WAITSBURG — The week after another offer fell through, new potential buyers for the old City Hall have stepped forward.

Regional winemakers Todd and Carrie Alexander have entered into an agreement to purchase the historic building from the city for $125,000.

The City Council voted Wednesday, Jan. 15, to sell the building at 147 Main St. to the Alexanders. Kitsune Main Street LLC is listed as the buyer on the purchase and sale agreement.

The Alexanders also own the building at 120 Main St., near Waitsburg’s new City Hall.

Council member Jillian Henze announced on her official City Council Facebook page that the Alexanders may create a “hybrid wine shop.”

“(O)n the street level would be a retail space centered around wine and art,” Henze wrote. The Alexanders also might build en-suite rooms and add an owner suite, she wrote.

The two-story, commercially-zoned building began its life in 1889 as Waitsburg’s First National Bank. Part of the Waitsburg Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the well-worn brick structure will require a significant remodel to be brought up to code.

The Alexanders, owners of Holocene Wines, embarked on a similar project — Atelier Freewater in Milton-Freewater — with the J.L. Elam Bank building.

The Waitsburg deal came the week after Chet Childers, the owner of a Tri-Cities-area construction firm who hoped to turn the property into a beer spa and hotel, told the city he was backing out.

Childers said that to purchase and rehab the building he would have had to sell other rental properties that already bring in money, and it wasn’t clear the return on investment would be worth it.

He also took issue — as have others — with an easement: The neighbor has access to the building, and the only way to reach the adjoining building’s second floor is to enter through a stairwell in old City Hall.

“A lot of the potential buyers have had issues,” City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said.

Before Childers, one interested buyer hoped to put in apartments. Another wanted to set up a real estate office. A Seattle preservationist twice put in an offer and twice withdrew it.

“I’m just glad it’s finally sold, hopefully,” Hinchliffe said.