstairs. I've attached a photo of the chapel, kitchen and nursery for ideas -- it is BEAUTIFUL...

Now that you have an idea of the property. Add a mortgage of about $900-1,000 (including escrow) monthly plus utilities to the thought and if this fell into your hands how would you use it to generate income?

Thanks,

Patsy

[igrowyourbiz]

You didn't mention any budget for buildout/remodeling

but there are a bunch of ideas like

A Youth/Family Center
Smoothie/Coffee Shop
Christian bookstore
Christian Concert hall
Bounce House
Skating Rink


however, i encourage you to discover what is needed in your community. Does it NEED another restaurant? Print/Copy Shop? Maybe a Job training center? Relaxed movie house? What is missing in your community? Talk to people and ask them, what does our community need that it does not have?

Put what's missing, and add value to your community, and generating income will not be a problem.

my 2¢

Maurice W. Evans
Certified Guerrilla Marketing Trainer
Certified John C. Maxwell Trainer

[BlessYourHeart]

Well, if I couldn't remodel into a house....I think it would make a beautiful and unique home, I would make it the event venue of the town. Weddings, seminars, showers, etc since it has a kitchen you could cater the food also.

[SFerber]

A retreat center and or a place for weddings.

[steffk]

I was thinking the same things! I saw an old church remodeled into a home one time on HGTV or something. It was gorgeous! If you want to put a business in it though a wellness center would be great or a wedding chapel and reception business would be good.

[jammintj]

Originally Posted by BlessYourHeart

Well, if I couldn't remodel into a house....I think it would make a beautiful and unique home, I would make it the event venue of the town. Weddings, seminars, showers, etc since it has a kitchen you could cater the food also.

I agree! I guess the possibilities are endless.

[AlltheGlitz]

Is the church not being used due to money issues? Wow! It's not even open and the kitchen is nicer than mine. lol

[msuggitt]

So many possibilities. I like the ideas of event venue or rental bldg (for groups or organizations)

I thought the best idea was looking locally to see what is missing. You never know - a few years back in my small town, a Marketing firm decided we needed more services for dogs, and now we have new pet stores, new vets, off leash parks all making good money just taking advantage of what was missing in our town.