FROM SILVERWARE TO SOFTWARE

The former Tino's Italian Restaurant building in downtown Emporium will soon become a computer store.

Richard Crawford of Coplay is purchasing the property from Emporium Borough as a new location for GTC Computers.

Crawford made the highest offer among five received by the borough in the third round of bidding for the building. His bid of $52,261 was accepted by Council in November. Crawford's bid was one of three that were higher than Mike Hepfner's offer of $40,000 in the second round of bidding. Hepfner later decided not to go forward with plans to open a grillstyle restaurant in the building.

Other bids opened by Council came from Rick McLean, $42,551; John Caskey, $40,100; Jeff Smeal, $27,500; and Brown Real Estate, $21,000.

Crawford's father-in-law, Rod Williams, told Endeavor News that the computer sales and service store will be located downstairs. Two large apartments will occupy the second story.

"Right now, our shop is overcrowded," Williams said. "At the new location, we are going to have designated spaces for a showroom, a sales floor, a work area, and shipping and receiving. The new location will be pretty much ideal with the exception of more limited parking."

Before opening as Tino's Italian Restaurant, the building at the corner of Fourth and Broad streets was the county library and before that was a bank.