Historic Trader Mansion in Lewes on the market
The historic Trader Mansion in Lewes, home to The Buttery for more than 20 years, is back on the market.
Owner Wilson Gates converted the space at the corner of Second Street and Savannah Road into the 2nd Street Tavern in 2019 and will continue to operate the restaurant until a buyer is found.
“I realize this could take a year or two,” he said. “This is a very slow exit strategy. I’m not in a rush.”
The building is listed with Keller Williams for $2.295 million. Records show the building last sold for $1.2 million in 2016.
In the four years he’s owned the building, Gates said he’s done extensive work to the late 19th century home. He said he quickly learned the trials and tribulations of owning a home that dates back to 1894.
“I’ve seen behind every wall and under every floorboard,” Gates said. “When we started to open it up, it was kind of a domino effect.”
He replaced floor joists and shored up the foundation, among other upgrades. He was able to preserve the original hardwood floors and hand-carved crown molding, the things he said make the home special.
The Trader Mansion was once home to many generations of the family of that name. In the 1990s, it was home to a few retail stores before John Donato and Twain Gonzalez opened The Buttery in 1999.
Gates tried to continue The Buttery tradition for a few years, but decided to make a change in 2019.
“That was someone else’s vision, their dream, their passion,” Gates said. “I tried to keep it alive, but I could never do it as well as someone who originates it.”
With the 2nd Street Tavern, he said, he’s trying to create a more casual atmosphere where people can hang out with friends, have a few drinks and grab a small bite to eat. He renovated the inside to create a lounge area with cocktail tables and couches, and a bigger bar to accommodate a larger draft beer selection.
“I wanted to maintain that eclectic feel of the building with good music, good libations – the whole works,” he said.
For more information about 2nd Street Tavern, go to www.lewestavern.com. To view the real estate listing for the Trader Mansion, go to https://tinyurl.com/yyosdqh3.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
