Art framers buy bank building on Millerton Main Street hillside

MILLERTON — The owners of Gilded Moon, a custom framing shop on Main Street, have purchased the recently vacated M&T Bank, which is just up the street, perched on top of a hill.

Gilded Moon has been renting space at 34 Main St. for the last five-and-a-half years. Now the business, owned by Paul and Jill Choma, will move across the street. The real estate closing for the bank building, which has been an M&T Bank branch since 2001, was on July 29.

“We heard that the branch was closing and we made an immediate inquiry about purchasing it,� Paul Choma said last week. “It’s a beautiful historic building, and we wanted a permanent presence in Millerton.�

Choma said there are several advantages for his business, not least of which is the parking lot in the rear, away from the busy main stretch in Millerton. There’s also some parking in front of the building.

“We’ll no longer have to cross Main Street with big pieces of art to get to our customers’ cars,� Jill Choma said.

The Chomas are now beginning renovations to make the space accommodate the needs of their business —and to take it back to the way it looked in 1917. For example, a fireplace in the building had been boarded up and will now be exposed.

Renovations are expected to be complete in a few months.

Gilded Moon has a partnership with Hammertown Barn (a home design store); the Chomas said that relationship will continue in the new building.