BECKLEY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – The City of Beckley is officially the owner of the old Zen’s Cafe building on Neville Street, as well as the parking lot across the street. Mayor Rob Rappold announced the news during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Beckley Common Council meeting.
Beckley Common Council approved the building and parking lot’s purchase in July for $1,110,000.
During his update, Mayor Rappold said the city will spend some time cleaning and doing other maintenance on the building, as any landlord would do.
In the meantime, City Attorney Bill File is working on a lease agreement with Fruits of Labor, a culinary and agricultural training center, bakery and café out of Greenbrier County. The business also has a non-profit element- a recovery-to-work program designed to spur small business development and employ West Virginians healing from addiction.
Mayor Rappold said when Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a large supporter of Fruits of Labor and the Beckley’s WV Hive Network, visited Raleigh County last week, she expressed her excitement for the future of the Zen building.
He did not state when the building will be ready for Fruits of Labor to open shop.
