Papa Murphy's Building Can't Be Leased

Rumors have been flying recently about the empty Papa Murphy's building on the south end of San Anselmo Avenue. But, Jay Murphy, the leasing agent for the property from HL Commercial Real Estate, confirmed there will no rental of the property in the near future until ownership legalities are sorted out by a family trust.

"The situation is that this property is held in a trust along with other real estate assets, which are being overseen by the courts at this time. There are pending issues being sorted out. Until such time as those issues are resolved through the judicial process there is no active marketing being conducted," said Murphy.

That means interested parties, and there have been a few over the six years since the property became empty, will just have to wait.

The latest rumors surrounding the long-empty building came after and became interested in the Papa Murphy's location.

Last week, .

Although the owners are currently in legal battles over property issues, one thing everyone in San Anselmo can agree on is that end of town desperately needs a viable business in that location.

"That's a blight down there. Something needs to happen," said Executive Director Connie Rodgers.

Rodgers read a statement at a recent San Anselmo Chamber meeting, where they were considering the vision for downtown, about the pending litigation and to clear up rumors.

According to Murphy, the property first ceased operations after . The building was fixed up at that time, but the owners decided not to stay in that location. There were then deaths in the family and ownership passed into a family trust, along with a number of other property assets.

The property is now owned officially by a family trust based in Nevada, according to town documents, but in practicality owernship is still very much under contention in court.

"It's been going on for years," said Murphy.

Since it's been vacant, minor repairs and vandalism have needed to be addresses. Most recently, the town issued a letter to the owners asking for a broken window to be fixed so as not become a public nuisance, said Town Manager Debbie Stutsman. It was very shortly after boarded up.

Other than preventing public nuisance, there's little to be done.

A few years ago, said Rodgers, an Italian restaurant really wanted to come in to San Anselmo and they worked for six or seven months, on and off, to come to a deal on that property, but nothing ever happened.

Murphy, who took over the leasing for the shopping complex which the old Papa Murphy's building is a part of, said the problem is without a clear owner there's simply no one to sign off on a lease or sale, so nothing can happen.

However, he's hopeful that this year things will finally be sorted out, based on speaking with the involved parties and lawyers. "It seems like this year will finally be the year the dust settles," he said.

"As a resident of San Anselmo, I have a very vested interest in seeing that storefront leased, but until the courts issue final direction we are on hold," said Murphy.

"We'd love to see it rented out and have it be a productive business," said Stutsman.

What do you want to see at that storefront?