Mason entrepreneur to turn old church into music venue

A Mason entrepreneur has purchased a recently decommissioned Roman Catholic Church and is planning to renovate it as a music center.

Ramesh Malhotra is converting the former St. Mary Church into a music venue.

“It will be called The Harmony Center,” Malhotra said.

“The theme of the spiritual songs and music performed should bring peace and tranquility,” he said. “Not rowdy rock and roll music.”

Malhotra envisions The Harmony Center as a place where musicians can play and perform as well as rent out the facility for performances and offer a space where people can talk about or reflect on different faiths.

Malhotra, who owns several businesses and properties in Warren County, said he was originally interested in buying the entire church campus and converting it into a conference center and music venue.

But the Warren County Educational Service Center purchased the church campus in January to create a special education school.

MORE: Former Warren County church to become special education school

However, the education agency was not planning on keeping the former church worship space. So Malhotra purchased that building for $140,000 from the WCESC.

Malhotra said he expects to invest $80,000 to $90,000 into the facility, which he hopes to open in July.

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