Houston entrepreneur plans to buy Galveston's historic Fadden Building

>>Click to see 2016's Galveston Historic Home Tour. The historic Fadden Building on the Strand in Galveston could be something very different in the near future. >>Click to see 2016's Galveston Historic Home Tour. The historic Fadden Building on the Strand in Galveston could be something very different in the near future. Photo: Google Images Photo: Google Images Image 1 of / 75 Caption Close Houston entrepreneur plans to buy Galveston's historic Fadden Building 1 / 75 Back to Gallery

Houston entrepreneur Atul "Lucky" Chopra, known for transforming historic buildings into bars and restaurants, may be extending his footprint to Galveston's Historic Strand District.

Turner Construction, which currently owns the building, is selling 1898 James Fadden building at 2410 Strand to Chopra for $700,000, but the deal is not yet complete.

The company agreed to first make structural repairs, including stabilizing walls, the Galveston County Daily News reports.

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According to the Bay Area paper, the historic building was recently at the center of some legal proceedings in Galveston. Its former owner, Allen Flores, reportedly sued the Port of Galveston and Turner Construction Co. two years ago, citing damage by construction crews. The construction company bought the building to settle the dispute.

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The Fadden Building, as it's known on the island, was constructed in 1898 by revered architect Nicholas Clayton. It was constructed as a wholesale liquor, wine and cigar business for Fadden, who passed shortly after its completion. His widow, Rosa Fadden, ran the business until 1900, when she sold it to H.N. Norton, according to Denise Alexander's "Galveston's Historic Downtown and Strand District."

It's seen several bar and restaurant concepts come and go since then, including Lounge Nightlife Complex and Boomba Ultra Lounge.

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If the sale goes through, it's likely that Chopra, who owns Hearsay Gastro Lounge in downtown Houston, may launch a bar or restaurant concept at the space. He has a history of converting old spaces into glamorous new establishments in Houston.

"History adds value," he said. "I think it is good business" to keep an old building," he told the Houston Chronicle in 2010.