What does Erie's Tom Hagen plan to do with former Sophia's Tavern? Here's what's not on tap
Editor's note: This story is part of a recurring series that will provide updates on the status of properties of interest in the Erie area. Have a story suggestion? Email jmartin@timesnews.com.
Thomas Hagen, the billionaire chairman of Erie Insurance and a historic preservationist, has added a neighborhood bar to his growing inventory of properties in Erie's West Sixth Street neighborhood.
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This spring, Hagen paid $195,000 to purchase the former Sophia's Tavern, located at 514 Cherry St. The tavern, housed in a two-story brick building that was built in 1908, closed its doors in 2019.
Hagen said he has no plans to install fresh kegs and turn on the neon beer signs.
Hagen didn't purchase the liquor license that served the property, and plans to find another use for the building that was once the home of a neighborhood grocery store.
The property, which is just slightly over 3,000 square feet, is the latest example of Hagen's piece-by-piece approach to bringing new life to a neighborhood in and around what was once known as Millionaire's Row.
Hagen, who has been working with Erie architect Jeff Kidder, who specializes in historic preservation, has completed work on eight restoration projects, including two historic storefronts on State Street.
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Numerous other projects are either under construction or are in the planning stages.
Those projects include three that were announced in April in conjunction with Gannon University. Hagen said he would purchase the Carter-Shannon House at 203 W. Sixth St. The home, which had been designated by Preservation Erie as one of Erie County's endangered properties, will be used as student apartments following its restoration.
Hagen also is expected to begin work later this year to restore the Frederick Jarecki House at 221 W. Sixth St. for use as Gannon's alumni house.
In a companion move, the Olds-Norman House, located at 216 W. Seventh St., will be moved a few hundred feet to a spot now occupied by Gannon's Wehrle Hall at 211 W. Sixth St., which will be demolished. The restored Olds-Norman house will be used by the university as a bed-and-breakfast style residence.
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So, where does 514 Cherry St. — home of Sophia's Tavern for more than 60 years — fit into Hagen's plan for restoring the neighborhood?
He doesn't know for certain yet. Future uses could include offices or space for private parties, he said.
But the building will apparently be part of his ongoing campaign to restore neighborhood properties, many of which will be given to a historic trust that Hagen has established.
"We are going to renovate it, but not right away," he said. "We wanted to own that building because it has good bones."
Jim Martin can be reached at jmartin@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Thomas Hagen is new owner of former Sophia's Tavern building in Erie
