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PROVO -- Plans may be in the works for the area around the historic Provo Tabernacle.
Nine months after fire gutted the structure, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed it has bought the land of the nearby Travelodge Motel and Los 3 Amigos restaurant.
"It has been a great location, a great business," said Stuart Smith, owner of Travelodge Motel.
Smith is now liquidating the furniture, beds and TVs from the 60 rooms so the motel can be demolished, but even he doesn't know what the property will be used for.
"I think that is the whole question, what's going to become of the land here. I don't think the church has let anyone know, including me," he said. Next door at Los Amigos restaurant, the business has also been purchased by the church.
It will close on Sunday, but will move to a new location in Provo. Los 3 Amigos will reopen at 2291 N. University Parkway within the next two months.
"We've been here for the past 20 years. It was a good deal, we felt comfortable with it," Faustino Gonzalez, owner of Los 3 Amigos said.
Both businesses are located on the west block of University Avenue between 100 and 200 South, just south of the tabernacle.
The Tabernacle itself remains secured behind a fence, along with all of the supports, to stabilize the walls.
"It's clearly a positive sign," John Curtis, Mayor of Provo said, and that he is asked wherever he goes about the future of the Tabernacle in Provo.
While Smith is sad to see his motel go, he believes it is for a good cause.
"The Church always does everything so well, first class, we'll be excited to see what happens, what becomes of it," he said.
Church spokesman Scott Trotter told the said the purchases will provide options and the church is still evaluating its plans. The church will share details as they become available (read the church's statement here).
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