Brass Elephant for sale again

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A once-proud and popular Baltimore landmark is on the market once again.

The former Brass Elephant restaurant at 924 N. Charles St. — briefly converted to a nightclub by a group of renters before the city liquor board revoked the license this summer — is up for sale.

The building, which dates to 1870, houses the 8,200-square-foot restaurant. It includes Waterford crystal chandeliers, carved wood and the ornate Victorian second-floor Tusk Lounge.

The Brass Elephant closed in 2009. Its owners cited declining revenues.

The building was first placed on the market in 2010 for $1.8 million. Months later the price had dropped to $995,900.

State records indicate the property was valued at $499,300 as of July 2013. Ownership is listed as Top Brass L.P., based in West Friendship.

In August 2010, the Brass Elephant’s owners avoided foreclosure by making an emergency payment to PNC Bank.

In early 2012, they leased the space to a group from Washington, D.C. who had said they planned to reopen a restaurant there, but instead opened The Museum, a nightclub. That move rankled residents of the Midtown community, who complained to city officials.

In response, a complaint was filed with the Baltimore Board of Liquor License Commissioners.

Jason Curtis, president of the Mount Vernon-Belvedere Association, a community advocacy group, said Monday The Museum was shut down by the liquor board following a hearing this summer over misuse of the license, which was granted for a restaurant, not a nightclub.

The Museum never reopened, Curtis said.

The former restaurant was relisted for sale last week.

Martin Kibbe, the listing agent with RE/MAX, did not return a phone call Monday. Kibbe also handled negotiations in early 2012 to bring the restaurant back.

“It’s alive in many people’s memories,” he said at the time, referring to it as the “old lady.”

“ I have heard a variety of stories from lots of people,” he said.

Curtis said the community association was interested in helping Kibbe find new owners who could convert the space back to a fine dining establishment.

“It’s a fabulous restaurant location and with the right concept in Mount Vernon, it would do extremely well,” he said.

“It’s a prime location, and has a beautiful interior.”