It appears as though an area businessman will purchase the former Spillane's Variety Store in Palmerton.

A sold sign appears on a window of the building facade at 260 Delaware Ave. nearly a year after the longtime business closed.Contacted this morning, Mark Stemler of Palmerton said the building is "under contract.""We haven't closed," Stemler said. "My plan for the property is to find a lease tenant."Stemler added, "I haven't purchased the building; I have an offer in on it. At this point, I don't own the building."As of now, he said the eventual use of the building is "up in the air."Stemler owns Jimmy's Gym along Interchange Road in Lehighton, along with various properties throughout Carbon County.Spillane's closed in October after Bill Spillane chose to retire. A store closing sale was held in the days leading up to the closing.The store has a 64-year legacy, which began with George Spillane Sr., who founded a chain of Spillane stores.In 1976, the Spillane family purchased the old W.T. Grant Store in Palmerton, and it became the fifth store, known as Spillane's Variety Store.Over the years, one by one, the other stores were closed, with the Palmerton store the last of the bunch.Spillane Sr., of Allentown, passed away in February at the age of 98.