Couple buy Port Boerner building for $3 million

PORT WASHINGTON - The Boerner Mercantile Building, which has been a cornerstone of downtown Port Washington for decades, was sold Tuesday.

Dan Ewig and his wife Marie-Anne, who renovated the 32,200-square-foot building 11 years ago but have since moved back to New York City, where they previously lived, sold the building and a nearby private parking lot to Haley and Mircea “Mig” Dobre of Mequon.

The purchase price was $3 million, Haley Dobre said.

“It’s been an exciting time,” Haley Dobre said, noting this is the first real estate investment property she and her husband have acquired.

“I’m really hoping to get involved in the community. I think there’s so much going for the town.”

The developments in and around Port, the festivals and events such as the farmers market are “signs of a strong future,” Dobre added.

Dobre said the couple plan to retain the building tenants, noting there are only a few empty spaces in the building.

She said she doesn’t expect any significant changes in operations, noting Dave Ewig — Dan’s brother —  will continue as the building manager.

“He knows the building and the tenants and the city,” she said.

Daily Baking Co. and the Mercantile Plaza occupy the first floor, and the second floor contains 12 office studios and a 2,000-square-foot space rented by Fox Hammer Media. The third floor is home to Kuttner LLC.

In addition, Studio 224 is on the building’s lower level.

Dobre, who is a certified public accountant, said she and her husband, a chartered financial analyst, have been considering getting into real estate for at least a decade and got serious about it in spring.

She did some in-depth research into the field, she said, adding that when she began to look for a property to buy the Boerner Building popped to the top of her list.

Not only is the building a viable entity, it’s a restored historic structure, she said.

“I’ve always appreciated antiques,” she said, noting her husband is also interested in history. “And I love the stories behind historic buildings.”

The Boerner Building, she noted, “has been restored to its original glory and then some. I really respect Dan and what he did with this building.”

She and her husband’s first offer on the building was rejected, so they moved on and sought other investment properties, Dobre said.

But when these other opportunities didn’t work out, she said, they circled back to the Boerner Building and negotiated the sale.

“We’re excited to invest in a community where we can carry on a legacy,” she said.

The building is “a key building” in downtown, Dobre said, adding she is looking forward to getting to know other downtown business owners and continue to create a welcoming environment for her tenants.