David’s Building, home to Champions, bought by Moscow business owners

The historic David’s Building was sold Dec. 17, bought by Aaron Rench, Nate Wilson and Andrew Crapuchettes.  

It was built in 1899 and has been recognized in the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. Currently, the building is home to Champions Bar, which has been closed since the start of the pandemic. 

For future plans, Rench stated in a press release from Moscow Reports that the goal was to empty out the building, add a new roof and ensure the building is no longer rotting. 

“They obtained the liquor license, so I presume they’re going to maintain some kind of use with the license,” Wayne Browning of Key Properties said. “They also retained all the kitchen equipment.” 

According to the press release, there were issues with the sale due to contested tax liens and titles by previous companies.  

“Needless to say, it just took a long time to iron out everything and get it right so that it can close,” Browning said. 

According to Moscow-Pullman Daily News, the price of the building was listed at $2.1 million. 

“If you want to look at it, it’s a cornerstone of Moscow, you’re right on Third and that building’s been an icon,” Browning said. “When Barry Tassler decided to move away from The Beach, and move it into Champions, he did an extensive remodel at that time, and putting on a new facade and things like that.” 

Browning was the listing agent that helped to sell the building for Tassler, who had been looking to sell for the past 20 years.  

“There was a transition at that time, from his dad to Barry, taking over that building,” Browning said. “Barry was, at that particular time, toying with the idea… What do you do with a building? Do you improve the building, do you do this or do you sell it?”  

When Champions closed in March 2020, Browning said that during the shutdown, the government was paying people to keep their doors shut, which Barry chose to do.  

Rench is the brother of Gabriel Rench, deacon of Christ Church, who was arrested by the Moscow Police Department last year during the psalm sing protest.  

Wilson, the son of Pastor Douglas Wilson of Christ Church, was charged with a misdemeanor with his two sons for placing stickers on street poles around the city.   

Crapuchettes is the owner of the McConnell Building and the Jackson Street grain silos, now in addition to the David’s Building. On Christ Church’s website lists Crapuchettes as a parish elder and Wilson as a teacher. 

With the new purchase, Rench is the main buyer, offering a cash offer. Rench is also the owner of David’s Building LLC, which he filed for in June 2021.  

“If you’re a seller and somebody comes in with cash, you’re going to be a lot more motivated because there’s no contingency upon the bank having any say in the operation or the delay of being able to close in a timely fashion,” Browning said. “If somebody has that kind of horsepower, you don’t have to wait for appraisals or blessings from bankers or agents.” 

Buyer Aaron Rench and Susan Wilson, who represented the buyers, did not respond to requests for comment. 

Daniel V. Ramirez can be reached at [email protected] or Twitter @DVR_Tweets