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Stirling Square in Greenport. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder file photo)

A Manhattan lawyer has purchased the historic Stirling Square property in Greenport after the parcel sat on the market for over a year, northforker has learned.

Brent Pelton closed on the property, which includes the buildings that house 1943 Pizza Bar and Brix and Rye cocktail lounge, on Wednesday for $1,955,500, a half million dollars less than the asking price.

“I just think Stirling Square is absolutely charming,” Pelton said in a phone interview on Friday. “I’d like to do some improvements, but I don’t want to change the character of it.”

Pelton, who lives in Hells Kitchen and practices wage recovery law with his firm Pelton & Associates, said he fell in love with the North Fork while dating someone from the area. He bought the property, which dates back to the 1800s, from previous owner Farouk Ahmad.

Pelton had looked at the property several times over the past few months, according to his broker, Kristopher Pilles president of the real estate service North Fork Commercial.

“With a little bit of aesthetic improvement, he will make the property shine in a way that it never had before,” said Pilles, who previously held the listing for the property before Douglas Elliman agent Janet Markarian took it over.

“People want the square to be a vibrant place. It helps the property, but it helps extend Greenport Village,” Pilles said.

This is Pelton’s first commercial property, Pelton said.

In spring 2013, Stirling Square became the multi-venture restaurant complex operated by chef Keith Luce known as “The Square.” It closed the following December. Entrepreneur Matt Michel has since opened the popular pizza joint 1943 Pizza Bar and the bar Brix and Rye. The building that housed anchor restaurant Main has been closed ever since.

Pelton said he is in talks with a few restaurateurs looking to operate the restaurant, including Dennis McDermott, whose eatery “The Riverhead Project” closed last week.

Mr. McDermott said he had been interested in the property months before he knew he would be closing The Riverhead Project.

“There’s no done deal yet,” Pelton said. “But I certainly would be interested in all ideas. I think Dennis is a terrific operator, but its so important to get the right pick.”

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