LOUISVILLE

The Juilliard Home, a Louisville classic, gets new ownership and new future

Malcolm Hall
The Repository
Jeff and Chery Rich, outside of the Juilliard Home in Louisville, bought the building at auction and will make it a bed and breakfast.

LOUISVILLE ‒ The downtown building known as the Juilliard Home will assume a new role as a bed and breakfast.

Business operator Jeff Rich, who recently agreed to buy the Juilliard Home at its recent auction, said he was "pretty motivated" to acquire the structure at 523 E. Main St.

"We didn't go into it with a specific business plan," said Rich, president of Midlake Products & Manufacturing. "But the general idea was to turn it into a bed and breakfast. Our decision wasn't based on demand. Our main purpose was just to preserve that building. It has been here over 150 years, so it is an important building in Louisville. We just want folks that are visiting the area to have a comfortable place to stay."

More: Juilliard Home in Louisville heading for auction sale

Auctioneer George Kiko presided over the auction, which saw the Juilliard Home go for a price of $220,000.

"There were multiple bidders," said Kiko. "There were internet bidders and we had about 20 registered in person."

The history behind the Juilliard Home in Louisville

The two-story structure had been owned by a local architect, Rodney Meadows, who died in March. His widow, Loretta Susan Meadows, decided to sell. Ownership has been under the name Juilliard Home Limited Liability Co.

The house, which dates back to 1872, was built by Charles Juilliard, a farmer in eastern Stark County. Juilliard was a brother of Augustus Juilliard, a businessman and philanthropist whose estate helped finance establishment of the Juilliard School, a music conservatory in New York City.

"We wanted someone to get it and make it a positive thing," Mayor Patricia Fallot said. "I have faith that Mr. Rich will do that."

Prior to Meadows, the city had owned the Juilliard Home. Louisville officials held senior citizen activities in the structure.

More work needed on Louisville's Juilliard Home

City officials have first right of refusal in regard to the auction sale, meaning Louisville has the right to match the winning bid and regain ownership.

"There would be a lot of work to do in that house," Fallot said. "We would have to have a plan as to what we would do, what we would utilize the building for."

The Juilliard House site is zoned for commercial use.

"We want to see it preserved," said Beth Campbell, executive director of the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce. "We want to see someone utilize it and maintain it. I think we are on the right track. It is a quaint nice old building that has been there forever."

The new owner embraces the prospect of having to spend money to upgrade the Juilliard Home.

"At this point, we really don't have a guess (how much)," Rich said. "All of the rooms will need a renovation. We are probably a year out before this comes to fruition. We knew the building was going to need some work. We are going to bring in some contractors to do this. We want to keep the Victorian feel to it, but also provide the modern conveniences to our guests."

New owners Jeff and Chery Rich outside of the Juilliard Home in Louisville. They bought the building at auction.