55 North Main Street · Rochester · For Sale

Description:

Situated in a prime location in the town of Rochester, this historic building offers multiple income streams, including restaurant, retail, residential and Airbnb revenue. Built in approximately 1860, the property contains seven rentable units, including the Rochester Cafe (currently closed), a licensed restaurant with 45 +/- seats inside, and a further 30 seats on the porch (in-season); an attached Country Store with open retail space, wood floors, high ceilings and large storefront windows; two apartments above the store and cafe; two Airbnb units; and a commercial/retail space.

The building retains many of the 19th century features that were typical of a 19th-century Vermont village commercial block, and is a significant part of scenic Rochester’s village center and streetscape. City water and sewer , newly painted, new 26.4 KW Solar Peak Power System installed, basement recently expanded with new areaway, new HVAC for commercial space, new plumbing in all renovated areas, new electrical systems throughout. Financial information available upon request. This property has been fully redone in a manner that spared no expense, and brought the building back to its full beauty and potential. The Cafe has been a central feature of community life in Rochester, and the community is keeping the spirit alive with free coffee and pastries on the Cafe porch every weekend this summer, attracting locals and the numerous visitors who pass through Rochester every week.

Come see it and realize your dreams!

A Personal Note on the Future of the Rochester Café

Closing the Rochester Café is deeply personal for me.

My connection to Vermont began long before I was born. In 1937, my grandmother purchased a 150-acre farm in Granville, Vermont, for $250—sight unseen—during a cocktail party in New York City. Years later, my mother attended Bennington College, and both of my parents eventually worked there. My mother became deeply involved in the music and literary community in Rochester.

I attended The Putney School, and throughout my childhood our family spent summers visiting my grandmother’s farm in Granville. My brothers and I attended Camp Killooleet in Hancock. One of my fondest memories was stopping at Hunt’s Variety Store for a root beer float at the soda fountain—the very same one that still exists today in the Rochester Café.

So how did I end up buying the Café and the building?

Fast forward to 2022 and my plans for retirement. Dane Larry approached me with the idea of purchasing the Rochester Café and the historic Trask Building. He and his wife planned to manage and operate both the Café and the building. Since I was looking forward to retirement, taking on a major new responsibility in the midst of COVID was not part of my plan.

Eventually, however, my Norman Rockwell memories of rural Vermont won out, and I purchased both the Café and the historic 1860 Trask Building.

Over the next four years, we accomplished a great deal. We built a new expanded covered front porch, renovated three residential spaces, created an additional commercial space at the rear of the building, upgraded the electrical service, added solar power, and expanded the basement. We also transitioned the Café from a traditional full-service restaurant to a fast-casual model, a format that has become increasingly common throughout Vermont and across the country.

Along the way, I learned a great deal. Like many rural businesses, we navigated the challenges of seasonal staffing—operating with fewer employees during the quieter months and expanding our team during the busy seasons. The Rochester Café served two important customer groups: approximately 40 percent local residents and 60 percent visitors. Each brought different expectations, tastes, and perspectives.

I am enormously proud of what we accomplished and honored to have played a role in strengthening this important community landmark.

A New Future
With new ownership, I believe the Café can continue to be a hub of activity in downtown Rochester. An entrepreneurial couple willing to live on-site and work directly in the business would find everything they need already in place. Their investment in the community and commitment to building relationships with neighbors, friends, and visitors would allow them to embrace the idyllic Vermont lifestyle while operating a well-established business.

Today, the building’s three apartments, two Airbnb units, and commercial space are fully leased. The Café is available either for lease as a stand-alone business or for sale together with the building, and I am confident it will remain a vital community institution.

I remain deeply grateful to the customers, employees, contractors, craftspeople, tenants, and community members who have been part of this journey. Their support, hard work, and friendship have made these past four years a remarkable and rewarding chapter in my lifelong love affair with Vermont.

Thank you.

Chris Landis
Owner, Rochester Café