See How the ‘Wash House’ Cleans Up!
The “Wash House,” the moniker locals have dubbed the former laundromat, is planned to be developed into a stunning new restaurant with an indoor/outdoor bar and rooftop. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) crafted and funded this exciting vision for the dilapidated space to attract a successful operator. A Request for Proposal (RFP) for a developer/operator to partner in this endeavor will soon be announced.
This 6,000 square foot building on the corner of N. Flagler Avenue and NE 1st Street is a prime location for a restaurant and will become an anchor for the area which has already attracted several premiere names in the hospitality industry.
“This site is a critical location for the creation of a thriving food and beverage destination,” stated Nguyen Tran, Pompano Beach CRA Director. “By taking the initiative to invest in this key property, we will be able to attract a successful operator to the location and reduce some of the risk for the operator.”
Conceptual designs were presented to rebuild the exterior of the structure including opening the west and south sides of the building, installing new windows and doors, indoor/outdoor bar seating area and making the roof more structurally sound to allow for rooftop usage for dining or bar area. The CRA Board unanimously approved this concept realizing the importance of this building as a pivotal piece to the redevelopment of Old Town.
“Old Pompano’s history is important as we look to the future for Downtown Pompano Beach and the Old Town District,” said Tran. “Historically this commercial area was a hotspot of commerce.”
According to the Pompano Beach Historical society, the first general store in Pompano Beach was opened in 1900 at this prime corner location by M.Z. Cavendish. Soon after, the small commercial district parallel to the railroad tracks established its own Pompano Board of Trade, a business organization that was the forerunner of the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Appreciating the rich history of this area has fueled the CRA’s dedication to creating the renaissance of Old Town by restoring these significant structures. In the footprint of our past, an exciting new future is emerging.
