As seen on Mainebiz.biz
BY LAURIE SCHREIBER
The buyer of a church-turned-event-venue in downtown Portland has an eye toward increasing its visibility for weddings and other gatherings.
Jedi Temple LLC bought 15 Chestnut St., adjacent to Portland City Hall, from Boodilly LLC for $1.43 million.
The buyer was represented by Josh Soley and Frank Carr of CORE. The sale was conducted through an auction process conducted by Tranzon Auction Properties.
“This is one of Portland’s most distinctive historic structures, and it’s a place many people remember fondly from when it was active and full of life,” said Josh Soley, CORE’s president.
Stained Glass, restored woodwork
Dating back to 1836, the venue was known for over 160 years as the Chestnut Street Church. The building is one of the few surviving examples of the work of Charles Alexander, a local architect of the 1850s and 1860s. The church survived the Great Fire of 1866, which destroyed half of the city’s churches and commercial buildings.
The church was abandoned in 2005 and stood vacant for several years. Anne Rutherford, a local restaurateur, bought it in 2007 and invested $2 million into a restoration that transformed the space into a 14,358-square-foot restaurant called Grace, which opened in 2009. The business subsequently shifted focus to being an event venue, Trine Events at Grace.
Rutherford’s restoration honored the integrity of the structure — including 27 historic stained glass windows, restored woodwork, exposed beams and cathedral ceilings — while introducing updates, including a restaurant kitchen and custom circular bar.
In recent years, the venue has hosted weddings, corporate gatherings and cultural events. The property includes more than 14,000 square feet of event space with capacity for over 300 guests.
When Rutherford decided to move on, she first listed the property through traditional channels that generated interest but no offers.
The auction process can provide a defined timeline and bring committed buyers to the table, Tranzon said in 2025.
NH buyer
The limited liability company that bought the property is owned by Tanner Herget of Herget Group LLC, a Portsmouth, N.H., investment management firm focused on investments in, and servicing of, companies in various industries.
The plan is to maintain the building as an event destination while opening up programming and accessibility, Herget said.
“Our plan is to preserve what makes the building so iconic while expanding the ways the community can use it — from private events to wellness classes, concerts, comedy nights and nonprofit fundraisers,” he said.
Herget’s early investments were in the restaurant industry; he continues to own and operate Bonfire Country Bar in Portland. He expanded his investment focus to the self-storage industry, with numerous acquisitions in Maine, also facilitated by CORE.
A bit of love
In Grace, he saw “a beautiful building that needed a little bit of love,” he said.
Herget is taking a couple of months to perform upgrades. There is an opportunity for weddings and events and the potential for small live concerts, classes and professional gatherings, he said.
Upgrades have included new paint and lights, renovation of the bridal and groomsman suites, work on ceilings and crown molding damaged by leaks, getting the overhead fans working and improving the HVAC system. An older speaker system, phone system and wiring were removed and new technology installed.
The purchase and renovations were financed by Kennebec Savings Bank.
Herget hired a full-time manager and updated the website to be user-friendly for things like finding available dates and pricing. The acquisition came with some grandfathered events and interest is coming in, he said.
“Grace has always been a space where people come together, and I’m excited to help bring that back,” he said.