Preservation: Cash for the Nellie Cashman
Categories: Preservation: You Can Help
By: Mark Boardman 09/01/2008
It ain’t easy to maintain a historic landmark. Just ask the Skinners of Tombstone, Arizona.
They own the Nellie Cashman Restaurant, the oldest eatery in town, started in 1879 by the lady of the same name. Nellie actually called it the Russ House. But by whatever name, or whatever purpose (it’s been a boarding house and a retail shop), the adobe building is a Tombstone fixture; a certain romance surrounds this place that hosted the Earps and the Clantons.
Sherri Skinner says, “The challenge is to keep things up, replace certain things, maintain the historical look and character while also keeping in your budget as a small business.”
The place could use a new roof—$20,000. The interior setup isn’t exactly the way it was back in Nellie’s day (although the walls, floors, beams and basement are all original). That all costs money that the Skinners don’t have.
So they’re looking to sell it. The current price is $375,000, down about 40 percent from the original figure. New owners could keep the restaurant or use the building for other purposes—including a residence.
Until someone comes in and puts his name on the dotted line, Sherri Skinner and her family will be faced with a tough challenge—maintaining an historic landmark while trying to run a business.
520-457-2212 NellieCashman.FreeServers.com
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